Much of what we thought was true about Amazon rainforests has turned out to be not quite so. As perceptions sharpen, the value of the Amazon ecosystem is becoming more fully appreciated, as are the consequences of converting this forest to other uses. Even though the region’s forest can spring back after many assaults, continued deforestation, fire, and forest fragmentation might eventually lead to the formation of a stable, fire-prone scrub vegetation where rainforests now occur. To move toward lasting solutions to the knotty conservation and development problems that now face the Amazon region will require vision, a strong government presence, the continued growth of civic responsibility, agile NGOs, and vocal scientists.
More food, more forests, fewer emissions, better livelihoods: linking REDD+, sustainable supply chains and domestic policy in Brazil, Indonesia and Colombia
More food, more forests, fewer emissions, better livelihoods: linking REDD+, sustainable supply chains and domestic policy in Brazil, Indonesia and Colombia
The triple, intertwined challenges of climate change, the conversion of tropical forests to crop lands and grazing pastures, and the shortage of new arable land demand urgent solutions. The main approaches for increasing food production while sparing forests and...