This Issue:

Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

Amazon Alert!

The lush amazon rain forest stretches about 2.7 million square miles. Brightly colored parrots, swift jaguars and fierce piranhas make their home in the tropical forest and its many rivers. Monkeys swing among high branches and vines. The Amazon holds one-fifth of the planet's freshwater supply and the world's widest variety of life.

For decades, this wildlife wonderland has been shrinking as farmers and others clear the land. Last week Brazil's government confirmed what environmentalists have feared: the 1990s were a terrible decade for the rain forest. According to newly released information, the destruction of the forest in Brazil reached record levels in 1995. In that year alone, 11,200 square miles were burned or cleared. That's nearly twice what was lost in 1994. Overall, one-eighth of the giant rain forest has been destroyed.

The bad news from Brazil was followed by a ray of hope. Brazil promised last week to do a better job enforcing laws that protect its natural treasure.

Who's Killing The Forest?
Loggers, miners and farmers from Brazil and nearby countries have been rapidly moving into the Amazon since the 1960s. Some cut down trees for wood and paper. Others simply burn the forest to clear the land. Construction of roads and airplane runways has also damaged the region. The loss of trees is called deforestation.

Space satellites regularly take pictures of the Amazon. The information released by Brazil last week was based on these pictures. Deforestation slowed down in 1996 and 1997. But that's not necessarily because people were protecting the forest. It's because heavy rainfall made it harder to burn trees. "These numbers are no reason to celebrate," admits Brazil's Environment Minister, Gustavo Krause.

Stephan Schwartzman of the Environmental Defense Fund calls the pace of destruction "alarming." He and other scientists are worried that they will run out of time to study the plants and animals of the rich forest. "The great tragedy is how much isn't known," he says.

Cracking Down On Criminals
To slow down deforestation, Brazil decided last week to get tougher on people who abuse the Amazon. In 1996 Brazil placed limits on clearing land in the region. But officials did not always enforce the laws. Now those who damage the rain forest will be punished with big fines and ordered to repair the damage. "This can make a big difference," says Schwartzman. "There is hope."

Next: They Believe They Can Fly!