Amazon Rainforest to be Extinct by 2080

September 11, 2007

Brazilian environmentalist Philip Martin Fernside feels that the Amazon Rainforest will be extinct by 2080 if the current rate of deforestation doesn�t change. Brazils Environmental Minister Marina Silva, said that the country is taking measures to slow the deforestation. Between August 2006 � July 2007 there were 14,000 square kilometers deforested. Projections are to reduce the deforestation to 9,600 square kilometers for the period of August 2007 to July 2008

Between 1991 and 2000 an area of rainforest has been lost to deforestation that is the size of the country of Portugal. The main culprit was the growth of cattle farming. If the ranchers would reuse previously cleared land it would reduce the destruction. However many prefer to destroy the virgin forest.

The Amazon region contains over half of the planet's remaining rainforests. It is not only the largest but also is the home to the most species of animals of any tropical rainforest in the world Experts feel it is not just Brazils problem, but all nations of the world need to address this problem, as they will suffer the side effects of deforestation as well.