“”In my view, any policy of safeguarding indigenous peoples in tropical America, including Brazil, should be guided by two principles: 1) languages, traditions, beliefs, customs and indigenous institutions are historical monuments, though not of stone, are an integral part of the scientific, moral and aesthetic of humanity, as well as Greek or Egyptian temples, Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals, and as such, must be scrupulously respected. 2) This compliance is possible only if substantial portions of the national territory, properly defined, are (as already the Xingu Park) reserved for the free development and survival of animal and plant species and Indian cultures who rub for millennia without harming each other, holding the secret of a harmonious balance between man and nature that future generations, wiser, hopefully ours, will perhaps get the inspiration.” Claude Lévi-Strauss, anthropologist and ethnologist.
Amazon tour suggestions
The Amazon at a glance
- Area: The Amazon River Basin has an area of ?? 7,300,000 km². The Amazon rainforest covers 5.5 million km2. Is the largest forest in the world and one of the wettest regions of the world. The Amazon is the largest biological reservoir of the biosphere.
- Nine countries in South America have “a little bit” of Amazon: Brazil (63% of the forest), Peru (13%), Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Guyana, Guyana, and Suriname.
- Population (approx.): 2.5 million insect species, at least 40,000 plant species, 2,200 fish, 1,294 birds, 427 mammals, 428 amphibians and 378 reptiles have been scientifically classified in the region. Scientists have described between 96,660 and 128,843 invertebrate species in Brazil only. One in five bird species in the world lives in the Amazon rainforest, and one in five species of fish lives in rivers that cross it. The diversity of plant species is the largest on Earth. Some experts believe that one square kilometer may contain over 75,000 types of trees and 150,000 species of plants. The Amazon provides almost 12% of freshwater reserves of the globe.
- Since 1970, nearly 17% of the original forest has disappeared due to deforestation and human activities. If operation continues at this rate, 55% of its surface will be gone in 2030 and, according to some experts, the entire Amazon rainforest by 2050, which could severely disrupt the balance of the planet.
- Have read, seen and heard : (read) L’Amazonie, un géant blessé written by Alain Gheerbrant, (seen) Sting’s world tour with Raoni Metukire emblematic figure of the struggle for the preservation of the Amazon rainforest and the indigenous culture and (read) the book that relates this fight to save the planet Amazonie, lutte pour la vie and Raoni the documentary film by Jean-Pierre Dutilleux, (heard) How Many People by Paul Mc Carney tribute to Chico Mendes and (heard) naturals concerts of the rainforest together in a beautiful CD Amazonie, au bord du fleuve and Au coeur de la forêt guyanaise by the sound maker Pierre Huguet.
- To read, see and hear these days : (read) Raoni, memoires d’un chef indien by Jean-Pierre Dutilleux, (read) the beautiful work of Eve Sivadjian Amazonie: au coeur du Brésil and (see) beautiful pictures and the dvd documentary seam, (see) the official website of Raoni and his petition translate in seven languages ??against the Belo Monte dam on the Xingu River, and the docs on the site amazonie.arte.tv, (listen to) the authentic Mision: Barroco Amazonico interpreted by Sphera Antiqva and continue to listen to the naturals concerts of the rainforest!