It is the largest tropical forest on the planet and 17% of the world’s fresh water depends on its existence. We tell you what we can do to contribute to the conservation of this territory and its biodiversity Matses.
The Amazon, which spans eight countries and one overseas territory, has great value for the land: it is the largest rainforest, the most biodiverse region and the territory with the largest number of indigenous peoples. In addition, it supplies 17% to 20% of the world’s fresh water and stores 10% of the carbon produced globally.
But the threats to this region do not stop. In 2020, according to IDEAM figures, Colombia lost 171,685 hectares of forest and 63% was concentrated in the Amazon. If the Amazon continues to deteriorate due to threats such as fires, in the next decade what scientists have called “a point of no return” could be reached , in which the forest would no longer be able to adapt to changes and the Amazon would become a large savannah , collapsing the water system that irrigates Latin America, accelerating global warming and generating loss of biodiversity.
The good news is that we can all be part of the solution. No matter where you are, you can always be part of the change. Do you want to know how to get started? We tell you five ways in which you can help us protect it from the city.
1. Get informed
To protect the Amazon, we must know its threats. Deforestation due to the expansion of the agricultural frontier, illegal mining and species trafficking are some of them. Find out as much as you can about them so you can take the data into account in your daily actions, for example, reviewing the origin of what you consume.
2. Have a more sustainable diet
world . Extensive livestock farming and palm and soy plantations are some of the factors that cause forest loss in the region . To fight these threats, you can reduce meat consumption and choose products that are not associated with deforestation processes (such as ultra-processed packages, for example).
3. Use the power of your networks
Social networks are one of the most important means of communication today . Use them to share what you learn with others and motivate more people to become interested in change.
Therefore, if you are interested in developing actions that protect biodiversity, we recommend joining our Generation 10 platform.
Generation 10 is WWF’s global platform that seeks to empower young people to scale the solutions necessary to maintain life on earth at 2030. Currently there are more than 14 thousand participants globally and almost 7,300 are in Colombia, which demonstrates the interest of our young people in leading changes in favor of nature.
4. Add your voice
We need governments to take urgent action to stop the factors that destroy the Amazon, but these will only act if many of us speak up. Raise your voice to demand action from governments, stronger legislation and development models that conserve the Amazon forest.
5. Support organizations that work in the territory
You don’t have to go deep into the jungle and stop the groups that cut down the trees or burn the forest. You can support organizations like WWF , which works to confront deforestation in the Amazon and to strengthen the governance of peasant and indigenous communities living in the region.