In order to expand agriculture and stimulate a sagging economy, the Brazilian government eased environmental laws which allowed large tracts of rainforest to be cut down or burned. In three sentences, construct a potential chain of consequences for what can happen as a result of this kind of deforestation. The chain does not have to be linear (i.e., five steps in a row), but can have several branches, one for each different potential consequence. Your chain should include at least four steps, including the original event.(4 points)

Question

In order to expand agriculture and stimulate a sagging economy, the Brazilian government eased environmental laws which allowed large tracts of rainforest to be cut down or burned. In three sentences, construct a potential chain of consequences for what can happen as a result of this kind of deforestation. The chain does not have to be linear (i.e., five steps in a row), but can have several branches, one for each different potential consequence. Your chain should include at least four steps, including the original event.(4 points)

Answer 1

Potential chain of consequences for deforestation in Brazil:

1. As a result of easing environmental laws, large tracts of rainforest are cut down or burned in Brazil.
2. The loss of rainforests leads to a significant reduction in biodiversity, as many species of plants, animals, and insects lose their natural habitats.
3. With reduced biodiversity, the ecosystem becomes imbalanced, which can result in the spread of pests and diseases that were once kept in check by the rainforest's natural processes.
4. The loss of forest cover also disrupts the water cycle, leading to decreased rainfall and increased soil erosion, which can negatively impact agriculture and local communities that rely on these natural resources.

In summary, the potential consequences of deforestation in Brazil include the loss of biodiversity, imbalanced ecosystems, spread of pests and diseases, and negative impacts on agriculture and local communities.