Hyderabad: Worshipped by environmentalists, the Amazon forests are no less than Gods for humans, as they account for 20 per cent of the World's oxygen.
Almost double the size of India, the forests spread over Brazil, Peru, Columbia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guiana, Suriname, and French Guiana, cover an area of 26 lakh square miles.
The forests are like lungs to the planet, and are performing their nature-entrusted responsibility. The forests reduce temperature, absorb Carbon dioxide, provide Oxygen and also regulate the rain cycle.
But now, uncontrolled fires are raging across the forests. There is no doubt that these forests, which account for 30 per cent of animal life and at least 10 per cent of the world's biodiversity, are now heading towards destruction.
Unlike California and Australian forests, Amazon rainforests do not easily catch fire. The reason for these fires in rain forests is due to the myopic vision of Brazil’s President, Jair Bolsonaro, who has the wicked ambition of destroying rain forests (which are up to 60 per cent of the total forests) to lay the foundation of the country’s development. Undoubtedly, his perverted vision will cause destruction for the entire planet.
In June 1992, at Rio de Janeiro, at the World Earth Conference, countries resolved to ensure that the environment of other countries is not affected by their actions. Brazil which hosted the symposium then, now argues that Amazon forests are in its jurisdiction and will be managed according to their whims.
This poses a grave threat to the world’s environment. Brazil, which has failed in implementing the resolutions, is now planning to strengthen its economy by the cultivation of commercial crops like soybean, oil palm, along with mining and timber selling.
Donald Trump, immediately after stepping into the White House, had announced that he will not abide by Paris Agreement on Environment.
Bolsonaro, has slashed budgetary funds for environment protection and discarded the 20-year-old tradition of protecting the forests and environment, and is supporting the sections who burn forests and make money.
Bolsonaro, who earlier paid penalties for the violation of environmental protection norms, has brazenly announced in his election campaign that forests are an impediment to the country’s economic progress, and that he would explore avenues to develop them on commercial basis.
Once Bolsonaro assumed office last January, 1330 square miles of Amazon forests have disappeared. Now, at last, after intense pressure from the international community, he has deputed 40,000 soldiers. When will the wildfires of Amazon stop?
Last year, trees in 3.3 crore acres of forested areas, disappeared. This means an area equal to Belgium, roughly equating to 89 lakh acres of rain forests have vanished, according to a study by Maryland University.
According to studies taken up worldwide, during 1990-2000, on an average, 3.85 crore acres of forests were destroyed every year. Whereas, in the next decade, it came down to 3.21 crore acres.
The United Nations has directed that one tree should be planted per person on the planet, totalling to 780 crore trees. But, we are not sure if this is cared for at all.
Costa Rica, in 1997 itself, had introduced payment rewards for ‘Service to the Environment’ on a national level. Subsequently, Mexico, China, and Bolivia did the same. Forest destruction has come down, but has not totally stopped.
We have leaders like Jair Bolsonaro, who scoffs at the $130 crore being given to Amazon Protection Fund by German and Norway. Destruction of green forests is no less than using weapons for mass destruction.
People should condemn the environmental destruction being carried out by Brazil as equivalent to the use of atomic weapons. Not only in the case of the Amazon fires, but anyone who brings harm to the environment should be condemned by the countries of the word with a sense of common responsibility, because we ONLY HAVE ONE EARTH.
