Christina Larson of the Associated Press reports on how poverty is hurting the Amazon rainforest.
- The Amazon’s deforestation is partially a result of poverty as people deforest the land to try and make a living in agriculture.
- The soil is this region is not ideal for farming, which leads to low crop yields and inefficient use of the land.
- Addressing these challenges will require bringing fertilizers to the area to improve the use of land, increasing property rights protections, and investing in economic development to reduce poverty.
“The only way to meet both goals is to find more paths for people to make a living in the Amazon without further destroying the rainforest, say experts who have long worked in the region. That means using already deforested land more efficiently — to reduce pressure to clear more forest — as well as supporting businesses that sustainably harvest native products such as açaí and cacao.”
Read the full article here.
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