Botanists & Zoologists are scientists interested in the plants and animals, which live in Amazonia. Pharmacologists are scientists interested in researching plants, which can be used for medicine purposes.

Anthropologists are scientists who visit Indian tribes to  find out more about the Amazon people and their customs.

Environmentalists are interested in protecting Amazonia’s environment from pollution and destruction as a result of development. They believe that it is important for people to leave large natural areas undisturbed because this helps to protect the Earth’s delicate biological systems. The Amazon rainforest is important because it produces a lot of oxygen for the Earth’s atmosphere. It is also important because the land that underneath the rainforest is very infertile – if the rainforests are chopped down, the land could turn into a vast desert which would change the weather of South America and many other countries.

Geologists are scientists interested in the land, and the minerals, which may lie below it. Geologists are often employed by oil and mining companies, which are interested in finding oil and valuable minerals such as gold.

Missionaries have been in Amazonia ever since the 1970s. These days, they still contact and live with remote Amazon tribes, hoping to teach them about Christianity. However, missionaries are often criticized because their teachings can end up destroying centuries-old native cultures and customs, and have created new problems in some Indian communities. For these reasons, missionaries aren’t allowed into some Indian areas, or are expected to follow strict rules.

Naturalists are scientists who want to learn about nature and about how life evolved and adapted to different environments. Amazonia was an important place to visit because it contained more species than anywhere else, and was a good place to observe a huge variety of life forms.

Adventurers, Amazonia is still a very exciting place for people to travel. Many of them go there for an “adventure” and to explore the rainforests and travel along the rivers.