Foundation for Amazon Sustainability’s Post

Climate emergency signs: ““Many forests in the EU are not in a good state overall,” the Commission said. “They are suffering from biodiversity loss and are heavily affected by climate change, aggravating and cumulating other destructive pressures such as pests, pollution and disease. Climate change leads to long periods of drought and heat that are likely to increase the extent and intensity of future forest fires across the EU.” It means we are accelerating the trajectory towards the extinction of our species and millions others who share the only planet, we know of or will ever know, where life exists. We are not doing anything significant enough to stop and reverse this trend. Forest conservation solution: adopt one or multiple trees in the Forest of Immortal Stories in Nucșoara commune, Romania. 2,544 century-old beech trees, out of 5000 surrounding the commune, a symbolic number that equals Moldoveanu, the highest peak in the Romanian Carpathians were selected for adoption. “They are witnesses of time, examples of heritage, essential sources of carbon sequestration due to their age, source of clean air and future experiences.” Challenge: be the next individual, institution, community to adopt one, several or all beech trees available for adoption. Please help keep these and all trees alive and thriving.

Another important, albeit less talked about, co-benefit of leaving large forests intact: regional heat moderation. The link between urban vegetation and urban heat is clearer, but it’s interesting that this study went broader to investigate the implication of forest loss in the tropics. The article focused on Amazonia but it will be interesting to see how forest loss in Southeast Asia will impact heat experience across the rest of the region. From the article: “For example, - areas with little local or regional deforestation experienced a warming of only 0.3 °C - areas with local deforestation but little regional deforestation warmed by around 1.3°C. - areas that had both local and regional deforestation saw a much larger rise of 4.4 °C.” https://lnkd.in/gw4NJNgW #forests #climate #nature #cop28 Cc Jason Kai Wei LEE !

🌍 Earth Day is an important reminder of the global climate crisis that we are currently facing. According to the 2023 Annual Climate Report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the earth's average temperature has increased by 0.11° Fahrenheit (0.06° Celsius) per decade since 1850, which amounts to a total increase of around 2° F. However, this rate of warming has accelerated since 1982, with temperatures increasing at a rate of 0.36°F (0.20°C) per decade. The past nine years, from 2015 to 2023, have been the warmest on record. Greenhouse gas levels and global temperatures are also at record highs. The same report states that the world is warming up by 2.8° Celsius, or 5° Fahrenheit, above preindustrial levels by 2100. Many scientists and world leaders consider this level of warming to be dangerous. There are many effects of climate change that we are already experiencing, including hotter temperatures, more severe storms, increased drought, a warming and rising ocean, loss of species, not enough food, more health risks, and poverty and displacement. Unfortunately, scientists predict that global temperature increases from human-made greenhouse gases will continue, and they also indicate that severe weather damage will increase and intensify. According to the European Commission's 2023 Climate Action Progress Report, emissions from buildings are falling, but transport's footprint continues to grow. The report also states that while awareness of climate impacts has increased, action on adaptation to climate change must accelerate. #earth #EarthDay #hottertemperatures #moreseverestorms #increased #drought #awarming #risingocean #lossofspecies #notenoughfood #morehealthrisks #povertyand #Displacement #ClimateReport #greenhouse #globaltemperatures #scientists #warming #climatechange #abdullahaljubayer #jubayerztech #linkedin #letsconnect

Sustainable and resilient development to climate change in the Amazon region: alternatives for the forest, the countryside and the city. Amazon Dialogues Amazon Summit, Hangar Convention Centre - Belém do Pará, PA, Brazil- 6 August 2023, 18:00-20:00, Room 2, Plenary 300 people The Amazon rainforest is the largest tropical forest in the world and currently occupies 40% of the territory of South America, with a territory of 6.92 million km2. Its area extends in the territory of eight countries, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela, also being part of French Guiana. Within this environmental diversity we find approximately 20% of the planet's fresh water in the Amazon basin and 20% of the flora and fauna that exist in the world. https://lnkd.in/dfY59EMA

Stuff I didn't know about the Ocean till recently: Climate change wouldn't exist if we had the Ocean life we had in 1950 The Ocean is the world's largest carbon sink. It absorbs around half the world’s CO2. Coastal systems like mangroves, salt marshes and seagrass meadows absorb carbon dioxide up to 50 times faster than the same area of tropical rainforest. Whilst biomass on land takes 40 years to double in size, in the Ocean the equivalent is 4 days (microscopic plankton are the heroes of the Ocean food chain). Every other breath we take comes from the Ocean As much as 80% of all life on earth is found beneath the Ocean’s surface. It is estimated that two-thirds of ocean species are yet to be discovered. More people have reached the moon than have dived the deepest ocean trench. Over-fishing is one of, if not, THE key reason Ocean life is being destroyed at an astonishing rate. "Marine Protected Areas" in the UK are not protected from over-fishing and bottom-trawling (except for a limited number of places). Bottom trawling creates industrial scale destruction of the seabed. A large net with heavy weights is dragged across the seafloor, scooping up everything in its path in order to catch as many fish or crustaceans as possible. The seabed never recovers. Bottom trawling is like cutting down a rainforest with a bulldozer. Just as the bulldozer plows through the trees, indiscriminately destroying everything in its path, bottom trawling drags massive nets along the ocean floor, decimating entire ecosystems and leaving devastation in its wake. Both practices leave behind barren landscapes, devoid of biodiversity and unable to support the delicate balance of life that once thrived there. Final fact - the Ocean can recover quickly if we let it, as evidenced by the work to restore Bluefin Tuna by agreeing limits to catches. You don't need to be an expert to be involved in Ocean conservation. You just need to care and take helpful actions that can be a role model for others 💙 Follow me & the team at OceanSaver if you want to be part of the solution 🙏 ps. if any Ocean conservationists want to correct any of the above, or add to it, I don't claim to be an authority. Just comment below 👋

