AMAZONAS, BRAZIL - September 5 is marked on the calendar as Amazon Day—a moment to reflect on the urgent need to protect this vital natural heritage, essential to the planet’s environmental balance.

The Amazon rainforest extends beyond Brazil, spanning eight other countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

This vast biome is under constant threat from deforestation, primarily driven by the expansion of soybean cultivation and cattle ranching.

It also faces illegal logging and mining operations, with unchecked exploitation posing a serious risk of irreversible damage to the ecosystem.

The Amazon plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate and has a direct impact on rainfall patterns across Latin America.

Research shows that Amazonian vegetation helps reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide, acting as a carbon sink and mitigating the effects of climate change.

The rainforest is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, home to countless species of wildlife and plants. Its river system forms the largest drainage basin on Earth.

Governments, institutions, and civil society continue to advocate for public policies and sustainable solutions that support development in the region—without cutting down the forest.

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