The Amazon’s record-breaking forest fires are endangering the region’s Indigenous communities and millions of plant and animal species — here’s how you can take action.
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The Amazon rainforest is burning – and that’s bad news for indigenous rights, millions of plant and animal species, and honestly the entire planet.

Record-breaking forest fires have been burning in the Amazon for weeks. The fires are so bad, the city of Sao Paulo was plunged into darkness in the middle of the day due to smoke.

This is frightening for the health of people living in Brazil but also for the health of our planet. The amazon is home to 30% of the world’s plant and animal species, as well as indigenous tribes. It also filters water, creates rain, and produces 20% of the world’s oxygen..

And the Amazon sequesters carbon. The hundreds of billions of trees in the Amazon use photosynthesis to take CO2 out of the air and store carbon in their roots, leaves and branches.

When the forest burns, we lose all of the benefits it provides for us and as well as CO2 that gets released and makes climate change worse

Unfortunately, Brazil’s government isn’t helping. Since taking office, right-wing populist President Jair Bolsonaro has encouraged the development of the rainforest.

His policies have led to an 88% increase in deforestation compared to June of last year.

And an 83% jump in forest fires compared to 2018, Instead of taking action to put out the fires he’s downplaying their impact and blaming farmers for starting the fires to clear land.

So, if the government won’t take action, here are the ways you can help protect the rainforest:

Support the rainforest’s indigenous populations with Amazon Watch.
Help protect animals living in the jungle with WWF.
Protect an acre of rainforest through the Rainforest Action Network.
Buy rainforest safe products through the Rainforest Alliance.

It’s vital that we protect the rainforests because scientists believe if we lose too much of them, it’s possible they won’t come back.

#Amazon #Wildfires #Brazil #News #NowThis #NowThisNews

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