Amazon Nations Address Deforestation Challenges 🌳 Despite earnest efforts during a two-day summit in Belém, Amazon nations have fallen short of their collective goal to end deforestation. The recent joint declaration, known as the Belém declaration, aimed to forge an alliance against deforestation, yet it allows individual nations to pursue their conservation objectives. While the summit stressed the critical need to combat deforestation's impact on climate change, differing viewpoints, like Colombia's oil exploration ban and Brazil's exploration near the Amazon river mouth, underscore the complexities in achieving a unified approach. 🌎 Via BBC News: https://lnkd.in/gurAibkK #amazondeforestation #ClimateAction #Amazon #amazonconservation #rainforestprotection #ClimateSummit #globalenvironment #deforestationimpact #conservationalliance #climateurgency #amazonnations #sustainablefuture #climategoals

🌳🌱 Raoni, an Amazon Indigenous chief, raises a crucial alarm: the Amazon rainforest faces disaster unless deforestation is halted. While threats have diminished under President Lula, a new danger looms in the Brazilian Congress, where some push to end Indigenous land recognition. The Amazon rainforest, often called "the lungs of the Earth," plays a vital role in preserving the planet's climate and biodiversity. Covering over 5.5 million square kilometers, it stretches across eight South American countries, including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela. Home to around 400 billion individual trees, the Amazon houses a vast array of plant and animal species, many of which remain undiscovered. The forest sustains numerous Indigenous communities, like Raoni's Kayapo people, who depend on its resources for their cultural, spiritual, and economic well-being. However, the Amazon is under constant threat from deforestation, driven primarily by activities like logging, agriculture, and mining. This rampant destruction not only endangers the livelihoods of Indigenous peoples but also contributes significantly to climate change. The deforestation process releases vast amounts of stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming. Additionally, the loss of trees disrupts local and regional weather patterns, leading to changes in rainfall and temperature, affecting both local and global climates. To combat this crisis, regional leaders from the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) will meet to seek cooperation in protecting Indigenous peoples, promoting sustainable development, and combating deforestation. As Raoni emphasizes, preserving the Amazon is a collective responsibility, as its health impacts all of humanity. Let us unite to protect this invaluable rainforest, ensuring its survival for generations to come. #AmazonRainforest #ClimateCrisis #PreserveOurPlanet 🌎🌳🌱 Source: India Today

Massive bleaching event puts world’s 🌍🌎coral reefs at risk. 😒 Coral bleaching is a phenomenon that occurs when corals expel the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues. These algae provide corals with their vibrant colors and a significant portion of their energy through photosynthesis. When corals are stressed due to environmental changes, such as increased water temperatures, pollution, or changes in light or nutrients, they expel these algae, causing them to turn pale or white, hence the term "bleaching." 😩 Several factors contribute to coral bleaching: 1. Temperature Stress: The primary cause of coral bleaching is elevated sea temperatures, often associated with periods of unusually warm weather or prolonged heatwaves. When water temperatures rise above normal levels, corals become stressed, leading to bleaching. 2. Climate Change: Rising global temperatures due to climate change exacerbate coral bleaching events. Climate change-induced warming of the oceans increases the frequency and severity of temperature-related stressors on coral reefs. 3. Light Intensity: Excessive sunlight, particularly when combined with high water temperatures, can also trigger coral bleaching. Changes in light intensity can disrupt the photosynthetic processes of the coral-algae symbiosis. 4. Pollution: Pollution from sources such as runoff, sewage, and agricultural activities can stress corals and make them more susceptible to bleaching. Pollutants can reduce water quality, increase nutrient levels, and foster the growth of harmful algae, further stressing coral reefs. 5. Ocean Acidification: Increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere lead to ocean acidification, which can weaken corals and make them more vulnerable to bleaching events. Coral bleaching does not always result in coral death, but prolonged or severe bleaching can lead to coral mortality if the stressors persist. Bleached corals are more susceptible to disease and may struggle to recover if conditions do not improve. Mass bleaching events have become more frequent and severe in recent decades, posing a significant threat to coral reef ecosystems worldwide. Efforts to mitigate coral bleaching include reducing carbon emissions to mitigate climate change, improving water quality through better coastal management practices, establishing marine protected areas, and implementing coral reef restoration projects. However, addressing the root causes of coral bleaching requires global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect coral reef ecosystems from further degradation. 🌍🌎

International Forest Day In recent years the world has witnessed a concerning rate of deforestation, with over 6.6 million hectares of forest lost, of which primary tropical forest loss accounted for 4.1 million hectares. 🌳 Planting more trees is a crucial response to the deforestation crisis. 🌳 Trees are not only central to the health of our planet but also offer extensive benefits to societies and economies. They act as carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, which is essential for combating climate change. Moreover, forests support biodiversity, providing habitat to countless species and maintaining ecological balance. So far we have planted more than 3 million trees, but further action is needed to ensure that out most valuable natural resource is around for generations to come.

We often say that forests are the lungs of the world. That is not disputed. But the real "guardians of the forests" continue to suffer as the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change continue to escalate. Forest communities are at the battle frontlines protecting forests for the 1.5-degree target, often performing this task free of charge. They should be compensated for keeping the planet's lungs functional. As we mark the International Day of Forests today and reflect on gains and setbacks, let's reaffirm our commitment to pursue win-win opportunities both for communities at the battle frontlines and for our planet. Read more at: