Ihlathi Lemvula Ligutshuzelwe Ifu

UMA ulibuka usendizeni, ihlathi lemvula lase-Amazon likukhumbuza ngokhaphethi omkhulu ontofontofo, libukeka liluhlaza njengotshani futhi liselihle njengoba lalinjalo ngesikhathi u-Orellana elithola. Njengoba udukuza ehlathini elishisayo, eliswakeme, uvika izinambuzane ezilingana nezilwane ezincelisayo, ukuthola kunzima ukubona ukuthi iqiniso liphelaphi nokuthi inganekwane iqalaphi. Okubukeka kungamaqabunga kuphenduka izimvemvane, izintandela ziphenduka izinyoka, izinqamu zezinkuni ezomile ziba yizilwane eziququdayo ezikhungathekile ezintininiza ngesivinini esikhulu. Ihlathi lase-Amazon lisagutshuzelwe iqiniso namanga.

“Okuyindida kakhulu,” kuphawula enye ingqapheli, “ukuthi iqiniso nge-Amazon limangalisa njengezinganekwane zayo.” Futhi liyamangalisa ngempela! Cabanga ngehlathi elikhulu njengeNtshonalanga Yurophu. Licabange ligcwele izihlahla ezinhlobonhlobo ezingaphezu kuka-4000. Bese ulihlobisa ngezitshalo ezinezimbali ezinhlobonhlobo ezingaphezu kuka-60 000. Ulihlobise ngezinhlobo zezinyoni ezinemibala egqamile ezingu-1000. Ulifake izinhlobo zezilwane ezincelisayo ezingu-300. Uligcwalise ngobhuzane lwezinambuzane mhlawumbe olunezinhlobo eziyizigidi ezimbili. Manje uyabona ukuthi kungani umuntu ochaza ihlathi lemvula lase-Amazon egcina esethi liyindawo emangalisayo. Awekho amazwi angayichaza kahle lendathane yezinto eziphilayo ezikuleli hlathi lemvula lasezindaweni ezishisayo eliwudukathole kunawo wonke emhlabeni.

“Izinto Ezifé Ziphila” Ezingazodwa

Eminyakeni engu-90 edlule umlobi nomenzi wamahlaya waseMelika uMark Twain wachaza leli hlathi elikhangayo ngokuthi “izwe elithokozisayo, izwe elicebe ngokweqile ngezimangaliso zasezindaweni ezishisayo, izwe elihlaba umxhwele lapho zonke izinyoni nezimbali nezilwane zingezohlobo lwasemnyuziyamu, futhi lapho ingwenya yaseMelika nengwenya nenkawu kubonakala kukhululeke sengathi kuse-Zoo.” Namuhla, amazwi kaTwain okuntela aba iqiniso. Amamnyuziyamu nama-zoo ngokushesha kungase kube ukuphela kwezindawo ezikhona lapho kutholakala khona izimangaliso ezandayo zasezindaweni ezishisayo zase-Amazon. Ngani?

Ngokusobala imbangela eyinhloko ukugawulwa kwehlathi lemvula lase-Amazon umuntu, ebhubhisa indawo engokwemvelo yezitshalo nezilwane zakulesi sifunda. Nokho, ngaphandle kokubhujiswa ngokuphelele kwalendawo, kunezinye—ezicashe kakhulu—izimbangela eziguqula izinhlobo zezitshalo nezilwane zibe “izinto ezifé ziphila,” ngisho noma zisaphila. Ngamanye amazwi, iziphathimandla zikholelwa ukuthi akukho okungavimbela lezi zinhlobo zezinto eziphilayo ukuba zife.

Enye yalezo zimbangela ukuba ngazodwa. Izikhulu zikahulumeni ezinesithakazelo ekulondolozweni kwemvelo zingase zikuvimbele ukugawulwa kwamahlathi ngemishini endaweni ethile yehlathi ukuze kusindiswe izitshalo nezilwane ezilapho. Nokho, isiqeshana sehlathi sibeka lezi zitshalo nezilwane engozini yokufa ekugcineni. Ethi Protecting the Tropical Forests—A High-Priority International Task inikeza isibonelo esibonisa ukuthi kungani iziqeshana zamahlathi zihluleka ukusekela izinto eziphilayo isikhathi eside.

Ngokuvamile ezindaweni ezishisayo kunezihlahla zezinduna nezezinsikazi. Ukuze zizalane, zisizwa amalulwane athwala impova kusuka embalini yenduna kuya kweyensikazi. Yiqiniso, lokhu kuthwalwa kwempova kwenzeka kuphela lapho lezi zihlahla zimilé endaweni ilulwane elikwazi ukuyifinyelela. Uma isihlahla sensikazi siqhele kakhulu kwesenduna—njengoba kwenzeka ngokuvamile lapho isiqeshana sehlathi sinogwadule emaphethelweni—ilulwane alindizi lifike lapho. Lombiko uphawula ukuthi lezi zihlahla zibe seziphenduka “‘izinto ezifé ziphila’ njengoba ukuzalana kwazo okwenzeka ngemva kwesikhathi eside kungasenakwenzeka.”

Lobu buhlobo phakathi kwezihlahla namalulwane bumane bungobunye bobuhlobo obuphakathi kwezinto ezingokwemvelo zase-Amazon. Ngokusobala, ihlathi lase-Amazon linjengendlu enkulu ekhoselisa futhi yondle izinhlobonhlobo zezinto kodwa ezihlala ndawonye. Ukuze zingaminyani, izakhamuzi zakuleli hlathi lemvula zihlala ezitezi ezihlukahlukene, ezinye zihlala maphansi nehlathi, kanti ezinye zihlala phezulu emphemeni. Zonke izakhamuzi zinomsebenzi, futhi zihlala zisebenza—ezinye emini, ezinye ebusuku. Uma zonke izinhlobo zezinto eziphilayo zinikezwa ithuba lokwenza umsebenzi wazo, lomphakathi oyinkimbinkimbi wezitshalo nezilwane zase-Amazon usebenza ngokushelelayo.

Nokho, izinto eziphilayo zase-Amazon zintekenteke. Ngisho noma ukugxambukela komuntu kuleli hlathi kulimaza izinhlobo ezimbalwa nje zezitshalo nezilwane, ukuphazamisa kwakhe kuzwakala kuzo zonke izitezi zaleli hlathi eliyindlu. Isazi sokulondolozwa kwemvelo uNorman Myers silinganisela ukuthi ukuqothulwa kohlobo olulodwa lwezitshalo ekugcineni kungabangela ukufa kwezinhlobo zezilwane ezingaba ngu-30. Futhi njengoba nezihlahla eziningi zasezindaweni ezishisayo zithembele ezilwaneni ekusakazeni imbewu yazo, ukuqothula komuntu izinhlobo zezilwane kuholela ekuqothulweni kwezihlahla ezizisizayo. (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Ukuhlobana Kwezihlahla Nezinhlanzi.”) Njengokuzehlukanisa, ukuphazamisa ubuhlobo kwenza izitshalo nezilwane ezengeziwe zasehlathini zibe sohlwini ‘lwezinto ezifé ziphila.’

Ingabe Ukugawula Kancane Kubangela Umonakalo Omncane?

Abanye basekela ukugawulwa kwezindawo ezincane zamahlathi ngokucabanga ukuthi ihlathi lizobuye limile kube nohlaza olusha endaweni obekugawulwe kuyo ngendlela efana naleyo umzimba wethu omila ngayo isikhumba esisha endaweni ebisikekile emunweni. Ingabe kunjalo? Cha, akunjalo.

