During these past several months, dozens of communities around the globe have fallen victim to devastating wildfires that have left vulnerable populations in a spiral of despair. One of the most tragic wildfire disasters in Brazil has brought a sizable threat to one of the country’s most cherished natural landscapes: the Amazon Rainforest.
Wildfires are nothing new to nature: in fact, many natural wildfires help regulate ecosystems through a complicated series of renewal and revival. The flames are commonplace in shrublands, dry areas with low-lying flora. The plants here produce an oil-like secretion that is flammable, and when they are struck by lightning, they easily ignite and spark a cascade of actions. However, the rise in anthropogenic (man-made) wildfires have brought dire consequences to our surroundings. With climate change spelling out a grim future along with a global pandemic taking the front seat of everyone’s concerns, our neglect for the environment is finally catching up to us.
The effects have been felt all across Brazil. The country experienced a major loss when the Sao Fransisco do Perigara sanctuary caught fire roughly a month ago. Nearly three and a half thousand kilometers away in northern Brazil, residents also suffered from the impending wildfires that currently are encroaching on nearby communities. These disasters proved fatal for both the local residents as well as the region’s prized Blue Macaw population. The residents voiced their frustration with the fires upending their ways of life, and the native endangered animals are taking a hit due to the loss of their habitat. A decrease in species biodiversity makes it difficult for endangered populations to bounce back, and once we lose organisms to extinction forever, that may cripple our natural habitats. The ecosystem and the people within it are closely tied in an intricate relationship that requires dependency for both on the other, so it is impossible for Brazilian citizens to come out unscathed when their government continues to cut funding for environmental protection programs. These environmental losses can be felt throughout the economy, yet most of the responsibility is placed upon non-governmental groups to ensure proper regulation and conservation of the wilderness.
So how can we help? It is important to note that any action taken to raise awareness is necessary and treasured in our times, so we can take the first step by educating ourselves on environmental conservation and the value of our Earth’s ecosystem. Climate change is not an issue that will invariably come back to haunt us in the next generation, it is an issue of the present. Check out the resources linked below to find out more about how your community or country is tackling this issue, and how you may chip in:
Resources in various countries:
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