5 Easy Ways You Can Protect The Amazon Rainforest

In July 2019 (before the current Amazon fires started) Brazil set a new deforestation record in the Amazon rainforest; 1,345km2 of forest was cleared in just a single month. To put that into context, the largest forest in Europe is the Bialowieza Forest, which is 3,085km2 and stretches across Belarus and Poland.  Meaning that in just one month this year, the equivalent of nearly half the size of the largest forest in Europe was cleared in the Amazon…go figure.

Why We Must Save The Amazon Rainforest

Why does this matter so much? The Amazon basin is home to over 20 million Indigenous peoples, as well as 30 million species of plants and animals. That is half of the Earth’s wildlife and at least two-thirds of its plant species. All of which are vital in providing animal habitats, food sources and medicines, as well as balancing our planets climate.

The Amazon is a vital carbon sink, meaning it draws down carbon from the atmosphere into the soil where it is used positively to promote plant growth and life. If the entire Amazon forest was lost, the carbon that would be emitted into the atmosphere is equivalent to 140 years of human- induced carbon emissions.

With all these scary stats it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless to help right. We wanted to share the facts as we believe knowledge is key in the fight against climate change but we also believe it’s important to focus on climate positivity and the changes we all have the power to make. No climate anxiety here please! Just everyday activism that adds up to real, widespread positive change.

5 Easy Ways You Can Protect The Amazon Rainforest

So what can we all do, every day, to help defend the Amazon rainforest from deforestation?

1. Choose to eat local, seasonal food produced through Regenerative Agriculture.

Amazon deforestation is a result of our consumption of meat and other non-seasonal and local produce. By choosing to buy locally produced produce we can start to end this destructive cycle.

Regenerative Agriculture is a system of farming principles and practices that increases biodiversity, enriches soils, improves watersheds, and enhances ecosystem services. It aims to capture carbon in the soil and aboveground biomass (plants), reversing current global trends of atmospheric accumulation and climate change. At the same time, it offers increased yields, resilience to climate instability, and higher health and vitality for farming communities. Find out more about Regenerative Agriculture in the UK.

2. Vote for leaders who understand the urgency of our climate crisis 

It's time to vote for leaders in every community who understand the science and urgency of climate change. We are the first generation that has the technology, the scientific knowledge and the global will to build a truly sustainable economic future for all of humanity. We are the last generation that has a chance to stop climate change before it is too late. We need leaders who are going to use technology and power wisely.

Check out this article from journalist Tom Bawden on how the different UK political parties are shaping up on the environment.

3. Donate to charities who work with frontline organisation to defend the rainforest.

We recommend donating to The Rainforest Alliance, who work directly with frontline organisations defending the rainforest. Or Amazon Frontlines, an organisation who work with Indigenous- activists to defend the rainforest. 

Keep reading for how many of us can immediately find £5 to donate to one of these awesome organisations.

4. Cancel Your Amazon Prime Membership and Re-direct those funds to The Rainforest Alliance or Amazon Frontlines

But whyyy some of you may say. And no, not because of their name. Ironically, Jeff Bezos, founder of ‘Amazon ’ (which he named 'Amazon Inc' because he aimed to have it represent the largest collection of retail items on the internet, inspired by the Amazon Rainforest which has the largest collection of flora and fauna- oh the irony), rounded out 2018 with a net worth of $123 billion. The cost to halt deforestation, restore landscapes, change agricultural practices and protect Indigenous populations? $122 billion dollars.

So Jeff Bezos has every penny needed (with liquidation or long term investment) to start saving THE Amazon, and  he’d still have 1 billion to play with.

To be clear, this is not a ‘get at Jeff Bezos blog post’ and we understand that Amazon is a valuable tool for many of us in terms of convenience and low prices, but it illustrates a strong point about the way our society is currently operating.

Aside from the financial stats, there are also many reasons why you may wish to reconsider using Amazon from unethical employment practices, tax avoidance to carbon footprint. You can read about the issues associated with Amazon in detail here.

So why not consider cancelling your Amazon Prime membership and redirecting your $€£ to Amazon Frontlines of The Rainforest Alliance.

You can read about the 'pledge to cancel prime' movement here.

5. Declare Yourself and ‘Earth Protector’ with Ecocide Law 

Ecocide Law are working to make acts destruction of the natural environment, especially when deliberate (i.e. Rainforest destruction) a crime in the International Criminal Courts. They’re calling it Ecocide.

By signing up and becoming an Earth Protector, you help crowdfund expert legal and practical assistance for small climate-vulnerable states progressing Ecocide law at the International Criminal Court. 

By adding your voice to this movement, you are also helping create stronger visibility, support and momentum for this crucial amendment to international law. It takes just 2 minutes to sign up!

So there you have it. Five actions we can all take today at no extra cost or time. Five actions that do not impact your lifestyle but add up to create widespread change. Will you take action today? 

This post was inspired by www.HollyRose.eco. Head to Holly’s website for more information on regenerative agriculture, soil health and everyday environmental activism.