Thread by @SuzetteFlantua

The #Amazon has absolutely crucial functions for the Earth's #biodiversity #climate #hydrology #carbon but is now rapidly changing! We humans are doing so at a rate that far outpaces natural processes: A thread of our Review in @ScienceMagazine
science.org/doi/10.1126/sc… (1/9)

The #Amazon still covers vast areas of tropical rainforest, producing huge amounts of biomass, and concentrates at least 10% of all known plants and vertebrates on Earth. But intact ecosystems are now rapidly being reduced....(2/9)

We show that the rate of #deforestation and #degradation is much more rapid than previously throught, especially in southern Amazon. Main drivers are land-use changes, water-use changes (e.g. damming), and #climate change. These now combined are making a dangerous cocktail. (3/9)

Additional important threats come from #overhunting, invasive exotic species, and heavy #pollution from the often #illegalmining of minerals and hydrocarbons (see pic). By 2019, c.17% of Amazon forest has already been cleared and c.14% replaced for pasture and crops (4/9)

By comparing rates of human and natural environmental changes in the Amazon, South America, and in the larger Earth system, we show that the pace of anthropogenic changes exceeds that of many natural processes, affecting millions of km2 in just decades. (5/9)

Our main worry is that Amazonian species, peoples, and ecosystems are being outpaced, while we are heading for a degraded and transformed landscape.🔥 But political willingness and global actions (yes, our commodity demands are part of the problem!) can change this course (6/9)

Our article provides policy recommendations that are urgently needed to stop destruction. Highest priority is to accelerate the ongoing transformation to a post-carbon global economy while close collaboration with Indigenous Peoples and Local
Communities is crucial (7/9)

This review originates from @theamazonwewant @UN (240 experts united for the Amazon!)
and this general Policy Brief support our findings theamazonwewant.org/wp-content/upl… It is the most updated and comprehensive resource now available on the Amazon system! (8/9)

Huge thanks to the amazing team @Lucia_Lohmann @ana_bosslady @jmguayasamin @aencalada1 @carinahoorn @camila_c_ribas @JuArieira @meriania @nathnascime @juand_carrill0 @topoerosion & 5, led by @JamesAl0410008. And my support by @mohnfoundation @UiB (9/9)