Setting the Scene

The Amazon is often called the Earth's lungs. It covers 5.5 million km² across 9 countries, contains around 10% of all species on Earth, and influences rainfall patterns from Brazil to Bolivia. Its trees hold 150–200 billion tonnes of carbon — more than 15 years of global human emissions. But since 1970, an area larger than France has been cleared. Each year, Brazil alone loses an area of forest roughly the size of Belgium. This is one of geography's great tensions: development versus conservation. Poor farmers need land to feed their families. Governments need money to build roads and hospitals. Corporations need land for cattle and soya. And the planet needs the Amazon to stay standing. These forces have been in collision for 50 years — and this topic is about understanding why, and what can be done.