CASE STUDY: AMAZON RAINFOREST

CASE STUDY: THE AMAZON RAINFOREST

• 50% of all global plant/animal species live here.
• Borders nine nations of South America.
• 20% of the world's oxygen is produced by the Amazon.
• Covers 5.5 million km2. 

Causes of deforestation:

• Quarrying (2%)
• Cattle ranching (70%)
• Logging/timber (3%)
• Agriculture (25%)

Cattle ranching:

• Brazil is the world's largest exporter and producer of beef. Currently holds 80 million heads of cattle.
• In 1990, only 26.6 million cattle.
• 85% of the total US cattle.

Several factors that have increased this:

• Currency devaluation.
• …