Severe drought in the Brazilian Amazon. Thousands of dead fish on the dry river bed of Manaquiri Lake, 150 kilometers from Amazonas State Capitol Manaus. The lake is now reduced to a narrow stream.
Severe drought impacts the Brazilian Amazon. Thousands of fish die at the dry river bed of Manaquiri Lake, 150 kilometers from Amazonas State Capitol Manaus. The lake is now reduced to a narrow stream.
"Brazil is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate
changes in the world because of its invaluable biodiversity. If the
Amazon loses more than 40% of its forest cover, we will reach a
turning point from where we cannot reverse the savannization
process of the world's largest forest," said Carlos Nobre, from the
Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and
President of the International Geosphere Biosphere Program (IGBP)
(2).
Seventeen per cent of the Amazon has been completely wiped out
over the past 30 years, according to INPE, and even more has been
damaged by destructive and illegal logging and other human
activities. Life on Earth depends on ancient forests for its
survival. They are the richest most diverse habitats, and help
stabilize climate and regulate the weather.
"This drought and its effects are really shocking. Towns are
lacking food, medicines and fuel because boats cannot get through,"
said Carlos Rittl, Greenpeace Brazil's climate campaigner.
"If the landscape I've seen this week is a sign of things to
come, we're in serious trouble (3). We risk losing the world's
largest rainforest, the network of rivers and invaluable and varied
life it sustains, much of which we haven't even discovered or
researched."
Amazonian deforestation and fires account for more than 75% of
Brazil's greenhouse gas emissions and place it amongst the top four
contributors to global climate change.
"The Amazon is caught between two destructive forces and their
combined effects threaten to flip its ecosystems from forest to
savannah if measures are not taken to stop deforestation and combat
climate change," said Rittl.
Greenpeace is calling on governments to take urgent action to
stop deforestation and commit to the massive CO2 reductions needed
to protect the Earth's biodiversity and millions of people who are
at risk from the impacts of climate change and ancient forest
destruction.
Greenpeace is an independent, campaigning organisation, which
uses non-violent, creative communications tools to put the
spotlight on global environmental problems, and drives towards
solutions essential for a green and peaceful future.
Other contacts: Contacts: In the Amazon:Carlos Rittl, Greenpeace Brazil Climate campaigner: +55 92 8114 4468Tica Minami, Greenpeace Amazon Media Officer: +55 92 8114 4517 In Europe:Mhairi Dunlop, Greenpeace International Communications, +44 7801 212 960
VVPR info: Photos and video images are available on requestPhoto: John Novis, +31 653 81 91 21Video: Tica Minami: +55 92 8114 4517
Notes: (1) The LBA is an international research initiative led by Brazil which aims to create the knowledge needed to understand the climatological, ecological, biogeochemical and hydrological functioning of Amazonia, the impact of land use change on these functions and the interactions between Amazonia and the Earth system.(2) Carlos Nobre, scientist from the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE), LBA member and President of the International Geosphere Biosphere Program (IGBP) is available for interview at: + 55 12 3186 9400(3) Greenpeace has been gathering dramatic images of the worst drought in 40 years in the Amazon this week. The Amazon River basin is at its lowest level in decades. Floodplains have dried up and people are walking and using bicycles on areas in which canoes and riverboats used to be the only means of transport. Large boats have become stuck in the dry mud and the landscape is covered with thousands of rotting dead fish, which are attracting dozens of vultures.