Human Impacts and Benefits

Impacts

There are significant problems concerning human impact on the Amazon rainforest. Primarily, selective logging and forest fires, caused by humans, often lead to an annual loss of 54 billion tonnes of carbon (2). Often for commercial and agricultural use, people have been logging valuable trees, which in turn damage trees within its vicinity. The gaps caused by logging make the forest drier, which increases the risk of wildfires, resulting in a loss of carbon absorption and biodiversity (2). Fires caused by humans destroy the diversity of trees and destroy the habitats of many animals. Additionally, settlements, cattle ranching and market pressures have led to deforestation, which is when large areas of the forest are cleared, and thus have led to a loss of biodiversity, habitat degradation, loss of natural water cycling, and a loss of ability to absorb sufficient carbon dioxide, a pollutant (3).  These functions are benefits that the rainforest clearly offers yet human impact has significantly been negative. As a result, the Amazon rainforest continues to reduce in size and in biodiversity.

Benefits

There are also significant benefits that humans have from the Amazon rainforest. For example, medicine and remedies initially came through plants. The Amazon rainforest boasts nearly over 40,000 different plant species (4). Plants are vital in finding herbal cures and remedies for breakthrough medicine. Furthermore, the Amazon rainforest is vibrant with raw materials, such as mahogany, which can be sold or used to help stimulate the local or regional economy (1). Additionally, there are mineral deposits, which include silver, gold, and diamonds, which can be sold for high profits to also help stimulate the economy (1). The Amazon rainforest is also particularly beneficial to the environment. They recycle water and regulate the appropriate levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide, which is essential for the environment and the people within that region (4). Lastly, the Amazon rainforest is home to a myriad of different species and exemplifies biodiversity (4).