The Amazon rainforest is a vast tract of largely untamed jungle in northern South America and an incredibly important habitat for millions of species — many of which are still unknown to science. Though the Amazon has existed for over 50 million years, it is now under threat from Brazil’s rapidly expanding agricultural industry. Ricardo Salles, Brazil’s environmental minister, claims that the fires were caused by unusual weather conditions such as strong winds and increased heat, but Christian Poirier, program director of the nonprofit organization Amazon Watch, thinks otherwise. “The vast majority of these fires are human-lit”, Poirier told CNN. “Even during dry seasons, the Amazon doesn’t catch easily”. Instead, Poirier thinks that the fires were most likely caused by cattle ranchers and loggers who, rallied by Brazil’s pro-business president, wanted to expand their fields into the Amazon.
To get an idea of how our community feels about the situation, I talked to Mrs. EB, Mr. Chagan, and Nell Zuckman (class of 2026). First, I spoke to Mrs. EB, who said the following: “The agricultural industry in Brazil should be cautious of the consequences of their actions. Overuse of resources is primarily to blame.”
Next, I interviewed Mr. Chagan, who said that he believes that “farmers are setting fires and getting away with it because of the Brazilian government’s focus on economic growth. Ultimately, it falls on the citizens to push for change.”
And finally, for a student perspective, I talked to Nell Zuckman (class of 2026), who said that “large corporations are the ones at fault here, and the Brazilian government turning a blind eye certainly isn’t helping.” No matter who is responsible, it is clear that immediate action is necessary in order to preserve this vital facet of our environment.
By Jack Schneider-Gersick ’25