“Spanning 6.7 million km2 (twice the size of India) the Amazon Biome is virtually unrivaled in scale, complexity and opportunity, and truly is a region distinguished by superlatives” (WWF, 2016). Unfortunately, according to WWF seemingly endless Amazon has lost 17% of it’s forest cover in the last 50 years which stands to affect all life on Earth if it continues because if the Amazon’s ability to regulate carbon emissions is weakened, the resultant discharge is expected to considerably accelerate global warming and that affects everyone.
“The Amazon is home to more than 30 million people living across a vast region subdivided into nine different national political systems. 9 % of the Amazon’s population is still made up of indigenous people-350 different ethnic groups (WWF, 2016)”. Amazon forests are shared between Brazil, Peru, Columbia and some other Brazil’s neighbors. That makes it a very culturally diverse place.
“Here, as elsewhere in Latin America, the government owns the subsoil and any oil, gas, and minerals found there. All these Amazon nations are attempting to use the rain-forest for oil and gas exploration. In all cases, an improved policy is needed to reconcile national interests with those of the environment and local inhabitants” (Moran, Abramson, Moran, 2016). According to CIA World Fact Book, Brazil, Peru and Columbia are facing deforestation due partially to illegal logging. To address this issue which has a potential global impact, cultural synergy should come in play. “Synergy is a cooperative or combined action, and occurs when diverse or disparate individuals or groups collaborate for a common cause. The objective is to increase effectiveness by sharing perceptions and experiences, insights, and knowledge” ( PSU, 2016). On both local and international scales we need to synergistically address the issue of the Amazon’s future.
As we can see, the future of the Amazon is a global leadership issue. This affects it’s native inhabitants as well as it’s neighbors and the world as a whole. The Amazon is the single largest remaining tropical rainforest in the world that is responsible for 15% of the world’s total river discharge into the oceans and is responsible for balancing global carbon emissions. While every country involved has it’s own long term orientation according to Hofstede 6D model and it’s unique ways to deal with the challenges of the present and future, cultural synergy is imperative in addressing the issue.
References:
CIA. (2016). World Fact Book. Ecology. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2032.html
Hofstede, G. (2016). Cultural Dimensions. Retrieved from https://geert-hofstede.com/brazil.html
Image. Amazon rainforest parrots. Retrieved from http://www.environmental-watch.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/shutterstock_64558576.jpg
Image. Amazon Desktop Wallpaper. Retrieved from http://images.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wallpaperhd.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/amazon-jungle-wallpaper.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wallpaperhd.pk/amazon-jungle-wallpaper/&h=1080&w=1920&tbnid=xga-GxLuA2BokM:&docid=ZyY0T_64RxTrxM&ei=Z84DWLq9MIGMsAHo45SoBQ&tbm=isch&client=safari
Image. Inphographic. Retrieved from http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/deforestation/importance_forests/tropical_rainforest/
Moran, R., Abramson, N., Moran, S. (2014). (P. 349). Taylor and Francis: Kindle Edition.
PSU. (2016). Synergy. Retrieved from https://psu.instructure.com/courses/1802572/modules/items/21179088
WWF. (2016). About the Amazon. Retrieved from http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/amazon/about_the_amazon/
image: Amazon rainforest parrots
Hi, Jonathan
I really enjoyed your replie and your strong stance on the importance of education in this area. Indeed, there is global interconnectedness. Some people may lack understanding of what potential impact of deforestation can be. There are some dreadful examples around the world where in some instances where flooding lead to erosion, flooding, loosing of homes and fertile soils. Cultural synergy and collaboration are imperative to preserve this planet for us and future generations and manage the beauties of this world has to offer in a wise manner.
The Pennsylvania State University (n.d). Lesson 06: Cultural Synergy. The Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved from
https://psu.instructure.com/courses/1802572/modules/items/21179088
WWF. (n.d). Threats: Deforestation. World Wildlife. Retrieved from http://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation
As you have indicated, Deforestation stands as a major global carbon emissions threat. WWF (n.d) states specifically, “Forests are more than just a collection of trees—they are integrated ecosystems and home to some of the most diverse life on Earth. They are also major players in the carbon and water cycles that make life possible. When forests are lost or degraded, their destruction sets off a series of changes that affect life both locally and around the world.” It is both breathtaking yet chilling to know that one component of our ecosystem could so devastatingly impact the entire world positively and negatively. In that effect, it is imperative for us to explore methods of contributions for the protection of these lands– what everyone can do to help.
Synergy is certainly needed to curb the rapid rate of deforestation; high synergy on a global level would also suggest the widespread education and knowledge of the implications behind actions such as deforestation. In this regard, it is sensible for us as a global community to ensure that our education as a whole, teaches students about the harmful reciprocal effects of deforestation; consequences that will later impact the entire world, although not immediate. Major organizations such as WWF (n.d) is also employing several different actions in their fight against deforestation, including: the balance and controlled reduction of deforestation via sustainable forest management (all deforestation cannot be entirely eliminated due to account of population growth); offsetting carbon emissions from forests via the enhancement of forest carbon stocks (called REDD+); creating protected areas to secure future generational growth of both plants and animals; promoting sustainable bioenergy from renewable energy sources; and stopping illegal logging through powerful policies and agreements with alliances such as the U.S.
As a whole, it is highly important for us to educate ourselves on the consequences of our actions and to recognize our state of global interconnectedness. Education on synergy is imperative– the lack of synergy may spell our eventual self-destruction, though ignorance and avoidance may appear to be harmless at first. The Pennsylvania State University (n.d) states that synergy is really about “the whole being greater than the sum of its parts in the way an automobile is more than the pile of its individual parts”. In that regard, it is the unity of every country and individual in the world, that makes us the “planet earth”. With tourism in the Amazon increasing, more protective measures can continue to be fixated, as attention is drawn towards the underlying issues of deforestation. Great post on the importance of conservation and preservation of our forests and lands.
Jonathan