The Amazon
The Amazon
rainforest is the
biggest rainforest
in the world.
© ZIG KOCH / WWF-UK
The Amazon
It spans eight
countries (and
one overseas
territory) in
South America
including
Brazil, Peru,
Colombia and
Venezuela.
© GREG ARMFIELD / WWF UK
The Amazon
One in ten of the
known species
on Earth can be
found in the
Amazon.
© ZIG KOCH / WWF-UK
The Amazon
This includes
more than 3,000
different species
of freshwater
fish…
The Amazon
Over 700 species
of reptiles…
© ANDRÉ / BÄRTSCHI / WWF-CANON
The Amazon
And over 40,000
species of plant.
© GREG ARMFIELD / WWF UK
The Amazon
Some of the
species which
are found in the
Amazon can’t be
found anywhere
else in the world.
For example the
pink river
dolphin…
© NATUREPL.COM/LUIZ CLAUDIO MARIGO / WWF
The Amazon
The
pirarucu…
The Amazon
And the
black
spider
monkey.
The Amazon
The Amazon is a
unique and
important
ecosystem but it
faces serious
threats.
© ROGER LEGUEN / WWF-CANON
The Amazon
An area of
rainforest the size
of three football
pitches is cleared
every 60 seconds.
The Amazon
About 20 percent
of the rainforest
has already been
lost to
deforestation.
© GREG ARMFIELD / WWF-UK
The Amazon
Forest is cleared
in order to make
space for cattle
ranches…
The Amazon
To mine for
gold and
oil...
© RYAN M. BOLTON / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
The Amazon
To cut down
timber for paper
and furniture…
The Amazon
And to
develop roads
and dams
which are
used to create
electricity.
© GREG ARMFIELD / WWF UK
The Amazon
As one of the
largest forests in
the world, the
Amazon is crucial
to maintaining the
health of the
planet.
© ZIG KOCH / WWF-UK
The Amazon
The trees in the
Amazon absorb
and store huge
amounts of carbon
dioxide, which, if
released can
accelerate climate
change.
© GREG ARMFIELD / WWF UK
The Amazon
The huge numbers
of different species
which rely on the
forest are also put in
danger by its
destruction. Many
have already
become extinct.
© ZIG KOCH / WWF-UK
What’s the number?
Look at the following
numbers and decide which
statistic they are linked to on
your worksheet…
What’s the number?
3 million
6.7 million
40,000
10
80
3
1.38 million
1 billion
What’s the number?
• 80 per cent of deforestation/forest loss is caused by
cattle ranching?
• 1.38 square kilometres of Amazon rainforest have
been cut down since 1970.
• An area of Amazon rainforest the size of 3 football
pitches is cut down every minute.
• Sky and WWF are trying to protect 1 billion through
the Sky Rainforest Rescue campaign.
What’s the number?
• One in 10 of the world’s species can be found in the
Amazon rainforest.
• The Amazon rainforest covers 6.7 million square
kilometres.
• 40,000 plant species have been discovered in the
rainforest.
• 3 million indigenous people living in the Amazon
rainforest.
Rescuing the rainforest
• One of the most serious
problems facing the Amazon
rainforest is the destruction
of its trees.
• This is called deforestation
and it can add to climate
change.
• It also destroys the homes
of many animals so can lead
to them becoming extinct.
Rescuing the rainforest
We are going to tell
each other about some
of the problems which
people in the Amazon
face and match them
to the solutions which
Sky and WWF are
trying to find to these
problems.
© SIMON RAWLES / WWF-UK
Rescuing the rainforest
The trees and plants of the Amazon hold many
nutrients. Farmers cut and burn forest to grow
crops. But without the trees, the soil in the
Amazon quickly becomes poor. The farmers
burn more forest so that they have fresh, fertile
land to farm.
Rescuing the rainforest
Sky and WWF are helping farmers to plan how
they use their lands so they can improve the soil,
grow more food and make more money without
clearing forests for new land.
Thumbometer
We are going to look
at some statements
about the Amazon
rainforest and I want
you all to use your
thumbs to show
whether you agree or
disagree…
© GREG ARMFIELD / WWF-UK
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Thumbs up if you agree
Thumbs down if you disagree
In the middle if you aren’t sure
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The Amazon is an amazing place.
© ZIG KOCH / WWF
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There are so many different species in the Amazon that
it doesn’t matter if one or two become extinct.
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It is important to give people alternatives to clearing
more rainforest.
© PER ANDERS PETTERSSON
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The only people who can make a difference to how the
Amazon rainforest is used are the people that live there.
© SIMON RAWLES / WWF-UK
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The people that live in the Amazon do not own the land so
the government should be able to take it off them whenever
they want.
© R.ISOTTI, A.CAMBONE - HOMO AMBIENS - WWF-CANON
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It is more important to grow cheap food for people and
farm animals than it is to preserve the trees in the
Amazon rainforest.
© SIMON RAWLES / WWF-UK
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It is important that we protect the homes of indigenous
tribes who have lived in the Amazon for thousands of
years.
© ZIG KOCH / WWF
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Preventing climate change in the future by keeping trees
standing is more important than making money by cutting
them down now.
© GREG ARMFIELD / WWF-UK