Blog post #6

It’s pretty clear that agricultural business has had some influence on the deforestation that has occurred, and is still occurring today. With that being said, the question I will debate on is: Is the concept of agricultural business worth more than the natural resources destroyed in the Amazon rainforest?

One side argues that although the Amazon is being destroyed, Brazil, being one of the highest producers of the soybean crop is creating great economic opportunities. The reason behind the soybean crop expansion is the result of lower transportation, higher international demand, and rapid economic growth in China. Another argument made to support deforestation is the fact that beef demand increased and they have met the demand because of the cattle ranches.

The other side who is against deforestation argues that deforestation to the Amazon rainforest is unnecessary because after a couple of successful years of good crops the soil is then unable to harvest yet another season of crops. Fertilizers are then used to try to make the soil more fertile which tends to end up in local waterways affecting the aquatic life. They argue that planting a single crop on the plantations can lead the crops to become more vulnerable to disease and pests. The second argument they make is that it doesn’t only affect one but many factors such as the weather, rainfall patterns, animals and their habitats, waterways, the rainforest as a whole, but most importantly us as humans. A third argument is that medicine is derived from the rainforest. 70% of plants identified with anti-cancer are found ONLY in the tropical rainforest. However, only 10% of the plants in the tropical rainforest have actually been studied and as deforestation increases and plant/animal extinction keeps occurring there will be less plants/animals to study.

I believe the people pro-deforestation are the business people obtaining profit from the cattle ranches and the natives who own the farms or cut down timber to sell. The reason why the cattle ranchers and natives are for deforestation is because the cattle ranch is their source of income to support their families. The reason business people are for deforestation is because they gain profit from the beef industry.

The people against deforestation would be environmentalist, people who actually care about the rainforest and are at least a bit educated to the benefits it does for us. The reason why why environmentalist are against deforestation is because they know the dangers destroying the forest can bring not only to the ecosystem but the country and possibly the world. They have a clear understanding of what happens and why it’s necessary. They’ve been educated and see past the money.

If deforestation instantly came to a halt then many families would probably be hungry havng to find other sources of income, the meat industry would struggle trying to meet the beef demands but the rainforest and its remaining inhabitants would remain intact . If deforestation continues most of the Amazon rainforest inhabitants would become extinct but families would have a source of income and the meat industry would make profit.