The impact of human activities on the Amazon Rainforest.

Deforestation is one of the biggest problems caused by humans on the rainforest. Here are the Global Rates of Deforestation: 

• 2.47 acres (1 hectare) per second. (This is the equivalent of two football fields)
• 150 acres (60 hectares) per minute.
• 214,000 acres (80,000 hectares) per day. (This is an area larger than New York City)
• 78 million acres (31 million hectares) per year. (This is an area larger than Poland)
  

Some other problems include:

• Road Building.

     The Transamazon Highway has allowed much more access to the Amazon Rainforest.

• Cattle Ranching.

     Ranching is a big cause of deforestation, not only in the Amazon, but also in Central America. Two-thirds of lowland tropical forests have been turned into pasture since 1950.

• Hydroelectric Power. 

     An unlimited supply of water and the right river conditions have led to the development of HEP stations (Hydro Electric Power stations).

• Global Warming
  Rainforest canopies absorb carbon dioxide. When the rainforests are burned and cleared, that carbon is released. As well as that, when trees are cut down they can no longer absorb carbon dioxide. This means more carbon dioxide is in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide allows heat through the atmosphere, but it will not allow the reflected energy to escape from the atmosphere. This is the greenhouse effect and causes global warming.