Yiqiniso ukuthi ihlathi libuye limile uma umuntu engayiphazamisi indawo egawuliwe isikhathi eside kakhulu. Kodwa futhi kuyiqiniso ukuthi ihlathi elisha alifani nelokuqala njengekhophi yezinga eliphansi yencwadi ecacile. U-Ima Vieira, isazi sezinto eziphilayo saseBrazil, wahlola ihlathi osekuyikhulu leminyaka ligawulwa liphinde limile e-Amazon futhi wathola ukuthi ezinhlotsheni zezihlahla ezingu-268 ezazichuma ehlathini elidala, zingu-65 kuphela eziphinde zamila namuhla. Lesi sazi sezinto eziphilayo sithi kunomehluko ofanayo nasezinhlotsheni zezilwane zakulesi sifunda. Ngakho nakuba ukuqedwa kwamahlathi kungaphenduli amahlathi aluhlaza abe izingwadule njengoba abanye besho, kodwa kwenza izingxenye zehlathi lemvula lase-Amazon zibe sezingeni eliphansi kunakuqala.

Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukugawula ngisho nengxenye encane yehlathi ngokuvamile kubhubhisa izitshalo nezilwane eziningi ezikhulayo, ezihuquzelayo nezicacayo kuleyo ndawo yehlathi ezingatholakali kwenye indawo. Ngokwesibonelo, abacwaningi e-Ecuador bathola izinhlobo zezitshalo ezingu-1025 endaweni ethile engamakhilomitha-skwele angu-1,7. Ezingaphezu kwezingu-250 kulezo zitshalo zazimila kuleyo ndawo kuphela emhlabeni. “Isibonelo sakulendawo,” kusho isazi saseBrazil sezinto eziphilayo nendawo yazo ezungezile uRogério Gribel, “i-sauim-de-coleira (i-pied bare-faced tamarin, ngesiNgisi),” inkawu enhle encane ebonakala sengathi ifake isikibha esimhlophe. “Ambalwa asasele ahlala kuphela esiqeshini sehlathi ngaseManaus maphakathi ne-Amazon, kodwa ukubhujiswa kwaleyo ndawana,” kusho uDkt. Gribel, “kuyoluqothula unomphela lolu hlobo.” Ukugawula kancane kubangela umonakalo omkhulu.

Ukugoqa “Umata”

Nokho, ukuqedwa kwamahlathi ngokuqondile kugubuzela ngefu elimnyama ihlathi lemvula lase-Amazon. Abakhi bemigwaqo, abagawuli bemithi, izisebenzi zasemayini nabanye abayinqwaba bagoqa leli hlathi njengomata waphansi, bebhubhisa zonke izinto eziphilayo ngokuphazima kweso.

Nakuba kunokuphikisana okushubile ngezibalo ezinembile zokubhujiswa kwamahlathi ngonyaka eBrazil—izilinganiso ezingeqisi zikubeka kumakhilomitha-skwele angu-36 000 ngonyaka—ingqikithi yehlathi lemvula lase-Amazon esibhujisiwe kakade kungenzeka ingaphezu kwamaphesenti ayishumi, okuyindawo enkulu kuneJalimane. I-Veja, iphephandaba lamasonto onke laseBrazil, labika ukuthi imililo yasehlathini engaba ngu-40000 eyokhelwa abalimi yavutha ubuhanguhangu kulo lonke lelizwe ngo-1995—ngokuphindwe kahlanu kunangonyaka owandulelayo. I-Veja yaxwayisa ngokuthi umuntu ushisa ihlathi ngentshiseko kangangokuthi izingxenye ze-Amazon zifana “nesihogo esisemngceleni wesifunda esiluhlaza.”

Izitshalo Nezilwane Ziyanyamalala —Pho Kunani?

Abanye bayabuza: ‘Kodwa ingabe siyazidinga zonke lezo zigidi zezitshalo nezilwane?’ Yebo, siyazidinga, kusho isazi sokulondolozwa kwemvelo u-Edward O. Wilson waseHarvard University. “Njengoba sithembele ekusebenzeni kwezinto eziphilayo ukuthi zihlanze amanzi ethu, zivundise inhlabathi yethu futhi zenze wona kanye umoya esiwuphefumulayo,” kusho uWilson, “ngokusobala ingxubevange yezinto eziphilayo akuyona into engalahlwa budedengu.” Incwadi ethi People, Plants, and Patents ithi: “Ukufinyelela ezakhini zofuzo ezihlukahlukene kuyoba isihluthulelo sokuphila komuntu. Uma lezi zinhlobonhlobo zinyamalala, siyolandela ngokushesha.”

