Economic Impact of Deforestation on Indigenous Communities and Ecosystem Services in the Amazon

Abstract

Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest continues to be a critical global issue, significantly affecting the ecological balance, climate stability, and the livelihoods of indigenous communities. This study explores the intricate economic repercussions of Amazonian deforestation on both the native populations and the ecosystem services upon which they and the wider global community depend. It utilizes a mixed-method approach combining qualitative field research with economic valuation techniques to quantify the loss in provisioning, regulating, and cultural ecosystem services. The research further analyzes the socio-economic displacement, loss of traditional income sources, and disruption in community health that results from forest degradation. In addition to evaluating data from satellite imagery and ecological models, the study incorporates direct testimonies from Amazonian tribes affected by logging, mining, and agribusiness expansion. The findings underscore a paradox wherein short-term economic gains for external actors come at the cost of long-term ecological damage and socio-economic destabilization of native populations. The results advocate for the urgent integration of indigenous economic systems into conservation policies and highlight the critical role of sustainable forest management.