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Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon rainforest, covering approximately 2.7 million square miles, is the world’s largest rainforest (Britannica). Home to around 3 million species, it represents one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet (Greenpeace). An hectare of this rainforest can absorb between 2 to 5.9 tons of carbon annually (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). Located in South America, the Amazon spans Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. It is bounded by the Guiana Shield to the north, the Andes Mountains to the west, the Brazilian Shield to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east (Goulding, 2003).
While dominated by tropical rainforests, this site will also explore the region’s cloud forests, wetlands, and freshwater habitats. Understanding the Amazon rainforest involves breaking it down into three distinct parts:
Northern Amazon: The most pristine part of the Amazon (Killeen, 2023).
Western Amazon: The most biodiverse region, also known for its significant mining activities (Mackay, 2009; Goulding, 2003).
Southern Amazon: Known for its extensive agriculture and the highest rates of deforestation (Goulding, 2003; Killeen, 2023).
This blog aims to delve into these regions, providing insights into their unique characteristics and the challenges they face.
References
Amazon Rainforest Britanica
https://www.britannica.com/place/Amazon-River/Soils
Biodiversity and the Amazon Rainforest Greenpeace
Measured Carbon Fluxes in Different Ecosystems Intergovernmental Pattern on Climate Change
Goulding Michael, Barthem Ronaldo, Ferreira Efrem (2003) The Smithsonian Atlas of the Amazon
Killeen Timothy J.(2023) A Perfect Storm in the Amazon Wilderness Second Edition
Mackay Richard. (2009) The Atlas of Endangered Species