The Amazon Rainforest: How Human Activity is Dictating the course of Nature 

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning,

 but anyone can start today and make a new ending.“

– Maria Robinson

The Amazon Rainforest is the home to some of the most amazing biodiversity that will ever exist on Earth. It covers over 2 million square miles (about twice the area of Argentina) and is known to have the highest density of species in the world. Humans have done amazing research on these thousands of animal species, with many still awaiting to be discovered. However, our production of Mining Operations, Exploitation of wildlife trade, and Deforestation to name a few, have played significant roles in the endangering of many species. Our human activity in the rainforest continues to pose a threat to their existence and I fear the moment in time where “action” will no longer be able to create an impact. As inhabitants of earth, we have a responsibility to only treat this world with kindness, but also learn to coexist with nature. 

For the first 6 years of my life, I grew up in Caracas, Venezuela. Though my home was in the city, nature was heavily immersed in my everyday life igniting my passion for animals at a very young age. I can say I’ve had the privilege to get a taste of the Amazon Rainforest when I visited the Orinoco River with my family. I stayed in a small town called Boca Del Tigre, where being exposed to the magic of the Amazon was hard not to do. In the mornings, we cautiously swam with piranhas that nibbled at our feet and watched Scarlet Macaws decorate the Orinoco River Delta. I watched the Chonta Palm tree be cut open to reveal a beetle larva known as Picudo, a pasta-like snack I did not partake in. And trips on the canoes were for spotting Caiman Llanero, long snouted crocodiles that hunt terrestrial animals primarily at night. 

16 years later, I’m sure someone’s experience would be very different. Some of the animals I remember from my trip are part of the Endangered list. But before I dive into the ways human activity is affecting the biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest, it’s important to understand how one animal’s extinction can be extremely harmful to the balance of an ecosystem. As an example, I am going to focus on the Jaguar, one of the top predators of the Amazon. These skilled hunters live in wooded areas located near bodies of water and hunt almost anything. Because of this, jaguars help control animal populations and keep ecosystems healthy. Sadly, this extraordinary animal is considered extremely endangered. If the Jaguar were to go completely extinct, animals such as Capybaras and Peccaries would overpopulate. Their overpopulation would affect the vegetation they consume, resulting in an unhealthy environment for other species. While Jaguars are only one piece of the puzzle, they play a crucial role in the food chain. Now that we have seen how everything is connected, let’s talk about our impact on animal species. 

Most of the Amazon is in Brazil, one of the richest countries in biodiversity. But the increase of illegal Mining operations has affected everything for the worst. Before starting my research, I was unaware of illegal mining being such a large issue. I needed to understand why so much mining was taking place and as I searched for answers, I stumbled upon an in-depth article from FORESTS & FINANCE. According to them, “mining caused 12,000 square kilometers of Amazon deforestation between 2005 and 2015 which represented around 9% of total Amazon Forest loss during that period.” Brazil is an important producer of iron ore, bauxite, nickel, tin, zinc, and gold. 

The article also introduced me to the term ‘Garimpeiros,’ which refers to small-scale gold miners. Their mining activities have increased as the price of gold has peaked. But for the gold to be separated from the mud, Mercury is used. Not only is Mercury a heavy metal that is extremely toxic, but it is also an element that cannot be destroyed. And the problems do not stop there. For miners to have access to supplies, a strip of land for aircraft is made called airstrips. The New York Times claims that “Hundreds of airstrips have been secretly built on protected lands in Brazil to fuel the illegal mining industry, a Times investigation found, including 61 in this Yanomami Indigenous territory.” The more airstrips are created, the greater destruction of habitat there is, and the more operations are facilitated to harm all that inhabit these areas. The nonprofit environmental science and conservation news platform MONGABAY focuses on the Canepa River that runs through the Amazon and how, “This endless contamination has given the river a swamp-like appearance in several places. This process is repeated at all the points along the shore where the rafts are found.” Many rivers are being affected though. Below is a photo from GREENSPACE, where the Amazon rivers have been heavily contaminated, and the destruction is clearly seen all around this area.

Jaguars, dolphins, and fishes are some animals affected by the mercury pollution. When one of these animals is affected, it’s bound to cause a chain reaction to both their prey and predators. I have found that the focus on endangered species tends to be on terrestrial animals but aquatic animals in these rivers are also victims to the mining operations.

I’m most familiar with the illegal wildlife trade that has been happening for decades. There is an overwhelming amount of poaching, trafficking, and sale of various species and it’s all happening at an alarming rate. I will never forget the first time I witnessed the illegal pet trade. During one car ride from Paparo to Caracas, I saw a man on the side of the road holding something in one arm and a box in the other. As our car approached him, I quickly realized he was holding a sloth. The man opened the small carton box and revealed a baby parrot. Both animals looked unhealthy and too young to be without their mother. He is part of the illegal trade that happens domestically and also internationally. 

The animals that are primarily targeted are birds, mammals and reptiles. Each category of animal provides a certain desired quality which can be very profitable. According to the World Wildlife Fund, when it comes to birds, “ some are sold live, while others are killed to supply feathers, skins and other body-parts. Eggs are also traded.” As for reptiles, their skin is highly valued. We consumers have demanded the use of reptile skin in clothes and other materialistic things. In this same article, WWF details how because there are illegal activities of trafficking animals, animals need to be smuggled and therefore suffer in the transportation process. I find it to be inhumane and unethical. What right do we humans have to exploit and determine the fate of other animals especially when they provide so much for us.

Earlier, I touched on the illegal mining that’s happening. But those same miners are also hunting animals such as Monkeys and Armadillos. Their main diet consists of fruits, so these animals play a significant part in the dispersal and pollination process. Once again, we see how everything is connected and why ecosystems must remain undisturbed. 

  The most well known factor behind animals edging closer to extinction is due to Deforestation. While doing my research, I came across many websites that had a lot to say on this topic. One of them was Amazon Aid, an organization that works with forest ecologists to accurately inform the public on current Amazonian research. In one of their articles, Amazon aid states, “The destruction of forests destroys the homes, habitat and food sources for the species that live there. It is estimated that 100,000 species become extinct in tropical forests yearly.” We constantly see photos of the Amazon changing. The land is cleared out for different reasons including for cattle ranching, logging, and urban use.

Many species live in the canopy and loss of trees means there is loss of habitat for monkeys, birds, and mammals. Aqua Expeditions list a few endangered species, including sloths. The Pygmy Three Toed sloth is the same one I’d seen on the side of the road many years ago. This sloth can be found on the endangered list because of poaching and loss of habitat. “The red Mangrove trees are the home of the pygmy three toed sloth and they are being cut down which is putting pressure on the sloth population.”

It’s easy to forget that we individually can contribute to making a change in the world. Sometimes the question of “where to start” is the hardest part. But a lot of the responsibility that comes with the endangerment of these amazing animals is due to our human activities. So having a better understanding of the consequences our actions cause, we spread awareness and can strive to create ethical habits. In my personal life, I’ve made small yet impactful changes to minimize waste. I think twice about the businesses I support and let my purchases be determined by what they stand for. In the long run, if we all take initiative and do our part, we will improve not just our quality of life, but all the inhabitants of Earth. 

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