Archaeologists find ancient geoglyphs carved in the Amazon Jungle (from Treehugger, via Gadling)
With the aid of satellite imagery from Google Earth, soon archeologists in Brazil will be finding more and more large geometric designs carved into the ground in the Amazon rainforest. The geoglyphs are believed to have been sculpted by ancient people from the Amazon region around 700 years ago, though their purpose is still unknown. So far, nearly 300 geoglyphs have been identified, but with advances in satellite imaging—and increased clearing of the jungle coverage—scientists are hoping to discover many more of these strange, geometric designs.
One of the factors that contributed to so many geoglyphs being undetected prior to the aid of satallites is their enormous size. According to leading geoglyph scientist Alceu Ranzi, his latest discoveries—five sets of geometric shapes, with circles, squares and lines—can measure more than a mile from one extreme to another….
According to a report from Globo, the new marks were only discovered because the jungle coverage had been removed to due to deforestation in the Amazon. These structures are deep, with grooves are as large as 12 meters wide and four deep, but it is believed that they were built when jungle abounded—which would make their construction all the more difficult….
Logging Likely Caused Nazca Collapse (via BBC Earth News)
The ancient Nazca people of Peru are famous for the lines they drew in the desert depicting strange animal forms. A further mystery is what happened to this once great civilisation, which suddenly vanished 1,500 years ago.
Now a team of archaeologists have found the demise of the Nazca society was linked in part to the fate of a tree. Analysing plant remains they reveal how the destruction of forests containing the huarango tree crossed a tipping point, causing ecological collapse….
The huarango tree (Prosopis pallida) is a unique tree with many qualities and played a vital role in the habitat, protecting the fragile desert ecosystem, the scientists say. “It is the ecological keystone species in the desert zone enhancing soil fertility and moisture and underpinning the floodplain with one of the deepest root systems of any tree known,” Dr Beresford-Jones says.
The tree was also a useful resource. “This remarkable nitrogen-fixing tree was an important source of food, forage timber and fuel for the local people….”
Analysing plant remains and pollen in soil 1.5m deep, the team was able to trace an important sequence of events which show the clearing of woodland for agriculture….
Freshwater dolphins living in the Amazon river basin are being attacked and killed by local fishermen (via BBC Earth News)
Conservationists have found a number of boto and tucuxi dolphins that have been struck with machetes and harpoons and left to die. The fishermen attack the dolphins fearing they are stealing their fish and ruining their fishing gear. Some of the killings may also be driven by strong cultural taboos that suggest the animals bring bad luck….
A Tunnel To Unite Old Rivals?
Plans for a tunnel linking Bolivia to the Pacific Ocean have been unveiled by three architects who say it could put an end to a 130 year-old dispute between the landlocked country and its neighbour, Chile.
The three Chilean architects claim the tunnel would allow Bolivia to regain access to the sea since it was defeated by Chile in the Pacific War in 1879. This has been one of Bolivia’s main demands for years, and is still strongly voiced by current President Evo Morales. The 150km (93 miles) tunnel would run from the Bolivian border to an artificial island created in the Pacific Ocean from earth dug to build the tunnel….
According to the plan, the tunnel would run under the so-called Line of Concord which separates Chile and Peru. The reason, the architects say, is that this is an area free of mines or cables which could potentially complicate the project.
But both Peru and Chile dispute the border. To go ahead, the project would also need the approval of Peru. And there are doubts about whether there would be the political will at a time when Peru and Bolivia are arguing about Peru’s decision to grant asylum to former opposition leaders from Bolivia.
In addition, the artificial island would be created in waters claimed both by Peru and Chile. And both countries have recently taken a row over coastal waters to the International Court of Justice in The Hague…. (more @ BBC News)
Outrage at 'Slavery' in Bolivia
A senior UN official recently described as “unacceptable” the alleged forced labour of indigenous people by landowners in Bolivia. The BBC’s Andres Schipani reports on the contentious issue of “slavery” from the eastern province of Santa Cruz….
Over the past two years, Bolivia’s government and several indigenous groups, have been giving a controversial name to Teresa’s type of existence - slavery.
They and some international organisations say conditions are still akin to bonded labour, making these peasants the de facto property of rich landowners in one of South America’s poorest countries.
Accusations of forced labour have circulated for decades, with little result….
The system hinges on the creation of debt that people have little chance of paying off. Workers are given cash and food, which is then docked from the average daily wage of $2 (£1.30)…..
Evo Morales’ victory in the presidential elections more than three years ago offered the prospect of change for Bolivia’s indigenous people.
And that prospect came closer in January, when he succeeded in changing the constitution that gives sweeping rights to Bolivia’s 36 indigenous groups in the areas of government, the judiciary and landholdings.
It also allows agrarian land reform to take place by limiting the size of rural landholdings in future sales. Supporters say the new constitution will help roll back 500 years of submission of indigenous peoples…. (more @ BBC News)
Reserves Found To Be 'Effective Tool' For Reducing Fires In Brazilian Rainforests
Rainforest reserves – even those disturbed by roads – provide an important buffer against fires that are devastating parts of the Brazilian Amazon, according to a new study by a trio of researchers at Duke University….
Fire is one of the chief causes of deforestation in tropical rainforests. Fires in humid tropical forests are always caused by people, Adeney says – they typically start on farms or ranches and spread to the nearby forest. Since tropical forest trees have no natural protection against fire, even a small fire can kill most of the trees.
Nearly 90 percent of fires occur within 10 kilometers of a road, a key factor, Adeney says, in explaining why fires are much more common and concentrated in the southern Amazon, where roads are more numerous.
Determining whether reserves with roads provide protection against deforestation caused by fires was critical, she explains, because the pace of road-building has accelerated in recent years in many parts of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, including in many reserves. Especially important are the region’s indigenous reserves, which cover five times the area of fully protected parks. Despite having roads and settlements, many of these indigenous reserves contain ecologically important areas of rainforest still largely unaffected by the human development in surrounding areas…. (more @ ScienceDaily)
Dwarf in the Elfin Forests: Tiniest Frog in South America’s Andes Mountains
(Please ignore this dirty fingernails in the photo) (via ScienceDaily)
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