1. Land use conflict in the amazon rainforest

2. Introduction Land use conflict
Many groups argue about how to use the land in the rainforest

3. Geographic Setting
More than 2 million square miles

4. Layers of the ecosystem

5. Concern over the rainforest
Lungs of the earth
Carbon-oxygen cycle

6. Native Amazonians Traditional living New skills Hunt and fish
Grow crops on small plots of land
New skills
Speak Portuguese
Work with the Brazilian government and legal system

8. Rubber Tappers
“tap” or collect sap from the rubber trees that grow in the rainforest
Process
Make diagonal cuts in the bark and collect the sap in cups
Reserves are set aside for sustainable activities like rubber tapping

9. Loggers Valuable trees Clear-cutting Roads Economic impact
Mahogany and rosewood
Furniture makers
Clear-cutting
Takes a long time for trees to grow back
Roads
Allow settlers to claim the land for farming and ranching
Economic impact
Creates jobs, provides wood for furniture factories and paper mills
In 2005, brazil exported more than $5 bil worth of wood

13. Settlers Land sharing Poor land No land Unequal
Wealthy families own the best, millions of poor Brazilians own no land
Poor land
Poor in nutrients because of constant rainfall
No land
Need the rainforest land to feed their families

16. Cattle ranchers Loggers clear the land Raising food
Becomes grasslands
Raising food
Earning money as an important economic activity

19. Environmentalists Study the rainforest plants and animals
Work with native people
2.5 acre patch of rainforest supports:
1,500 kinds of flowering plants
750 kinds of trees
125 species of mammals
400 kinds of birds
In 2000 environmentalists were able to block a law that would allow ranchers to clear rainforests without restrictions
In 2004 the government created two large reserves

20. Reducing land conflict
Promote ecotourism
Grow crops that don’t require large areas to be cleared
Coffee
Support sustainable development

21. What native Amazonians want

22. What rubber tappers want

23. What loggers want

24. What settlers want

25. What cattle ranchers want

26. What environmental groups want