The consequences of economic development in Brazil.

The consequences of economic development in Brazil.

By Genesis Ruelas

November 20, 2019

The Amazon rainforest is known as the earth’s lungs by providing 20% of the oxygen on earth. However, the Amazon rainforest in Brazil continues to be on fire! The fires have increased drastically that they are even recorded from outer space. According to Brazils National Institute for Space Research 2019 alone as seen about 100,000 fires and growing. This staggering number illustrates these fires are not occurring by accident. Most news media portrays the fires to increase due to climate change, but the problem dives deeper than climate change. While climate change is affecting the growth of the fires, economic development plays a crucial role in the fires as the world trade continues to demand goods and commodities from Brazil. Brazil is the second-largest exporter of goods around the world. Countries such as China and the United States count on the exports out of Brazil for consumption purposes. The relation between the importance of the conservation of the rainforest and economic development must be addressed. The following are posing threats:

Soybean

• Soybean production has been growing in the past decade. Soybean is used for oil that substitutes for corn. It is used to create products such as soy milk, tofu, flour, and forms of protein. While it is a small number for human consumption, the demand for the soybean comes as the main food to feed animals such as cattle, usually for the meat industry. Brazil is the second-largest producer of soybeans and according to the Food and Organization of The United Nations soybean production in Brazil increased from 32.7 million tons in 2000 to 81.7 million in 2013, an increase of almost 150%. The more product is needed to export, it means more land that is needed to expand the soybean production. Hectares are used to describe the use of land like Americans use acres. One hectare is the size of two football fields. Today, 25 million hectares are devoted to the production of soybean in Brazil making it the second-largest harvest grounds in the world. (Global Forest Atlas, 2019)

Meat

• The beef industry is the biggest culprit in destroying the rainforest. Brazil is known to have the largest beef production in the world. The beef industry is the largest driver of deforestation. It counts for 80% of deforestation. Brazil exports about 200 million pounds of meat yearly. Europe, China, and Russia acquire their meat from Brazil which means heavy productivity is needed to export the demands. Like soybeans, much of the rainforest is destroyed to make room for open flat land to heard and raise cattle. Besides burning the rainforest, emission gasses are released during beef production. This causes harm on a local and global scale since the Amazon rainforest is responsible for 20 percent of the oxygen on earth.

Transportation Infrastructure.

• Brazil not only exports to other countries, but it also uses its resources to develop its country. However, the Amazon rainforest is long, huge, and in the center of the rainforest, therefore roads, highways, trains, and dams had to be created to import within the country. BR-163 is the oldest highway that connects the northern to the southern part of Brazil. It was originally built for the transportation of soybean therefore it is referred to like the soy highway. This highway set the toll for the opportunities that capital gained from transportation infrastructure. The current president of Brazil, president Bolsonaro, is planning to pave a highway that was built in the 70s by the military but was disregarded. The highway is called BR-319 and the idea behind the repaving is to create more options for importing and exporting goods than by sea or air. He is also a president who does not believe in climate change or in conserving the rainforest. He plans to continue the construction of the highway by 2021. Many scientists and researchers of the Amazon are concerned with the skyrocketing of deforestation and destruction that will increase due to this project. Ricardo Mello who is head of the World Wildlife Fund’s Amazon Program says that this repaving of the road will surpass the tipping point for the ecosystem because the road will be built over a healthy water basin as well as destroy a good chunk of the environment. (2019)

Indigenous communities.

• Lastly, all of these factors lead to the most devastating element of them all which is the destruction of homes and land taken by force of the indigenous people that live within the Amazon rainforest. As the country continues to plan for economic development and world trade, poor indigenous people are at the mercy. The government as well as locals terrorize indigenous communities and burn their homes to acquire the land needed for deforestation. Current president Bolsonaro is pro developing and according to a recent interview with the United Nations in September stated what he thought about the conservation of indigenous land is “treating and keeping our natives as cavemen”. (The Lancet, 2019) This is detrimental to over 400 tribes that are currently residing all along and within the rainforest. Another thing to consider, these indigenous people do not live like the rest of the people. They do not believe in technology, electricity, have access to pharmaceuticals, or processed foods. These people live from the resources the Amazon provides. The animals, plants, land, and water are all the resources they have to survive. If the destruction of the rainforest continues, so will the extinction of indigenous tribes. These people should not be seen as less than or savage because they choose to not adapt to western culture as president Bolsonaro speaks of.

What you can do:

• Know where your products come from. It is important in today’s time to be conscious of the products consumed. Many foods including meat and soybean have chemicals or use pesticides to meet the demand time and quotas. These pesticides increase the growth of the product but are harmful to the human body such as the increase of cancers. Buying local grass-fed meat is the best alternative for meat consumption. Not only are the cattle treated better, but they are not fed anything with pesticides. They are fed natural foods therefore the meat tastes better and is better for human consumption.
• Consume less meat. Many misconceptions about meat make people feel like they need to eat it. There are many ways to acquire protein from other foods besides meat. Plant-based items such as greens or avocados are great substitutes for meat. Seeds, beans, and lentils are also other great substitutes. The goal is not to quit meat entirely for meat lovers, but consuming less of it rather than having it every day can make a powerful impact on the demand for meat.
• Support indigenous people. It can seem as someone who lives in California can do nothing about the situation in the rainforest. However, some organizations dedicate their time to help indigenous communities by providing them resources, funding, and exposing corporations who push development. Organizations such as Amazon Watch, Amazon Conservation Team, and International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs are great ways to get educated, donate, and get active towards helping indigenous people and conserving the Amazon rainforest.