Excerpt
Cattle rising in the Amazon are controversial as it is blamed for contributing to global warming, deforestation, and desertification. Intensification of cattle operations may help lessen environmental stresses and slow forest loss. Some Amazonian ranches are intensifying their operations; however this is occurring mostly in upland areas. Although not as advanced as on uplands and not extensively studied, intensification is also occurring on floodplain ranches. One of the major cattle producing areas on floodplains is Marajó Island, located at the mouth of the Amazon River. The intensification of cattle ranching on Marajó Island has been a slow process, hindered by traditional methods of free-grazing, climate, and the lack of reliable, educated workers capable of carefully managing cattle and applying methods of intensification such as fencing, pasture rotation, and selective breeding. Intensification on floodplains such as Marajó Island is of particular concern since much deforestation in wetlands affects fish through the loss of food sources such as fruits dropped into the water by riverside forest. Intensification may prevent loss of this streamside forest and, in addition to preserving numerous Amazonian fishes important for subsistence and commerce, will have countless other environmental benefits.
Introduction
The earth is a constantly changing system. This is a well-known and documented fact. But only recently has man acquired the power to influence and control these global changes. One type of change, being brought on by man, is deforestation. This process of clearing out forests is having a drastic effect on many global ecosystems. One type of ecosystem that is sustaining great amounts of damage from deforestation is the tropical rain forest. Tropical Rain Forests are characterized by large amounts of rainfall, high temperatures, high biodiversity, and a unique forest structure that includes a forest canopy.
The world's largest stand of tropical rain forest is the.....
