The Amazon Flashcards by Unknown Unknown

How did the Amazon region form?

ecosystem prob formed by the rise of the Andes mountains starting 35-65 million years ago

increased rainfall by blocking humid Atlantic air
prevented water from draining to Pacific; formed wetlands

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How diverse is life on amazon?

Very, home to 1/10 of all species on Earth

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What regional and global benefits does the amazon provide?

produces oxygen, stores carbon
regulates water cycle ‘creates’ rain
cycles nutrients, forms soil
provides useful products (nuts, rubber..)
provides cultural value

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Humans have lived in the Amazon for ____ years

13,000

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What were the different Indigenous livelihoods over time in the Amazon?

Foraging (hunter-gatherer)
Foraging combined with settled fishing
Cultivation (swidden/shifting; orchards)
Some large settlements

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How did pre-colonial people influence the Amazon environment?

Changed the composition of the forest:
- cultivated useful trees and plants
- built earthworks
- kept homes safe from flooding; created ponds

Built raised fields and channels in wetlands:
- reduced shade; raised water temps

Changed composition of soils
- Garbage piles formed rich black soil, helped plant growth

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What were some contemporary threats to the Amazon?

Deforestation:
- agricultural expansion (cattle ranching, crops)
- timber harvesting

Hydroelectric dams

oil and mining

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What was a driver of deforestation?

Agriculture
- govt incentives encouraged people to clear forest and settle in Amazon

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What occupied the majority of cleared forest land in the Amazon?

Cattle ranching

Considered less risky than other ventures during the settlement boom in 1960s:
- can walk itself to market; hardier than crops
- still an important way for farmers to hedge against risk
- quickly depletes soil

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What was soy farming used for in the Amazon?

Used for livestock feed, edible oil, biodiesel, food products
- a “flex crop”

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Soybean production has increased very rapidly: more than ____ globally since 1994

doubled

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What percent of soy is used to feed livestock?

70%

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How does soy contribute to deforestation?

Soy plantations displace pastures
- large monoculture plantations

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What are the key points about hydroelectric dams for the Amazon?

many new dams planned for the Amazon
Goal: low-carbon energy, economic development

-Impacts: flooding, relocation, cultural erosion, ecological changes

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What was the Belo Monte dam?

Hydroelectric dam

world’s fourth-largest dam
project approved after 20 years of opposition by Indigenous ppl and environmental groups
changes in water flow have dramatically affected biodiversity and livelihoods

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What two impacts does mining have on the Amazon region?

deforestation
pollution

What aimed to boost gold mining in the Amazon?

Two presidential decrees

Regions designated for oil and gas projects covered over ___ of the Amazon

2/3

What are the impacts on oil and gas on the Amazon?

water pollution
road building
seismic testing
spills

What are the treats to the Amazon?

deforestation
hydro dams
oil and gas
mining

What are some strategies to protect the Amazon?

international cooperation
policies
market measures
land defenders

What is the bad news for the Amazon?

renewed threats and political choices

What are two examples of international cooperation?

ACTO: Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization
CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

What are the Brazilian national policies to curb deforestation?

Action Plan to reduce deforestation in the Amazon
Soy moratorium

What was Brazil's Soy Moratorium?

- Voluntary agreement pushed by NGOs and retailers

What was the goal of Brazil's Soy Moratorium?

To reduce deforestation for growing soy large soybean traders agreed not to buy soy grown on Amazon land cleared after 2006

What was the outcome of Brazil's Soy Moratorium?

It reduced soy grown on newly deforested land in the Brazilian Amazon

What are the challenges associated with Brazil's Soy Moratorium?

- Soy production continues to expand elsewhere, potentially displacing it to unprotected areas (referred to as "leakage") - deforestation for farming persists

What are some market approaches to the Amazon?

Payments for ecosystem services (PES) e.g. Yasuni-ITT Initiative

What does payments for ecosystem services do?

financially rewards people for providing nature's benefits instead of depleting them ex. protecting watersheds, preventing soil erosion

What are the key features of Payments for Ecosystem Services?

Voluntary, negotiated transactions (not imposed regulations) Makes low-impact livelihood activities more financially attractive than high-impact ones

What was the goals of the Ecuador's Tasuni-ITT initiative?

govt of Ecuador sought payments to not develop an oil reserve under a national park Goals: - protect biodiversity - protect indigenous ppl living in voluntary isolation - address climate change - move ecuador away from fossil fuel use

What was the purpose of the Ecuador's Yasuni-ITT initiative launched in 2007?

- sought $3.6B (ahlf the value of oil) to avoid drilling - promised to repay the money if drilling proceeded

What events followed Ecuador's Yasuni-ITT initiative and its cancellation?

- 2013: Over $300 million pledged; only $13 million delivered. - Ecuador cancelled the plan, awarded drilling concessions, and refunded money already paid. - 2023: A national referendum required the state oil company to stop operating in parts of Yasuni.

Who are land defenders? What is their significance in forest conservation?

- Long history of community resistance to forest destruction. - Example: Rubber tappers in Brazil, led by Chico Mendes (1944-1988). Famous quote: “At first I thought I was fighting to save rubber trees, then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon rainforest. Now I realize I am fighting for humanity.” - Assassinated by a rancher, but his colleagues continued advocating for change. - Marina Silva, a colleague of Mendes, became Environment Minister (2003-2008). - Rewrote Brazilian forest policy.

How do land defenders and their allies fight environmental destruction?

- Community mobilization and activism - International alliances - Transnational social movements