Ngempela, ithonya lokubhujiswa kwezitshalo nezilwane lingaphezu kokugawulwa kwezihlahla, ukusongelwa kwezilwane nokuhlukunyezwa kwabomdabu. (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Imbangela Engumuntu.”) Ukuncipha kwamahlathi kungase kukuthinte. Cabanga ngalokhu: Umlimi eMozambique ukha umdumbula, umama e-Uzbekistan ugwinya iphilisi lokuvimbela inzalo, umfana olimele eSarajevo unikezwa isidambisa-zinhlungu, noma ikhasimende esitolo saseNew York lihogela amakha anuka kamnandi—i-Panos Institute iphawula ukuthi bonke laba bantu basebenzisa imikhiqizo eyavela ehlathini lasezindaweni ezishisayo. Ngakho ihlathi elingagawuliwe lisiza abantu emhlabeni wonke—kuhlanganise nawe.

Akukho Nala, Akukho Ndlala

Kuyavunywa, ihlathi lemvula lase-Amazon alinakunikeza inala emhlabeni wonke, kodwa lingasiza ekuvimbeleni indlala emhlabeni wonke. (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Inganekwane Yokuvunda.”) Ngayiphi indlela? Ngawo-1970, ngokwezinga elikhulu, umuntu waqala ukuhlwanyela izitshalo ezimbalwa ezihlukahlukene ezazithela isivuno esikhulu. Nakuba lezi zitshalo ezithela kakhulu ziye zasiza ekondleni abantu abengeziwe abayizigidi ezingu-500, kunenkinga. Njengoba zingenazo izakhi zofuzo ezihlukahlukene, zintekenteke futhi azivikelekile ezifweni. Igciwane lingacekela phansi isivuno esikhulu sezwe, kubangele indlala.

Ngakho ukuze kukhiqizwe izilimo ezengeziwe ezimelana nezifo futhi kugwenywe ukubulawa indlala, i-Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) ye-UN seyikhuthaza “ukusetshenziswa kwezinhlobo eziningana zezakhi zofuzo.” Futhi kulapho lapho kungenela khona leli hlathi lemvula nezakhamuzi zalo zomdabu.

Njengoba amahlathi asezindaweni ezishisayo enezinhlobo zezitshalo ezingaphezu kwengxenye yezitshalo zomhlaba (kuhlanganise nezinhlobo ezingaba ngu-1650 ezingaba izilimo zokudla), lendawo yezitshalo yase-Amazon yinhle kakhulu kunoma yimuphi umcwaningi ofuna izinhlobo zezitshalo zasendle. Ngaphezu kwalokho, izakhamuzi zakuleli hlathi ziyayazi indlela yokusebenzisa lezi zitshalo. Ngokwesibonelo, amaNdiya angamaCayapo aseBrazil, awazalanisi nje kuphela izitshalo ezintsha ezihlukahlukene kodwa futhi alondoloza amasampula ezindaweni zokugcina izakhi zofuzo. Ukuzalaniswa okunjalo kwezinhlobo zezitshalo zasendle nezasekhaya ezingavikelekile ezifweni kuyonikeza izilimo zokudla komuntu amandla engeziwe. Futhi i-FAO ithi lawo mandla engeziwe adingeka ngokushesha, ngoba “ukwanda okungu-60% komkhiqizo wokudla kuyadingeka eminyakeni engu-25 ezayo.” Naphezu kwalokhu, ogandaganda abagawula amahlathi bayaqhubeka bengena ngokujulile ehlathini lemvula lase-Amazon.

Kuba namiphi imiphumela? Ukubhubhisa komuntu ihlathi lemvula kufana nomlimi odla izinhlamvu zembewu yakhe—uyaliqeda iphango eliphuthumayo kodwa ubeka engozini ikusasa lemithombo yokudla. Iqembu lochwepheshe bezinto eziphilayo ezihlukahlukene muva nje laxwayisa ngokuthi “ukulondolozwa nokuthuthukiswa kwezitshalo ezihlukahlukene ezisasele kuyindaba ebalulekile ekhathaza imbulunga yonke.”

