In South America, in Africa, in Asia the rainforest is destroyed in the name of development. A rich biodiversity is lost and local people are expelled from their traditional lands.
Biodiversity in Brazil…
Aerial view of Jari River, northern tributary of the Amazon, coming down from Guyana Highlands showing rapids and lush rainforest.
… in Ivory Coast and in Peru
Tropical Rain Forest in Amazon Region, Dept. Loreto, Peru, South America; palm is Attalea sp. CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE.
West Africa, rainforest in southwest Ivory Coast, along Hana River (a tributary of the Cavally River). Blooming climbing palm is Laccosperma secundiflorum (Arecaceae). CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE.
But the greed brought by globalization, the market forces, agribusiness (cattle ranching, soybean, sugarcane, cotton…, logging, mining, hydroelectric power dams sees more value in the destruction of the forest.
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest:
Slash-and-burn agriculture: forest being burned for cultivation in Amazon region, Acre, Brazil CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE.
Aerial of rainforest being burned to clear land for cattle ranching, Brazil, Para, Amazon region. CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE.
Aerial of smoldering remains of Amazon rainforest burned for clearing for cattle ranching, Para, Brazil
Logs are floated in rafts or transported on boats on the Amazon.
Brazil, Amazon region, Para State. Deforestation: raft of logs on lower Amazon river.
Deforestation: barge loaded with logs in Amazon estuary, Marajo Island, Para, Brazil
Boards drying in the sun at sawmill.
Boards drying in the sun at sawmill in Amazon rainforest at Marajo Island in Amazon estuary, Para, Brazil.
Some wood is cut in local sawmills for export.
Boards packed for export at sawmill at Marajo Island in Amazon estuary, Brazil
Tucurui dam on Tocantins River in Amazon rainforest.
Brazil, Para State. Tucurui dam on Tocantins River in Amazon region. CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE.
The Brazilian government started building dams on several important rivers, displacing populations and disturbing the migration and reproduction of fish.
Carajás iron mine in Amazon rainforest.
Brazil. Para State, Carajas iron mine in Amazon rainforest. CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE.
A railroad was built to carry iron ore from the Carajas mine in the Amazon to a port on the Atlantic coast, opening the way for cattle ranchers, illegal loggers etc, allowing them to invade land of the Awá indigenous people, previously uncontacted.
Road through deforested area, with mosaic of pasture, agricultural land and remnant islands of rainforest.
Deforestation: aerial of road going through former rainforest cleared for agriculture and cattle raising, Amazon rainforest, Para State, Brazil
Only tree stumps are left on the pasture.
Cattle grazing in pasture formed by cleared rainforest land with tree stumps left, Amazon region, Pará, Brazil.
Unloading truck at sawmill at Pucallpa, Peru..
Logs being unloaded from truck at sawmill in Pucallpa on Ucayali River, Peru.
Sawmill at Pucallpa, Peru.
Worker carrying cut wood at sawmill in Pucallpa on Ucayali River, Peru
Deforestation in Africa: Logging trucks in Ivory Coast…
Deforestation: trucks loaded with logs in western Ivory Coast, Africa.
…and logs at harbor in Gabon.
Deforestation: Timber at harbor at Owendo, Libreville harbor, Gabon, Africa
Back in Brazil: People place their hopes in the supernatural, not aware that the threat of the market economy may change their lives forever, for better or for worse.
Procession by canoe of Nossa Senhora da Conceicao on small river (rio Caraparu) in tropical rainforest in Para State, Brazil
Will the peace of the Caraparu River remain?
Small river in rainforest, Amazon region, Para State, Brazil