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Peruvian Amazon Rainforest - Coggle Diagram
Peruvian Amazon Rainforest
Values on different scales - locally, nationally, globally.
Global
Carbon Cycle
Rainforests take in carbon dioxide from the air as they grow and photosynthesis.
Large leaves = effective photosynthesis, trees store a loot of carbon.
Carbon dioxide = greenhouse gas, partly responsible for climate change + global warming.
Rainforests = store carbon = reduce the amount of carbon in atmosphere.
Deforestation = trees burnt, carbon released back into atmosphere, enhance greenhouse effect.
Valuable minerals such as natural gas, minerals including oil, and gold.
Medicinal plants - the Peruvian amazon has been described as a 'pharmacy' because of all the medicinal plants that exist. Scientists believe that the rainforests hold the cure diseases such as cancer, aid digestion and even help cure addiction. There are yet many more plants to discover.
National
Hydro-electricity - there are plans to construct fifteen large dams in the Peruvian Amazon. Used to export electricity to supply Brazil's giant aluminium and extractive industries.
Local
Exploitation of valuable minerals is a threat to the rainforest and its people.
Indigenous tribes live sustainable lives, but as their rainforests are being destroyed their future is threatened.
Threats to Biodiversity
Timber
Many valuable hardwood trees - mahogany tree.
95% though to be unregulated and illegal, logging.
Profits so high that trees are being felled in protected areas.
Deforestation, severely affects biodiversity.
Energy
Valuable reserves of oil and natural gas in the amazon.
China has invested in oil exploitation, home to around 10% of the world's species + popular destination eco-tourists.
Extraction of oil can lead to oil leaks + serious pollution of water courses.
Gold Mining
Gold is found in river deposits.
Exploited by huge machines, involves blasting of river banks.
Mercury used in the operation, highly toxic, considerable harm to aquatic ecosystem.
Poisoning local tribes who rely upon rivers for food and water.
Management
The Peruvian government is aware of the need to conserve its rainforest for future generations.
Several NGOs around the world are working with the government to encourage sustainable management and conservation of forest resources and wildlife.
Since 2000, management plans are required for all forest-related harvesting activities. However, with so much illegal logging and a vast area to police the implementation of this law is a problem.
Indigenous communities reserves have been established, giving local communities land ownership and rights over the extraction of materials from their land. These communities have their own sustainable management plans.
National Parks and National Reserves have been established to protect certain areas of high biodiversity.