Despite some successes in slowing deforestation in the Amazon Basin, particularly in Brazil, the fact remains that the net size of the rainforest continues to decrease year by year. Although the numbers are often contested, there is some scientific agreement around the fact that up to 15% of the original Amazon rainforest has disappeared while another 20% is degraded and may not recover. The causes of this deforestation are complex and sometimes controversial but can be summed up in two words: human activity. Successful conservation policies and practices are likely to be similarly intricate and will require an international effort involving both Amazonian nations and the other countries where Amazonian products are often consumed.
Red and Green Macaw (close-up) 5
Red-brocket Deer 2009-04-09
