Deforestation in the amazon rainforest is speeding up. Every six seconds, another soccer field's worth of rainforest vanishes. The deforestation of the amazon rainforest should be enough to motivate anyone. If it's not that 10% of the Earth's bio-diversity is at risk? The wonderful amazon rainforest animals, the amazon rainforest tribes, and the risk to the planet's greatest pharmacopeia? What motivates you, then? This loss takes with it a slice of the Earth's biodiversity and jeopardizes our planet's ecosystem's delicate balance. Across the Amazon, deforestation has claimed over 185 million acres of forests since 1978. The rate has been steadily increasing.
Imagine the jaguars losing their hunting grounds. The scarlet macaws falling silent. The vibrant symphony of the rainforest replaced by the harsh rasp of chainsaws. Imagine the indigenous communities as guardians of this irreplaceable treasure. They face displacement, violence, and the loss of their ancestral way of life.
Out of all things, it is people that have made the Amazon as deadly as it's become. Uncurbed ranching is endangering the Amazon. Cattle ranching, soy production, illegal logging, mining, and infrastructure development are the main culprits. The Amazon is one of the deadliest places in the world for environmental defenders and indigenous people. Most cases concerned disputes over mining, agriculture, dam construction, and logging. According to Global Witness, 40% of environmental defenders murdered from 2015-2019 belonged to indigenous groups. In 2019 alone, 33 people were murdered there, about 15% of all global killings.
The consequences extend far beyond the rainforest's borders. Unbridled deforestation releases the Amazon's vast carbon stores. It fuels climate change and threatens every corner of the globe. It disrupts the water cycle, triggering droughts and floods that ripple across continents. The economic impact is undeniable. It sacrifices the long-term potential of sustainable practices for short-term gain.
Rajas Arcana donates a portion of our company's revenue back to the tribes who are making daily efforts to fight the oppression in the Amazon. We are committed to protecting the world's largest pharmacopoeia. It's important that future generations can enjoy it's wisdom and connect with nature, like we do today.