Deforestation and Its Impact on Biodiversity in the Amazon Rainforest: A Data-Driven Perspective

Abstract

Known as the "lungs of the Earth," the Amazon Rainforest is under peril like never before because of widespread deforestation. Using secondary data from satellite surveillance, ecological databases, and government and non-governmental organization reports from 2000 to 2022, this study examines the empirical connection between deforestation and biodiversity loss in the Amazon region. The study looks at how species richness and ecological stability are directly impacted by the dramatic decrease in forest cover, which has decreased by about 17% in the past 20 years. The study also includes case studies from Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, highlighting important factors such illicit logging, the growth of agriculture (particularly soy and cattle ranching), the construction of infrastructure, and lax enforcement of conservation regulations. In order to highlight the ecological effects of ongoing deforestation, the study also links biodiversity indices, such as species richness and Shannon-Wiener index, with trends in forest cover.