The world’s forests contain some of the most richest and most diverse habitats on earth. They represent a vast reservoir of knowledge and contain a wealth of ecosystems and wildlife, with many species yet to be discovered. Inhabitants of forests have genuine rights to use the forests. A balance must be achieved between saving the forest and protecting the rights of those who have inherited rights to use them. Not only is there a need to focus on deforestation and the real causes behind it, but also on reforestation programs across the world.

Brazil Rainforest – The Amazon

Image Credit: NASA

Bolivia Deforestation

Image Copyright © 2008 Impressions of Earth – Satellite Photo Art Gallery

To view Video of CNN Anderson Cooper on Deforestation

Amazon Rainforest is a moist broadleaf forest in South America. The area also known as Amazonia, the Amazon jungle or the Amazon Basin, encompasses seven million square kilometers (1.7 billion acres) located within nine nations: Brazil (with 60 percent of the rainforest), Peru (with 13 percent of the rainforest, second after Brazil), Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. The Amazon represents over half of the planet’s remaining rainforests and comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world.

Tierras Bajas region of Santa Cruz, Bolivia as observed by the Thematic Mapper (TM) flying aboard Landsat 5. Click on Image for Larger View. (NASA)

The Amazon is so large that it is virtually impossible to study the evolving landscapes within the basin without the use of satellite images or aerial photography. Scientists have used satellite images to observe and monitor the Amazon for more than 30 years to seek answers about this diverse ecosystem and the patterns and processes of land cover changes. This technology continues to advance and a new study shows that satellite images can allow scientists to more quickly and accurately assess deforestation in the Amazon.

Rondonia, Brazil Deforestation

Click on Image for Larger View

August 24, 2000, the false-color image combines near-infrared, red, and green light. Tropical rainforest appears bright red, while pale red and brown areas represent cleared land. Black and gray areas have probably been recently burned. The Jiparaná River appears blue.

Image courtesy NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan

This vast rainforest remained almost untouched by the western culture until the first half of last century. There are hundreds of indigenous tribes in the Amazon rainforest. There are still over 200 indigenous groups in the Amazon Rainforest, talking 180 different languages and each with their own cultural heritage. There are at least 50 groups that still don’t have regular contact with the outside. Indigenous peoples are increasingly faced with threats to their sovereignty, environment, and access to natural resources.The Brazilian government policy towards these groups is to leave them alone, as they wish. Not very much is known about these groups as they keep going deeper and deeper into the forest as the outsiders get closer to where they live.

To view high resolution satellite photo of Deforestation in Brazil

Children of the Forests

Image Courtesy of NASA

Indigenous societies possess an often unique body of cultural and environmental knowledge. The preservation and investigation of specialized indigenous knowledge, particularly in relation to the resources of the natural environment with which the society is associated, is an increasingly sought-after goal of both the indigenous and the societies who thereby seek to identify new resources and benefits.

Helpful Links

To view Satellite Image Art of South America click here

http://forests.org/links/Tropical_Rainforests/Indigenous___Local_Peoples/welcome.asp

http://www.rainforestweb.org/Rainforest_Regions/South_America/