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Dinesh

Dinesh club

Posted: 19 Jul 2022

Taken: 19 Jul 2022

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Amazonia

Amazonia
Image from www.researchgate.net/figure/Brazilian-Amazonia-and-Highway-BR-319-Manaus-Porto-Velho-The-deforestation-is-current_fig1_349442353

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 Dinesh
Dinesh club
During its long geological history, Amazonia has passed through a succession of distinct phases, each initiated by a major geological event that opened new ecological niches and closed old ones, forcing readaptation by the plants and animal life.

Man’s advent a few thousand years ago probably made no significant impact on the equilibrium of the ecosystem because his numbers were initially few and his adaptive niche was broad. Before the human population increased to a size that might have been detrimental, natural selection had brought about a finely balanced adaptation to the environmental resources. As a result, aboriginal man appears to have been no more destructive than his fellow organisms to the long-term stability of the tropical rain forest ecosystem. 150

. . . In 1940, the Amazon basin had 1,876,025 inhabitants. By 1950, as a result of the eradication of malaria, yellow fever, and other tropical diseases, the total had risen to 2,372,508 and by 1960 it was 3,569,066. At the present rate of increase, there will be over 7 million people by 1985 (book written in 1954) and more than 11 million in A.D.2000. In view of the magnitude of degradation that has occurred under a population density that is one-tenth of 11 million, this prospect is appalling.

The projected population growth would be a sufficient basis for pessimism even if it stemmed from natural increase by the existing inhabitants, who have some familiarity with the problem of the environment. A large increment, however comes from other parts of Brazil, particularly the arid northeast, where the myth of an Amazonian paradise continues to flourish. Colonists have actively encouraged by federal and state governments, which see population growth as the key to economic prosperity. . . . . Page 153
22 months ago.
 Dinesh
Dinesh club
Amazonia
22 months ago.

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