The Amazon needs help - 29th October 2021

The people of the Amazon have asked world leaders for help. They need them to protect the 8.4 million square kilometres of the Amazon rainforest.

Gregorio Mirabal is head of an organisation called COICA. He represents 3.5 million people who live in the Amazon region. He explains why they need help.

Gregorio Mirabal: "We are not realising that human beings have become the worst enemy of nature and of life itself. So we are simply not the best, but we have shown that we can help the world and we need everyone's help."

COICA asked the World Congress on Protected Areas to support them. And they've decided to help protect 80 percent of the rainforest.

Gregorio Mirabal believes that this will allow people to continue living in the Amazon region for many years.

Gregorio Mirabal: "In 2050, our children will be able to bathe in this river, they will be able to see what is here, they will be able to see the trees, the biodiversity, they will be able to see those macaws slowly flying, and we will be able to drink our chicha as you have seen. This is the scenario that we are offering to the world if you help us protect 80 percent of the Amazon."

These South American organisations can't succeed alone. They need the help of international governments.

Mirabal tells us why their support is important.

Gregorio Mirabal: "At the moment the worst danger is the lack of political will of our governments and this goes hand in hand with corruption. If there is money, and there is a lot of money promised for conservation, for this to remain healthy, but it does not arrive."

The Amazon rainforest is the largest on the planet. About 200,000 acres of it are destroyed daily. All the main organisations believe that if 20 percent of the rainforest is destroyed, it will be gone forever. So, help is needed immediately.