Fires In Brazil Stoke Clash Between Economic Gain And Preservation

The Amazon rainforest is crucial for biodiversity and carbon storage, helping mitigate global warming. However, fires, often due to land clearing for agriculture, spark debates in Brazil about the forest's value. Economic arguments favor deforestation for quick returns, but studies show preservation offers greater long-term benefits. Environmentalists warn of irreversible damage and ecosystem shifts if deforestation continues.

What is one of the main environmental benefits of the Amazon rainforest?

• It provides a habitat for polar bears.

• It stores large amounts of carbon, reducing global warming.

• It is a major source of gold.

• It is the largest desert in the world.

What is a primary reason for the fires in the Amazon region?

• Land clearing for ranching

• Natural volcanic activity

• Lightning strikes

• Industrial pollution

What does Verona argue about the Amazon rainforest?

• It should be preserved for its medicinal value.

• It should be converted for economic development.

• It is not suitable for any economic activity.

• It is best left untouched for tourism.

According to a study, what is the annual economic value of a preserved Amazon rainforest?

• $1 million

• $10 billion

• $8.2 billion

• $500 million

What environmental concern is associated with deforestation in the Amazon?

• Expansion of urban areas

• Transformation to a savannah-like environment

• Increase in polar ice caps

• Decrease in ocean levels