The Amazon Is Burning, Here’s How You Can Help

The Amazon Rainforest has been burning at a rapid rate for weeks now. Brazil has declared a state of emergency due to these fires.

Brazil's President Bolsonaro retracted unfounded claims that NGOs were setting fires in the Amazon, after backlash.

9,500 fires have been detected there in the last week.

NGOs say many were illegally started by farmers to clear land for cattle ranches. pic.twitter.com/8ERtN8H72d

— AJ+ (@ajplus) August 22, 2019

How did these fires even start? Due to farmers and ranchers clearing out land, that left the rainforest the opposite of what it typically is, wet, and since it has been dry that can cause massive forest fires.

“‘The vast majority of these fires are human-lit,’ said Christian Poirier, the program director of non-profit organization Amazon Watch. He added that even during dry seasons, the Amazon — a humid rainforest — doesn’t catch on fire easily, unlike the dry bushland in California or Australia.” (CNN)

The Amazon creates around 20% of the worlds oxygen (World Wildlife Fund). If that number declines it could have a massive effect on climate change and we could start seeing effects even sooner than we imagined.

https://twitter.com/Charan8422/status/1164560404887957507?s=20

How can we help this? Here are some organizations you can donate to right now to help preserve our rainforest! (CNET.com)

Rainforest Action Network – preserves forests, protects the climate and upholds human rights by challenging corporate power and systemic injustice through front line partnerships and strategic campaigns.

Rainforest Trust – purchases and protects the most threatened tropical forests, saving endangered wildlife through partnerships and community engagement. Through these highly effective partnerships, we can ensure sustainable results necessary for the long-term protection of tropical ecosystems and the wildlife they hold.

World Wide Fund for Nature – Our mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth.

Ecosia.org is a search engine that plants a tree for every 45 searches you run. (CNET.com)

Amazon Watch – Protecting the rainforest and our climate by supporting indigenous people.

Amazon Conservation Team – Hand-in-hand with indigenous and other local people, we apply the power of innovation and time-tested traditional practices to protect the forests and watersheds of tropical America.