Amazon
Central to all of WWF’s work in the Amazon is tackling deforestation. One of the major challenges we face is how to make the forest worth more alive than felled.
Tropical rainforests contain around half of all species on Earth – and a third of those remaining rainforests are in the Amazon.
Scientific research has established a clear link between the health of the Amazon and the global environment, especially our climate.
But here’s the big problem – an area of Amazon rainforest the size of England is currently disappearing every year.
Threats and solutions
The next five years are critical for the Amazon. Decades of exploitation have destroyed 20% of its rainforest.
And there’s been a lack of integration in political, industrial and environmental approaches across this vast region.
The area is facing ever-growing threats, particularly:
- deforestation
- conversion of land for meat, soy and biofuel production
- large-scale transportation or energy projects
The added realities of climate change mean there’s a serious risk the Amazon could reach a tipping point where the rainforest dries and becomes savannah.
That's not only devastating for local species and people, it would be disastrous for the global climate, fuelling runaway climate change.
WWF has spent many years gaining experience and building trust in the Amazon region, where we work with governments and local people on a number of key projects:
- tackling deforestation by finding new ways to value standing forests
- encouraging responsible, sustainable agriculture and production
- helping create protected forest and wetland areas
- ensuring free-flowing rivers and forest-friendly roads
More about the Amazon
- The Amazon region spans eight countries in South America – Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela – plus the neighbouring French Overseas Territory of Guiana.
- It sustains millions of species, and is one of the world’s last refuges for jaguars, harpy eagles and pink river dolphins.
- The Amazon is the world’s largest river basin – and the source of one-fifth of all fresh water on the planet.
- More than 30 million people live in the region today – most are in large urban centres, but almost all depend on the Amazon’s ecosystem for food, shelter and livelihoods.
- The UK is the third largest European importer of illegal timber and paper products.
Infrastructure in the Amazon
WWF works to limit the impact of infrastructure development in the Amazon.
Management of National Forests in Brazil
WWF believes that one of the most effective ways of promoting responsible forest management and defining land tenure is through the correct use of Brazil's National Forests.
Natural resource use in indigenous communities
WWF helps indigenous people in rural areas of the Peruvian Amazon defend their right to the sustainable use of natural resources in their territories.
Varzea - Brazil
Over the last 10 years, the Várzea Project has been one of a number of community management initiatives involving partnerships between floodplain communities, grassroots organizations, and NGO's.
Sky Rainforest Rescue
WWF has joined forces with Sky for an exciting new campaign to help protect part of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. Our target is to safeguard a billion trees, covering an area about the size of Belgium.
How you can help
Useful links
Latest Amazon news
Peru increases Amazon protection
The Peruvian government has allocated significant funds to help protect a large swathe of the Amazon, home to several endangered species and indigenous groups.
Tune in to Sky News from the Amazon
WWF's work in the Amazon rainforest will be highlighted through three days of live broadcasts on Sky News from 10 December.
Climate 'tipping points' near
The world is dangerously close to reaching temperature thresholds – or ‘tipping points’ – that can unleash devastating environmental, social and economic changes, according to a new report released by WWF and Allianz. It highlights the urgent need for world leaders to agree ambitious targets to cut the greenhouse gas emissions that fuel global warming.
Download
The Amazon's Vicious Cycles: Drought and Fire in the Greenhouse
Keeping the Amazon forests standing: a matter of values