Izitshalo Ezithembisayo

Manje ngena kuleli “khemisi” eliyihlathi, futhi uzobona ukuthi ikusasa lomuntu lihlobene nezintandela zasezindaweni ezishisayo kanye nezinye izitshalo. Ngokwesibonelo, ama-alkaloid akhishwa ezintandeleni zase-Amazon asetshenziswa njengomuthi wokuthambisa izicubu ngaphambi kokuhlinzwa; abantwana abane kwabahlanu abane-leukemia basizwa ukuba baphile isikhathi eside ngosizo lwamakhemikhali atholakala kuyi-periwinkle ebomvu, okuyimbali ekuleli hlathi. Kuleli hlathi futhi kutholakala i-quinine, esetshenziselwa ukulwa nomalaleveva; i-digitalis, esetshenziselwa ukwelapha isifo senhliziyo; ne-diosgenin, esetshenziswa emaphilisini okuvimbela inzalo. Ezinye izitshalo ziye zathembisa ekulweni nengculaza nomdlavuza. “E-Amazon kuphela,” kusho umbiko we-UN, “kuye kwatholakala izinhlobo zezitshalo ezingu-2000 ezisetshenziswa abomdabu njengemithi yokwelapha futhi ezingathakwa neminye imithi.” Okunye ukuhlola kuthi emhlabeni wonke abantu abayisishiyagalombili kwabayishumi baphendukela kulezi zitshalo eziyimithi yokwelapha ukuze belaphe izifo zabo.

Ngakho kunengqondo ukuvikela izitshalo ezisivikelayo, kusho uDkt. Philip M. Fearnside. “Ukuphela kwehlathi lase-Amazon kubhekwa njengokungaba isithiyo esingathi sína emizamweni yokuthola amakhambi omdlavuza womuntu. . . . Umqondo wokuthi intuthuko esobala kwezokwelapha namuhla yenza ukuba sikhiphe ingxenye enkulu yalezi zitshalo,” enezela, “kuwukuzethemba ngokweqile okubulalayo.”

Nokho, umuntu uyaqhubeka ebhubhisa izilwane nezitshalo ngokushesha ngaphambi kokuba zitholakale futhi zihlaziywe. Kwenza uzibuze: ‘Kungani kuqhubeka ukuqedwa kwamahlathi? Ingabe lesi simo singashintshwa? Ingabe leli hlathi lemvula lase-Amazon linekusasa?’

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 8]

Inganekwane Yokuvunda

Umagazini i-Counterpart uphawula ukuthi umqondo wokuthi inhlabathi yase-Amazon ivundile “uyinganekwane okunzima ukuyikhipha engqondweni.” Ekhulwini le-19, umhloli wamazwe u-Alexander von Humboldt wachaza i-Amazon ngokuthi “inqolobane yomhlaba.” Ekhulwini leminyaka kamuva, uMongameli wase-United States uTheodore Roosevelt naye waba nomuzwa ofanayo wokuthi i-Amazon yayithembisa isivuno esihle. Wabhala: “Izwe elicebe futhi elivunde ngalendlela akufanele lihlale lingalinyiwe.”

Ngempela, umlimi okholelwa kokufanayo uthola ukuthi onyakeni owodwa noma emibili, uthola isivuno esihle ngoba umlotha wezihlahla nezitshalo ezishisiwe uba umanyolo. Nokho, ngemva kwalokho inhlabathi ayibe isathela lutho. Nakuba uhlaza lwakuleli hlathi luthembisa inhlabathi ecebile ngaphansi, eqinisweni lenhlabathi iyingxenye ebuthakathaka yaleli hlathi. Ngani?

