Do you think the indigenous people of tropical rainforests have a right to continue living in the tropical rainforests of the world? The natives claim their culture and religion depend upon living in the rainforest. Some people believe rainforests should be preserved in order to protect these natives. Other people believe that a few thousand natives should not control such a large area containing rich resources.
Useful facts: Rainforest Action Network

The Manu Biosphere Reserve in Peru is unspoiled by modern civilization. The Manu Reserve is home to the indigenous people, the Machiguenga. They are a people who live in harmony with the land.

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What Effect Has Development had on Indigenous People? "In addition to the biological, plant and animal life, the Amazon Basin is also home to tens of thousands of indigenous peoples. In fact, at one time, around 1500 AD, the estimated population of indigenous people was around six million. There are several reasons for the decline, development of the rain forest is one of them. This is because of the Indigenous peoples traditionally strong relationship, or interaction with their physical environment. Their entire culture is dependent upon the rain forest.

The indigenous people of Rondonia, an Amazonian state in Brazil, provide us with an excellent case.The overall population of Rondonia increased from 113,000 in 1970 to 491,000 in 1980, and 1.4 million in 1988 due to the influx of settlers. Forest cover declined from 99% to 76% of the state's area. (© Latin America Data Base, Latin American Institute,Darren Bessett

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