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Charles Goodyear developed vulcanization
The American Charles Goodyear developed vulcanization which made natural rubber more durable. Vulcanization is a chemical process that involves the addition of sulfur to natural rubber that comes from trees. This development made the natural rubber useful outside the rainforest, thus it become more heavily demanded by the United States and Europe. -
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Rubber Boom
The rubber boom was centered around the Amazon Basin and mainly occurred in Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia. The boom resulted in European colonization that attracted immigrants that imposed on the indigenous people, created new wealth, and caused societal and cultural transformations. The boom resulted in the creation of cities like Rondônia. -
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Rapid Population Growth
The population in 1970 was 111,000 and grew at alarming rates as the population of Rondônia was 1.13 million in 1991. This is because of the immigration from surrounding states due because of the cheap landing being offered by the government. -
4,200 Kilometers Squared Cleared
4,200 kilometers of the rainforest was cleared by 1978 -
Northwest Region Integrated Development Program
The World Bank grants Brazil a loan to improve infrastructure, health, and resettle migrants that were encroaching on indigenous lands. The loan paved 1,500 km road in Northwest Brazil (where Rondônia is located). -
Chico Mendes
Chico Mendes was a Brazilian rubber tapper and he played a role in the creation of the National Council of Ribber Tappers in the mid 1980s. They met to discuss the dangers of rubber tapping to their own health but also deforestation, new roads, and increase amounts of cattle ranching. This union was important because it received international attention. -
30,000 Kilometers Squared Cleared by 1988
30,000 kilometers squared of the rain forest was cleared by 1988 -
53,300 Kilometers Squared Cleared by 1998
53,300 kilometers squared of the rainforest was cleared by 1998. -
67,764 Kilometers Squared Cleared by 2003
67,764 kilometers squared of the rainforest was cleared by 2003 -
Fishbone Pattern
The fishbone pattern that is visible in this photo has occurred as new roads have been created (both legally and illegally) to attract farmers to the land. Then these farmers clear small patches near where they settle. When the business is no longer prosperous the small farmers sell their plots to larger farmers and the large farmers consolidate all the farms to make one larger farm, thus cutting down more trees. -
Consequence of Forest Clearing
During the dry season thick smoke has begun to hang over the forest because of fires that are set to clear the land. Often the fires disturb untended land as the fires become out of control. This picture is from the same location as the one in August 2007 but you can not see the ground in this picture because of the smoke.
