OUGD505 STUDIO BRIEF TWO - RESEARCH - EFFECTS OF LOGGING ON THE AMAZON RAINFOREST

The Amazon rainforest provides the Earth with 20% of it's oxygen, and 2/3 of it's fresh water.
Around 20% of the Amazon rainforest has been lost over the past 40 years due to logging, cattle ranching, and agricultural farming.
Such loggers are responsible for 105,000 miles of illegal roadway in the depths of the forest, allowing squatters and land developers to damage the land. Brasil does limit logging, however illegal documentation is common, which makes it hard to track the level of logging and deforestation.
As the trees are cut down, this released more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that was being stored in the canopies. This then leads to the contribution to global warming. Areas of land without trees are also more prone to erosion, and once enough soil has eroded, the land can no longer sustain any other life such as plants and trees. Trees also play a vital role in the regulation of the water cycle, and with the destruction of them this affects the rainfall and river levels. Cutting down trees also destroys the habitats of many species.
There is a new method to logging that's being attempted, to help reduce the damage to other plant species. This is by removing the vines from the trees and guiding the tree down in a specific direction so as to disturb as little wildlife and animals as possible. By not damaging surrounding trees, this also helps to maintain the canopy, to avoid excess leaking of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This method of logging was attempted for one year, and it was shown that carbon dioxide pollution levels returned to pre-logging levels.
Opportunities are starting to present themselves for people interesting in exploring the untouched Amazon. A few companies are building hotels within the jungle and offering boat cruises. World Wildlife Federation says this might help to slow down deforestation, as if locals can earn more by offering accommodation and tours, they may be less likely to cut down trees to earn money. WWF-Brasil is sponsoring research on tourism potential within the Amazon to try and preserve the Amazon.

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