impact on species
We are losing the Earths greatest biological treasures just as we are beginning to appreciate their true value. Rainforests once covered 14% of the earth's land surface. However, due to deforestation they now cover a mere 6% of the worlds surface, and experts estimate that the last remaining rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years. More than half of the worlds 10 million species of animals, plants and incests live in the tropical rainforests. The problem lies here; nearly half of the world's species of plants and animals will be destroyed or severely threatened over the next 25 years due to the deforestation of the tropical rainforests. As we selfishly cut down trees, we destroy species source of shelter, food, and safety. Experts estimates that we are losing 137 plant, animal and insect species every single day due to rainforest deforestation. That equates to 50,000 species a year.
Economic interests
The leading threats to rainforest ecosystems are governments and their greed to consume natural resources. The 2000-2001 World Resources Report put out by the UN reported that "governments worldwide spend $700 billion dollars a year supporting and subsidizing environmentally unsound practices in the use of water, agriculture, energy, and transportation". In the Amazon, rainforest timber exports and large development projects go a long way in diminishing debt in many developing countries. This is why governments and international corporations like the World Bank subsidize them. In addition to being logged for exportation, rainforest wood stays in those developing countries for fuel wood and charcoal. Tropical rainforests are also being cleared to be used for agricultural purposes. As the demand in the Western world for cheap meat increases, more and more rainforests are destroyed to provide grazing land for animals. Many farmers also attempt to grow crops in clear-cut areas, however, due to the lack of nutrients in the soil, crops fail to grow. Logging tropical hardwoods like mahogany, rosewood, and other timber for furniture, building materials, charcoal, and other wood products makes big business as well as big profits for many large companies. The demand, extraction, and consumption of tropical hardwoods has been so massive that countries whom have been traditional exporters of tropical hardwoods are now importing them. This is because they have already completely used up their supply by destroying their native rainforests in greedy operations. Little do we know that as the rainforest species disappear, so do many possible cures for life-threatening diseases. Currently there are 121 prescription drugs sold worldwide that come from plants and trees only found in the tropics. The U.S. National Cancer Institute has identified 3000 plants that are against cancer cells. 70% of these plants are found in the rainforest and twenty-five percent of the ingredients in today's cancer-fighting drugs come from organisms found only in tropical rainforests.
conservation efforts
There are many conservational efforts being made to save the animals and plants of the tropical rainforests. Several companies offer a sustainability tour to educate individuals about the importance of the rainforests and how they can protect its ecosystem. This preserves the tropical rainforests for future generations, to instill the message that we can save the rainforests in all sectors of society. Other organizations are taking donations and cash contributions and trying to put an end to deforestation in their own ways.
human activity
Positives:
1. In many of the plants and organisms found in the tropics, are usable medicines we can benefit from. They range from over the couter prescription drugs to cancer fighting remedies.
2. An increase in tourism to the tropics has lead to positive economic change (which has created revenue to be put towards the protection of the rainforests), and an increase in public appreciation of the environment, which will spread awareness of environmental problems.
Negatives:
1. Extreme deforestation has lead to the loss of habitat of many animal and plant species. If we continue to abuse the tropical rainforests the way we do presently, we will eventually cause the diminish and extinction of over half of the worlds species in a mere 25 years.
2. The removal of vast areas of forest will affect the earth's climate. It will also significantly reduce water absorption which will both result in extreme floods and droughts in the topic areas.
1. In many of the plants and organisms found in the tropics, are usable medicines we can benefit from. They range from over the couter prescription drugs to cancer fighting remedies.
2. An increase in tourism to the tropics has lead to positive economic change (which has created revenue to be put towards the protection of the rainforests), and an increase in public appreciation of the environment, which will spread awareness of environmental problems.
Negatives:
1. Extreme deforestation has lead to the loss of habitat of many animal and plant species. If we continue to abuse the tropical rainforests the way we do presently, we will eventually cause the diminish and extinction of over half of the worlds species in a mere 25 years.
2. The removal of vast areas of forest will affect the earth's climate. It will also significantly reduce water absorption which will both result in extreme floods and droughts in the topic areas.