ocr: In 1992, the UN held its first Earth Summit in Rio, partly to highlight the destruction oft the Amazon rainforest. The Amazon rainforest contains an estimated 90% of all ofthe world's plants and animals and: is the most complex ecosystem laown. However, the demands of agriculture are leading to its destruction at a rate of1.5 sq.mi. per hour, or 13,314 sq.mi. per year. As a: - result ofs such massive clearances, usually for conversion to cattle pasture, vital genetic diversity is being lost. Brazil faces other environmental problems. Upen-cast bauxite mining is polluting rivers and threatening ...
