The Amazon Rainforest - Water and Carbon Case Study

The Water Cycle

• Warm Temperature = higher evaporation = increased precipitation
• Dense Canopy = hihger interception = less flow into rivers = also more slowly
• Species adapted to high humidity, frequent rainfall
• wet air blown over Atlantic towards Amazon = wet rainforest = high rainfall

Attempts to limit human impacts on Amazon

• Selective logging
  • felling fewer trees
  • only some trees felled
• Replanting
  • Few trees replace those cut down
    • E.G. Peru = 3.2 million hectares of forest by 2020
  • Same type of tree replanted = local carbon and water cycles restored to initial state
• Protection
  • National Parks, nature reserves protect rainforest
    • Damaging activities be monited and prevented
    • E.G. Central Amazon Conservation Complex, Brazil, 2003, protects biodiversity, 49,000km2, local people use forest in a sustainable way
• …