



The amazon is burning, the arctic is on fire, the Maldives is sinking, coral reefs are dying, marine life is choking on plastic, Antarctica is melting, the CO2 level is rising, we are dangerously close to the tipping point.

In simpler words, the earth is dying and we are digging our own grave, ruining the next generation’s future.

The amazon encompasses the single largest tropical rainforest in the world, has been ravaged by thousands of fires. The most intense blazes for almost a decade.

Brazil’s Amazon rainforest has seen a record number of fires in 2019, Brazilian space agency data suggests. According to the National Institute for space research, satellite data shows an 85% increase on the same period in 2018.

The official figures show more than 75,000 forest fires were recorded in Brazil in the first eight months of the year- the highest number since 2013. That competes with 30,759 in all of 2018.





According to the team of scientists, the number of active fires in August was actually three times higher than in 2017 and the highest number since 2010



The writing published in the journal Global Change Biology.





The perceived scale of the Amazon blazes received global attention in the summer of 2019. However, international concerns raised at the time were countered by the Brazilian Government, which claimed the fire situation in August was normal and below the historical average.







The scientists show that there is strong evidence to link this year’s increases to deforestation. Though fires in the Amazon can occur in a number of ways.



Scientists have used the evidence collected from the Brazilian Government’s DETER-b deforestation detection system which calculates deforestation by interpreting images taken by NASA satellites.





This shows that deforestation in July this years was almost four times the average from the same period in the previous three years. This is important is almost always followed by fire – the cut vegetation is left to dry before being burned.





August’s blazes occurred at a time without a string drought. Drought can provide conditions favorable to the spreading of human-made fires. The scientists also show that the enormous smoke plumes that reached high into the atmosphere, which were captured by media footage of the blazes, could only have been caused by the combustion of a large amount of biomass.





Image from DETER –b show that deforestation continues at a rate well above the average in September.

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Forest fires are common in the Amazon during the dry season, which runs from July to October.



It can be caused by naturally occurring events, such as by lightning strikes, but also by farmers and loggers clearing land for crops or grazing.

Some facts about Amazon rainforest

Amazon is a house of at least 10% of the world’s known biodiversity. The amazon encompasses endemic and endangered flora and fauna,

And its river accounts for 15% of the world's total river discharge into the oceans.

The Amazon rainforest has been described as the lungs of our planet. Because it continuously recycles carbon dioxide into oxygen. More than 20% of the world's oxygen is produced in the Amazon rainforest.

It has more than half of the world’s estimated 10 million species of plants, animals and insects live in the tropical rainforests.

About one hectare (2.47 acres) may contain over 750 types of trees and 1500 species of higher plants. Rainforest plants are rich in secondary metabolites, particularly alkaloids. Biochemists believe alkaloids protect plants from disease and insect attacks.





Many alkaloids from higher plants have been proven to be of medicinal value and benefit 121 prescription drugs currently sold worldwide come from plant-derived sources.



And while 25% of western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest ingredients, and less than 1% of these tropical trees and plants have been tested by scientists.

At least 3000 fruits are found in the rainforests of these only 200 are now in use in the western world.

Today, over 100 pharmaceutical companies and the US government, including giants like Merck and the national cancer institute are engaged in plant research projects for possible drugs and cures. For viruses, infections, cancer and even AIDS.





The Amazon rainforests hosts numerous dangerous creatures, in fact, some of the creatures like the poison dart frog have enough venom that can kill up to 10 humans.

There are more than 50 indigenous communities in the Amazon, who have never made contact with anyone outside the rainforest. Brazil’s Amazon I said to host the majority of the indigenous tribes.

What are forest fires?

Forest fires are blazes that are uncontrolled and fuelled by different types of weather, dry underbrush, and wind, which burn land by the acres and take over everything in their paths, in just a few minutes, there are typically about 100,000 forest fires in the United States every year over 9 million acres of land have been destroyed due to treacherous wildfires.

Climate warming from increasing greenhouse gas emissions if forecast to dramatically increase the risk of very large, damaging forest fires increase the risk of very large, damaging forest fires over the next several decades.

What are the effects of forest fires?

Forest fires take away homes as well as vegetation. All of the inhabitants of the forest fire environment now are found homeless. People often lose their houses as well if the fires are close enough to human housing.

Vegetation is now obsolete if this area is near a farm or near the food of other inhabitants. Million dollars are spent repairing these damages and re-building homes are areas of vegetation.





The soil in the area of the wildfire has been completely destroyed. The soils in the forest are made with decaying nutrients and debris that have a lot of natural ingredients that help make the earth what it is.



When a wildfire hits this soil it becomes too hot and all of those nutrients are gone.

Animals lose their lives. It is sad but a true fact that birds, squirrels, rabbits, and other wildlife animals and other rare species also disappear as the fire burns the forest.

Trees and plants are gone as well – Trees and plants help to produce oxygen in the world- This is very simple and understood fact that fewer trees and plants result in 'bad' for humans in every way.







Even to tackle the forest fire, too much water is used. Too much water again can cause soil erosion, and it takes a huge amount of water to be wasted while every drop of water should be preserved.

Another major issue is a large amount of smoke is released into the air which makes it difficult to breathe and also causes air pollution and even more greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, which makes it difficult to tackle the problem of global warming.

Unfortunately, some human lives are also lost in wildfires. Typically people who fighting the fire who lose their lives trying to save others.

Income and jobs are lost for workers in the agricultural field whose field crops and animals were destroyed by the forest fire when people are out of work the economy suffers which makes it difficult to recover.

Insurance premiums soar sky-high after a forest fire because now everyone is looking to obtain some kind of insurance to prevent such devastating losses. People are unable to afford these premiums even when they need them the most.

There will be restricted recreational areas that will not be able to be accessed until they are is clear of debris and is determined to be safe to inhabit or visit.

The loss of animals has the ability to also create extinction for certain animals and other creatures of the forest.

Fire forest prevention and solutions

Every year, countless acres of forests are burned, to help prevent fires in or near forest land during the forest fire season, the following steps should be followed:

- Check local regulation regarding permit requirements and “burn ban” restrictions. Obtaining a burning perming for burning grass, brush, slash or other debris in or within a prescribed distance of forest land;

- A campfire permit and the landowner’s permission for an open campfire, cooking fire or bonfire in or near forest kind;

- A work permit for any work in forest land involving two or more people.

- Burn only natural vegetation or untreated wood products.

- Burn piles are at least 50 feet from structures and 500 feet from any forest slash.

- Clear the area around the burn pile of any flammable debris.

- Don’t burn if it’s too windy to burn – if trees are swaying, flags are extended, or waves appear on open water.

- Fill any large vessels – pools, hot tubs, garbage cans, or tubs- with water to slow discourage fire.

- Shut off natural gas, propane, or fuel oil supplies.

Conclusion