Student Article

The Amazon rainforest is a huge and important forest that helps our planet. But recently there have been many fires in the Amazon. In the first eight months of 2019, there were almost 50,000 fires, which is 84% more than the same time in 2018.

Does the Amazon rainforest catch fire naturally?

These fires are started by people to clear the land for farming. The Amazon rainforest is not used to fires. Unlike other places like the African savannah, the rainforest is too wet to catch fire naturally. All the fires in the Amazon are started by humans. Some people get permission to clear parts of their land by burning trees, but many fires are illegal.

How do fires harm the rainforest?

Dr. Adriane Esquivel-Muelbert, a scientist from Brazil, studies how climate change affects forests. She says that fires are very bad for the rainforest because they destroy everything. When trees die, the area becomes hotter and drier. This makes it easier for more fires to start.

What could happen if the fires continue?

If the fires continue, the Amazon rainforest could change into a savannah, which is a grassy area with fewer trees. This would be very bad for the plants and animals that live there. It would also be bad for the planet because the rainforest helps to keep the air clean.

We need to protect the Amazon rainforest to keep it from turning into a desert. Everyone around the world can help by making sure we use products that do not harm the rainforest.

© Amy Arthur / Our Media