The Amazon Rainforest is on fire and is in dire need of help. The Amazon has been burning for several weeks now. The devastation may be more costly than many people think and can affect our Earth in a big way. 

Most of Brazil’s wildfires occur during the dry season of the country but this year an abundance of wildfires have broken out  throughout the year. “There has been 74,155 fires in Brazil just in 2019, most of which erupted in the Amazons.” NPR reported

New factors have emerged about why these forest fires are happening all year long. “Conservationists have blamed deforestation for agricultural use for the increase in fires in 2019.” BBC reported.  Also Brazil’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro is blamed for saying, “he has encouraged the clearing of land by loggers and farmers which is speeding us deforestation of the rainforest.”  

Other ecologist agrees that the drive to tear down the Amazon for framing use is to blame.  “That leads us to think that this is a deforestation- driven fire.” said ecologist Adriane Mulbert to National Geographic 

The destruction of the Amazon rainforest can affect the earth in a bigger way than people think. “The Amazon produces 20% of the oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere, and it’s considered vital in slowing global warming as it takes in carbon dioxide and stores it in the soil.” reported CNN The Amazon plays a major role in regulating the climate for the rest of the planet and without the trees that have been burned the climate cannot be regulated as well.  

The Brazilian government has responded regarding the wildfires, “Bolsonaro has baselessly blamed the fires on nongovernmental organizations, suggesting that they have been setting the fires themselves in retaliation for Brazil scaling back its usual funding support for them.”  reported the NPR. The fires are being investigated by the Brazilian government, but they lack the resources to fight the flames. 

While the Brazilian government struggles to stop the fires, others are trying to make a difference to stop them. “ Every small step can help, like  donating to protect an acre of rainforest land through the Rainforest Action Network, donate to the Rainforest Trust to help buy land in the rainforest, protect an acre of forest through Conservation International with a $25 donation, and sign Greenpeace’s petition to help save the Amazon.”  said Shyla Raghav, Conservation International. 

The Amazon Rainforest is in danger and needs help in order to continue providing the earth with the oxygen it needs.