I-Phaphama! yakhuluma noDkt. Flávio J. Luizão, umcwaningi e-National Institute for Research e-Amazon futhi onguchwepheshe wenhlabathi yasemahlathini emvula. Nakhu okunye kokukhulumela kwakhe:

‘Ngokungafani nenhlabathi eningi yakwamanye amahlathi emvula, inhlabathi eningi yasesigodini sase-Amazon ayizitholi izakhi ngaphansi, emadwaleni abolayo, ngoba idwala elidala alinazo izakhi futhi lisekujuleni komhlaba. Kunalokho, inhlabathi emunca amanzi ithola izakhi ngaphezulu, emvuleni nasezibini. Nokho, kokubili amaconsi emvula namaqabunga awile kudinga usizo ukuze kube nomsoco. Ngani?

‘Imvula ngokwayo ena kuleli hlathi lemvula ayinazo izakhi eziningi. Nokho, lapho ishaya emaqabungeni bese yehla ngeziqu zezihlahla, ithola izakhi emaqabungeni, emagatsheni, olwelweni, ezidlekeni zezintuthwane nasothulini. Ngesikhathi amanzi engena enhlabathini, asuke esephenduke ukudla kwezitshalo okunomsoco. Ukuze kugwenywe ukuba lokhu kudla okuwuketshezi kugelezele emihosheni, lenhlabathi isebenzisa okokubamba izakhi okwakhiwe uxhaxha lwezimpande ezinhle olusenhlabathini engamasentimitha okuqala ambalwa ngaphezulu. Ubufakazi bokusebenza ngokuphumelelayo kwalokhu kubanjwa kwezakhi ukuthi imihosha ethola lemvula ayinazo izakhi ezinomsoco ezingaphezu kwenhlabathi yaleli hlathi. Ngakho lezi zakhi zingena ezimpandeni ngaphambi kokuba amanzi angene emihosheni noma emifuleni.

‘Omunye umthombo wokudla izibi—amaqabunga awile, amagatsha nezithelo. Amathani ezibi ezikahle angaba ngu-8 ayihektare elilodwa laleli hlathi unyaka ngamunye. Kodwa zingena kanjani izibi ngaphansi kwenhlabathi bese ziya ezimpandeni zezitshalo? Imihlwa iyasiza. Isika izingcezu zamaqabunga eziyizicaba bese izithwala iye nazo ezidlekeni zayo ezingaphansi. Ikakhulukazi phakathi nenkathi yemvula, iyiqembu elimatasa, ithuthela ngaphansi amaphesenti amangalisayo angu-40 azo zonke izibi zasehlathini. Lapho, isebenzisa amaqabunga ukuze yakhe ingadi yokutshala isikhunta. Lesi sikhunta naso sivundisa izitshalo bese sikhipha i-nitrogen, i-phosphorus, i-calcium nezinye izakhi—izakhi ezibalulekile ezitshalweni.

‘Itholani imihlwa kulokhu? Ukudla. Idla isikhunta futhi ingase igwinye nezingcezwana zamaqabunga. Ngokulandelayo, izilwanyana ezisemathunjini emihlwa ziba matasa zishintsha ukudla kwemihlwa ngamakhemikhali, ukuze kuthi ngenxa yalokho, indle yalezi zinambuzane ibe ukudla kwezitshalo okunezakhi ezinomsoco. Ngakho imvula nokujikeleza kwezinto ezivundile kungezinye zezici ezimbili ezigcina leli hlathi lemvula liqhubeka likhona futhi likhula.

‘Kulula ukubona ukuthi kwenzekani lapho ugawula futhi ushise ihlathi. Awusekho umpheme wokubamba imvula noma ungqimba lwezibi okufanele lujikeleziswe. Kunalokho, izimvula ezinkulu zigadla ngokuqondile enhlabathini engambozekile ngamandla amakhulu, futhi amandla azo enza kuqine phansi. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, ukukhanya kwelanga okuhlaba enhlabathini kwandisa izinga layo lokushisa bese kuqinisa inhlabathi. Umphumela uba ukuthi imvula iyageleza, ingondli inhlabathi kodwa yondle imifula. Ukulahleka kwezakhi ngokuqedwa kwamahlathi nokushiswa kwendawo kungase kube kukhulu kangangokuba imifudlana engasemahlathini agawuliwe ize ibe nezakhi eziningi ngokweqile, ezisongela ukuphila kwezitshalo nezilwane ezisemanzini. Ngokusobala, uma lingaphazanyiswa, ihlathi liyazondla, kodwa ukugxambukela komuntu kubangela inhlekelele.’

