A recent study conducted by the University of Bonn, in collaboration with the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Brazil, highlights the profound health benefits of protecting the Amazon rainforest. The research demonstrates that measures to combat deforestation significantly improve air quality, thereby reducing hospitalizations and deaths related to respiratory diseases.
In 2019, approximately 70,000 square kilometers of forest were burned in the Amazon, primarily due to slash-and-burn practices for agriculture. This deforestation not only threatens biodiversity but also exacerbates climate change and poses serious health risks to local populations.
The study focused on three specific protective measures implemented in the Amazon biome, including the Soy Moratorium, which restricts the purchase of soy from newly deforested areas. Researchers found that these measures led to a nearly 7% reduction in particulate matter concentrations in the air, saving an estimated 680 lives annually among the four million residents in the affected regions.
Professor Jan Börner, a lead researcher, emphasizes that forest protection not only preserves biodiversity and combats climate change but also provides immediate health benefits to local communities. This research underscores the critical need for ongoing efforts to protect the Amazon rainforest, which serves as a vital resource for both the planet and its inhabitants.