It truly is devastating to see wildfires spanning Brazil's Amazon rainforest, also known as "the world's lungs," slowly destroying one of earth's most important ecosystems. But what caused the massive fire to break out and when did it start?

The 2019 Amazon rainforest wildfires season saw a year-to-year surge in fires occurring in the Amazon rainforest and Amazon biome within Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru during that year's Amazonian tropical dry season. Fires normally occur around the dry season as slash-and-burn methods are used to clear the forest to make way for agriculture, livestock, logging, and mining, leading to deforestation of the Amazon rainforest. Other Amazonian countries have been affected by the wildfires in higher or lesser degree. The number of hectares of Bolivian rainforest affected by the wildfires was roughly equal to those of Brazil, being the area of Bolivia only about one-eighth of Brazil.

What started the Amazon rainforest fire?

Wildfires can be common in the dry season, but most experts agree that the fires have been deliberately set by farmers illegally deforesting land for cattle ranching. Conservationists have blamed the country's president, Jair Bolsonaro, for the current Amazon rainforest fires, saying he has encouraged loggers and farmers to clear the land. Since becoming president, Bolsonaro has opposed protections for the rainforest, saying the land should be used for agriculture and mining. Logging and cattle ranching are industries that rely on deforestation to exist.

Why is this a big deal?

Everyone on the planet benefits from the health of the Amazon. A fresh breeze of air is what keeps all living things alive. As its trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, the Amazon plays a huge role in pulling planet-warming greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. Without it, climate change speeds up. But as the world’s largest rainforest is eaten away by logging, mining, and agribusiness, it may not be able to provide the same buffer. The Amazon rainforest is a vital part to the cycle of our life.

As the fires in the Amazon continue, there is information about the effects of the fires on jaguar habitats. According to conservation group Panthera, 500 adult jaguars have been left dead or homeless from the fires in South America. The Amazon Rainforest is home to 427 mammal species, 1,300 bird species, 378 species of reptiles, and more than 400 species of amphibians. Some of the animals that live in the Amazon Rainforest include jaguars, sloths, river dolphins, macaws, anacondas, glass frogs, and poison dart frogs. One in ten known species in the world lives in the Amazon Rainforest as do one in five known bird species.

Along with environmental concerns about deforestation, animals’ habitats were also destroyed during the fires. Using data from the acres burned, reported by the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research and Bolivia’s Environmental Secretary, and known facts about jaguar density, the researchers can estimate how many animals have been affected. Not only human’s are getting affected by this tragedy. Clueless animals being killed in the fires also suffer. They lose their homes and community. Most endangered species are found in the Amazon rainforest. To see how the numbers of these animals slowly decrease because of human activities is a big disappointment. This is not the time to be selfish. We should’ve started a long time ago. But, it is still never too late to reach those in power and seek restoration for these vital areas of our planet.

Ways you can help stop the rainforest burning:

Various forest restoration programs seek to restore native ecosystems in the Amazon basin. In the past, most programs focused primarily on plantations of commercial species such as rubber and exotic timbers, but many programs today focus on native species.

1. Protect an acre of land

2. Buy some land

3. Support indigenous populations

4. Reduce your wood and paper consumption

5. Eat ethically – yes, less beef

6. Vote- Avoid politicians who support deregulation, extraction and subsidy of fossil fuel resources, and who are more accountable to corporations than to those who have elected them.

It is time for change. We certainly need it now. But, as humans we have limitations to our skills and capabilities but we believe that if everyone cooperates and unite all will be possible. It is now the best time to be in solidarity to fight for change.  Those in powers need a wakeup call and this is it. If they can’t get their things right it is our time now as members of the society to BE THE CHANGE. By signing this petition, we might be able to reach those in power to take in consideration the restoration of the areas lost during the wildfire in the Amazon rainforest. We need air. We most importantly need the lungs of our planet back.