Deforestation is driven by many types of human activity such as mining, logging, and development. The most famous case of deforestation is the Amazon rainforest in South America. The Amazon is known as the lungs of the world, taking in massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Amazon is also incredibly biodiverse, covers multiple countries in South America, and remains home to hundreds of indigenous tribes. Despite its importance, the Amazon has been shrinking for decades due to legal and illegal human encroachment.
A new MIT study has found 10% of mercury emissions are due to global deforestation. Mercury can damage the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. It is not eliminated with waste and remains in the body. Like carbon, mercury is absorbed by plants during respiration but unlike carbon it serves no purpose in the plant. When the soil is uncovered and disturbed the direct sunlight causes mercury to release from the soil in its gaseous form.
Despite these struggles, strides in protecting forests are being made around the world. According to NASA large chunks of the Amazon are protected by indigenous people, who actively monitor forest health. In Colombia, deforestation has declined by 33% so far this year. On another continent in the forest of Kerala, India a biodiversity hotspot is protected by a group of women who bring in unique species from the region to their sanctuary. The Gurukala botanical sanctuary was founded by a self-taught conservationist, is now home to over two thousand native plant species.
Indigenous people are often hurt first by environmental damage because of their close dependency on the land for survival, culture, and community. They are also often environmental stewards who preserve the integrity of their local ecosystems when they have sovereignty. Currently in Brazil, the large country within the Amazon requires indigenous groups to be consulted before development within the forest.