IPB University Expert Explains the Impact of Human Damage to the Amazon Forest

The Amazon forest area is known as a lung that is estimated to be able to accommodate 150 billion carbon and become a hot spot of world biodiversity and animals. Along with global climate change which has an impact on extreme drought, the existence and function of the Amazon forest will slowly but surely continue to degrade and if extreme measures are not taken it is not impossible to disappear from the earth.

“The main cause of the destruction of the Amazon forest ecosystem is human activity that prioritises short-term economic interests such as the entry of giant mining, agriculture and livestock companies that leave misery and misery for the indigenous people whose lives depend on the existence of this tropical forest,” said Prof Ronny Rachman Noor, an expert in Ecological Genetics from IPB University.

“Large-scale forest destruction that has occurred for decades combined with drought has put the Amazon forest on the verge of destruction that will never be restored,” said Prof Ronny.

Prof Ronny explained that in 2015 the Amazon forest was hit by a very severe drought that resulted in the death of 2.5 billion trees and plants and wildlife.

According to Prof Ronny, the Amazon forest area creates a very unique climate in the region because the water that evaporates from these trees forms rain clouds and recycles moisture which keeps the forest cool and moist while providing water that is vital for animal life and also the people who depend on this tropical forest.

“The destruction of forests over the years has led to fragmented forests due to drought and some have turned into savannas that have begun to fragment these tropical forests. The death of forest flora and fauna will be irreversible and result in permanent damage,” said Prof Ronny.

He explained that if the deforestation rate of the Amazon forest had reached 25 per cent and experienced an increase in the average temperature of the pre-industrial period, the Amazon forest was already in a critical state. The current condition seems to have led to a critical point because currently 17 per cent of the Amazon forest has been deforested and global temperatures are above pre-industrial temperatures.

“Empirical data shows that this year’s extreme drought triggered forest fires due to uncontrolled land clearing. In addition, the death rate of wildlife such as dolphins that inhabit lakes in the Amazon is increasing due to water temperatures reaching 40.9 degrees centigrade,” said Prof Ronny.

According to Prof Ronny, the extreme drought that hit the Amazon has had a direct impact on the lives of people living in this region because water and food sources are drastically reduced to disruption of transportation due to dried up rivers.

“The destruction of the Amazon forest due to human activities should be a very valuable lesson for Indonesia because the degradation of the environment and the loss of biodiversity and animals will have an impact on the survival of future generations,” said Prof Ronny. (*/Lp) (IAAS/RUM)