The Amazon Forest is changing to a desert
The birds you hear every morning or the butterflies you see when you go to the garden, will your future generations see them? And in six to seven decades, you may not be on earth, but many familiar birds or animals will disappear with you in this century.
Global warming, various climate crises including desertification, overuse of natural resources and pollution are increasing the damage to our earth’s ecosystems.
Scientists fear that the world we see now will change by 2050. Along with food supply and safe water crisis, various species will become extinct. By 2050, the world’s population will increase due to increased pressure on nature.
According to recent studies, about one million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction during this period. Due to the climate crisis, the intensity of wildfires, floods and extreme weather is increasing.
Biologist Sandra Myrna Diaz said, “Nature is shrinking as population increases. If action is not taken now, there will be news of many types of extinction by the middle of this century.”
“New diseases will often appear with the spread of crop-eating animals. Plastic pollution will destroy marine fish habitats and many forests will be lost,” he added.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)’s Red List, more than one-fourth of all plant and animal species are threatened with extinction.
Alexandre Antonelli, director of the UK’s Royal Botanic Gardens, said, “I am saddened to see the destruction of natural ecosystems in my country, Brazil. From the Amazon and Atlantic rainforests to the Cerrado region, shrubs are declining.”
“Countless insects, fungi, micro-organism habitats and orchids are disappearing. Biodiversity of nature is being lost due to human cruelty,” he added.
“Our time is running out fast. To deal with the possible damage, nature restoration work must be done around the world. In addition to reducing the consumption of meat, the use of fossil fuels should be reduced by any means,” he advised.
Emma Archer, a professor of geography and ecology at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, said, “The nature of various areas of Africa, including South Africa, is changing. The environment is being damaged due to mining along with changes in agricultural systems.”
In this regard, Christian Julia, a member of the indigenous Pankaru group of the Amazon, warned, “If we do not take the necessary steps to conserve biodiversity, the Amazon will also become a desert.”
“The Amazon will be the world’s largest desert – imagine how terrible it will be? This is happening because of the global economic system. Work must be started to change the current trend now,” she added.
