ABSTRACT
In the last four decades of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first, the Amazon Rain Forest ecosystem has lost nearly 30 percent of its forest habitat due to population growth. The Amazon forest is a fragile ecosystem. Since European contact, the indigenous population of the Amazon has been reduced by 50 percent due to introduced disease, armed conflict, and disrupted food supplies. Brazil has become the world's largest exporter of beef and the second-largest exporter of soy. As part of the recognition of the rights of the native population, the Brazilian government has designated 26.4 percent of Brazil's Amazon for the indigenous population but has provided little funding for public projects such as roads, schools, health care facilities, and utilities. Brazil, due to its large population, was looked to for better forest management leadership. Despite the intentions of Brazil and other nations to work on conservation efforts, global economic demand continues to result in cutover Amazon forests.
