Human Impact on Biodiversity With over a billion acres of dense forests, the Amazon represents half of Earth’s tropical rainforests. The warm temperatures, abundant rainfall, and tree-covered canopies support a biome that is rich in biodiversity. Millions of species of plants and animals are found in the Amazon. Many species are endemic to the Amazon, such as the macaw, anaconda, orchid, river dolphin, and giant river otter, and cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. The forests are rich in medicinal plants that are used by humans to cure illnesses. The biome’s vegetation acts as a large carbon sink which helps to limit climate change, as well as producing more than 20% of the world’s oxygen. The picture shows the location of the Amazon and surrounding countries. Humans have long used the resources of the Amazon for their needs. Many areas of the forests have been cleared to make way for human habitation. The wood of the trees is used for human needs and sold globally. The land use pattern has changed due to human activities such as building settlements, cattle ranching, soybean production, oil drilling, and mining in order to meet the increased demand for products. Species that are non-native to the Amazon rainforest have been introduced to enhance the quality of human settlements. Humans are becoming aware of the effects of destroying this area. As the importance of the Amazon rainforest becomes more evident, people have begun conservation efforts. As government initiatives push for continued development, groups lead efforts to restore degraded lands. As illegal hunting and habitat loss threaten certain species to the point of extinction, some species are being bred in captivity and later released into their natural habitats. Long term efforts, involving the governments and the native people of the surrounding countries, will lead in the right direction to help conserve the Amazon rainforest. Question 1 Choose THREE human activities that have a negative impact on the biodiversity within Amazon rainforests. A captive breeding of organisms B change in the land-use pattern C exploitation of available resources D introduction of conservative measures E introduction of invasive species F restoration of degraded land

Biology Primary School in Biology . 2 months ago

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