Brazil is a magnificent country with a diverse, complex geography. However, like every country in the world, it has its own set of environmental issues. These threaten different aspects of the natural abundance and are being addressed by a variety of organisations and initiatives. The main environmental issues faced by Brazil include:
Deforestation
Because Brazil is home to the world-renowned Amazon Rainforest and the basin it occupies, deforestation has become a major cause for concern in this area. Every minute, vast proportions of these forests, dubbed the “Lungs of the World” for the Oxygen that they produce, are being torn down for timber, development and agriculture. When a tree is cut down, it releases
Ore extraction in the middle of the Amazon.
Acid Rain
When the levels of Sulphur Dioxide or Nitrogen Oxide rise in the atmosphere, the result is rain and precipitation that is high in these gases, which are harmful to the soil and delicate ecosystems on which they settle. In fact, acid rain can kill freshwater fish as well as the plants and animals that depend on neutral or alkaline conditions in which to live. When an area is subject to ongoing acid rain, the natural pH (acidity level) of its soil and water changes, which limits the plants and animals that can thrive there.Endangered Species
Due to the fertile conditions of Brazil, it has always been the home of an array of animal and plant species. However, due to hunting, the destruction of habitat and the introduction of foreign, competitive species, Brazil’s natural fauna has experienced a huge decline in numbers. At the moment, there are hundreds of species under threat of extinction. Some of them include the jaguar, sea turtle, spiny rice rat, bushy-tailed opossum, black-faced lion tamarin, Brazilian arboreal mouse, ring-tail monkey, Coimbra’s titi monkey, golden-rumped lion tamarin, Northern Bahian blond titi monkey and northern muriqui.Introduction of Foreign Species
When foreign species are introduced into an area like Brazil, they cause shifts in the balance of the existing eco-systems. They eat too much, or they require vegetation (which then has to take the place of the existing plants), they move in different patterns and they are hunters or prey, which changes the behaviour of the indigenous animals. Native species can extend to include plants and microorganisms as well as animals. In Brazil, some of the alien species include water buffalo, wild boars, the giant African snail, Black wattle, bamboo, thistles, Australian pine and bananas.
When foreign species are introduced into an area like Brazil, they cause shifts in the balance of the existing eco-systems. They eat too much, or they require vegetation (which then has to take the place of the existing plants), they move in different patterns and they are hunters or prey, which changes the behaviour of the indigenous animals. Native species can extend to include plants and microorganisms as well as animals. In Brazil, some of the alien species include water buffalo, wild boars, the giant African snail, Black wattle, bamboo, thistles, Australian pine and bananas.
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