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 7]

Imbangela Engumuntu

Ukuphazanyiswa nokuqedwa kwamahlathi akulimazi izitshalo nezilwane kuphela kodwa kulimaza nabantu. AmaNdiya angaba ngu-300 000, insali yamaNdiya angu-5000 000 ake ahlala esifundeni sase-Amazon eBrazil, aphila ngokuvumelana nendawo yawo eyihlathi ewazungezile. LamaNdiya aphazanyiswa njalo abagawuli bemithi, abantu abafuna igolide nabanye, abaningi babo ababheka lamaNdiya “njengezithiyo zentuthuko.”

Bese kuba khona ama-caboclo, okungabantu abaqatha abayingxubevange yabelungu namaNdiya, okhokho bawo ababehlala esigodini sase-Amazon eminyakeni engaba yikhulu edlule. Njengoba ehlala ezindlini ezigxunyekiwe ngasemifuleni, kungenzeka awakaze ezwe ngegama elithi “isayensi yezinto eziphilayo nendawo yazo ezungezile,” kodwa aphila ngehlathi ngaphandle kokulibhubhisa. Nokho, ukuphila kwawo kwansuku zonke kuphazanyiswa ukuthutheleka kwabantu abasha manje abangena kuleli khaya lawo eliyihlathi.

Eqinisweni, kulo lonke ihlathi lemvula lase-Amazon, ikusasa labantu abangaba ngu-2000 000 abaqoqa amantongomane, abakhama injoloba, abadobi nabanye bomdabu, abaphila ngokuvumelana nemijikelezo yakuleli hlathi nokudla izindwani nokubohla kwemifula, aliqinisekile. Abaningi bakholelwa ukuthi imizamo yokuvikela leli hlathi kufanele ibe ngaphezu kokuvikela izihlahla ze-mahogany nama-manatee. Kufanele kuvikelwe nabantu abahlala kuleli hlathi.

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 9]

Ukuhlobana Kwezihlahla Nezinhlanzi

Phakathi nenkathi yemvula, uMfula i-Amazon uyagcwala wemboze amahlathi asesigodini. Lapho ugola izintethe, izihlahla eziningi kulamahlathi ziyathela bese ziwisa izimbewu zazo—kodwa azikho izilwane eziququdayo ezizoyisakaza. Kungenela inhlanzi okuthiwa i-tambaqui (Colonnonea macropomum), entantayo echoboza izinhlamvu futhi elizwa ngokushesha iphunga. Lapho itshuza phakathi kwamagatsha ezihlahla ezimbozekile, izizwa ngephunga izihlahla esezizowisa izimbewu. Lapho izimbewu ziwela emanzini, lenhlanzi ichoboza amagobolondo ngemihlathi yayo eqinile, igwinye lezi zimbewu, idle izithelo ezikuzo, bese ikhipha izimbewu ziwele phansi ehlathini lapho zizomila khona uma amanzi ebohla. Izinhlanzi nezihlahla ziyazuza. I-tambaqui ilondoloza amafutha, kanti isihlahla siyazala. Ukugawula lezo zihlahla kusongela ukuphila kwe-tambaqui nezinye izinhlobo zezinhlanzi ezingaba ngu-200 ezidla izithelo.

[Isithombe ekhasini 5]

Amalulwane athwala impova kusuka ezimbalini zezinduna kuya kwezezinsikazi

[Umthombo]

Rogério Gribel

[Isithombe ekhasini 7]

Indawo yezitshalo nekhemisi lakho

[Isithombe ekhasini 7]

Umlilo usongela umngcele walesi sifunda esiluhlaza

[Umthombo]

Philip M. Fearnside