Trees Please: Rain Forest Dwindling

The Amazon Rain Forest continues to lose habitat for animals and plants by clear cutting practices that add to the burden of climate change. According to satellite imaging data compiled in 2018 by Global Forest Watch and analysts at the University of Maryland, removing large patches of forest to make room for ranching caused the highest loss of forest cover overall, along with other commercial activities like mining and soy production. The World Resources Institute, which tracks global forest cover, reports deforestation is increasing in Brazil, Indonesia, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. Large swaths of forest serve as carbon sinks, helping suck excess carbon emissions from the atmosphere. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has promised to open the Amazon for industry and recently slashed funding to environmental and science research groups.