Despite serious deforestation, the Amazon rainforest in Brazil may have cause for hope; as well as its people, the Yanomamis. Until the 1960s, the Yanomami people lived in peace and solitude in the Amazon rainforest. They hunted with bows and arrows and were gladly free of any modern annoyances. But, as the government encouraged impoverished citizens to inhabit the forest, gold was discovered, and miners and loggers poured in. Through their actions 20% of the forest has already been wiped out- yet there is still enough land to tempt more people towards its destruction. Farmers clear land to raise livestock and plant crops, and loggers chop down all the trees-80% of the time illegally.
    Happily, in the past several years the Brazilian government has set up the Amazon Region Protection Area(ARPA). The ARPA has set up 80 reserves, which amounts to 12% of the forest. A reserve is an area which is officially declared "protected". When land is declared "protected" it has a much better chance of going undisturbed. In time, the Yanomami people may have their homes and culture back.  

    Despite serious deforestation, the Amazon rainforest in Brazil may have cause for hope. Until the 1960s, the Yanomami people lived in peace and solitude in the Amazon rainforest. They hunted with bows and arrows and were gladly free of any modern annoyances. But, as the government encouraged impoverished citizens to inhabit the forest, gold was discovered, and miners and loggers poured in. Through their actions 20% of the forest has already been wiped out- yet there is still enough land to tempt more people towards its destruction. Farmers clear land to raise livestock, and loggers-80% of the time illegally- chop down all the trees.
    Happily, in the past several years the Brazilian government has set up the Amazon Region Protection Area(ARPA). The ARPA has set up 80 reserves, which amounts to 12% of the forest. When land is declared "protected" it has a much better chance of going undisturbed. In time, the Yanomami people may have their homes and culture back.