Our Disappearing Rainforests Are we ready to say Good-bye?

Tropical rainforests are rich with beauty and their pristine landscapes are like no other; they are a

realm of their own. Most of the rainforests are located near the equator; and their location plays an

important role. In an average year, the land and sea receive more direct sunlight than those places

further away. As the sun warms the land and sea, the water begins to evaporate into the air. This

causes the air to become warm and rise. As the warm air rises, it cools, and condensation takes place

producing water droplets; the air change forms clouds and thus rain is produced. “Up to thirty

percent of the rain that falls in tropical forests is water that the rainforest has recycled into the

atmosphere.” (Lindsey) In the beginning, scientists estimated that 14% of the earth was covered in

forested land. Today, that total has decreased by half. Deforestation of this land is the cause.

Where is it occurring?

What is the cause?

What are the effects?

What is being done to prevent it?

Deforestation

Deforestation is occurring all over the world at alarming rates. While the majority of this

destruction is human induced, some of the deforestation happens naturally; such as wildfires,

droughts, overgrazing, and subsistence changes. In the past couple of decades, the overall

climate of the earth has increased. This warming of the climate is also having a negative impact

on the trees. In North America, millions of trees are dying each year due to an infestation of

beetles. Freezing temperatures are not occurring as early as they used to and therefore, the

beetles are able to do more damage to the trees. Most often, by the time a freezing winter hits,

the damage is so severe the tree is unable to survive into the spring. Far more damaging

however is the human induced deforestation.

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Yearly, more than 15 million hectares of tropical rainforests are destroyed. (2.47 acres = 1 Hectare) This equates to 37.5 million acres of land. The economic global markets are invading these forests in search of the abundant resources they offer. Resources such as: fruit, nuts, soy beans, coffee beans, timber, spices, medicines, natural oils and resins can all be found in these rainforests. Additionally, land is being cleared for logging, both legal and illegal; construction of buildings, roads, and agricultural businesses clearing the land for planting crops or grazing cattle. Experts estimate, that if the rate of deforestation continues as it is, rainforests could be gone within 100 years.

Photo provided by Wikipedia Commons, Taken by Alex Rio Brazil, May 20, 2009 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DEFORASTATION_RAIN_FOREST_RIO_DE_JANEIRO_BRAZIL.JPG

The Amazon, Brazil

“The Amazon rainforest is the largest in the

world and covers nearly 70 percent of Brazil.

The rainforest produces about 20 percent of

the Earth's oxygen and plays a big role in

controlling the climate of the entire planet.

The Amazon also is home to more species of

plants and animals than any other ecosystem

on Earth, 30 percent of the world's total. “

(Hitchins)

Photo provided by Wonderfulinfo.com

While deforestation is common to the tropical forests throughout the world, the rate at which it is occurring in

the Amazon is shocking. During the past 40 years, close to 20 percent of the Amazon rain forest has been cut

down—more than in all the previous 450 years since European colonization began.” (Wallace) Environmental

Scientists speculate the percentage could actually be higher. These statistics do not account for the illegal and

selective logging that is happening as well. In the Amazon, the biggest cause of deforestation is the industrial

size cattle ranching and soybean production. Currently, Brazil is one of the biggest beef exporters in the world

and the second largest producer behind the United States. As the world’s population continues to increase, so

too does the demand for beef. The Brazilian Beef Industry reports that the export rate has increased by as

much as 227%; and if not controlled, will further exacerbate the problem of deforestation. Furthermore, “The

Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture has set a goal to double the country's beef export over the next decade.

“(Science Daily) Meat consumption is projected to increase to 80% by 2050.

Causes of Deforestation in the Amazon

Cattle ranches 65-70%Small-scale, subsistence agriculture 20-25%Large-scale, commercial agriculture 5-10%Logging, legal and illegal 2-3%Fires, mining, urbanization, road construction, dams 1-2%

Selective logging and fires that burn under the forest canopy commonly result in forest degradation, not deforestation. Therefore these factor less in overall deforestation figures.

Figures and graph provided by Rhett Butler/Mongabay.com

In addition, land being cleared for soybean

production has also doubled over the past

decade. This prodigious expansion is also

driven largely by global demand. The world’s

consumption of soybeans and soybean

products rose by 52 percent. Reasons for this

are; the appealing export prices, agricultural

financing both private and public is plentiful,

and the massive swaths of fairly inexpensive

land have all contributed to the extensive

growth in commercial soybean farming across

Brazil. Unless the Brazilian government cracks

down and restricts the allowable cultivation of

land and increases the federally protected

areas of the Amazon, further expansion will

continue and further deplete the rainforest.

Photo provided by Wikipedia Commons. Taken by Marcelo R. Zak, August 15, 2006http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Soy_forest.jpg

Deforestation of the tropical forests is having catastrophic effects on the world. Deforestation causes several

problems including: Land degradation, climate change and loss of biodiversity, and the lives of the indigenous

people are all affected. Land degradation causes the most severe and permanent damage to the soil. After forested

land is cleared, farmers and agri-businesses use a method of cultivating known as the Slash-and-Burn. Forest floor

cover and remaining roots of plants and trees are burned to further clear the area; making room for future planting

of pastures for cattle and soybean crops. Although the soils of tropical regions are thought to be rich and full of

nutrients, it is actually the opposite. Soils from these regions are actually nutrient poor. Most of the nutrients are

found in the plants themselves. Thus, when the trees are cut down, the nutrient poor soil only allows for 1-3 years

of agriculture cropping and then the land is no longer viable. Farmers and businesses move from the area and the

land is left dry and barren. This in turn, provides a greater opportunity for soil erosion and wildfires to come in and

destroy more of the forests.

Clear cutting of the Amazon.

Photo provided by Rhett Butler http://travel.mongabay.com/pix/peru/aerial-rainforest-

Flight_1022_1554.html

Slash and Burn method of forested land.

Photo provided by Google Images/Slash and Burn http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.com/2009/10/what-is-slash-and-

burn-farming-and-how.html

Land Degradation in Haiti

Photo taken by NASA, September 25, 2002 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Haiti_deforestation.jpg

Climate change and loss of biodiversity is also affected; and the link between them has long been established.

Throughout Earth’s history, climate change has always occurred; altering slowly over time with our ecosystems and

species coming and going. It is the rapid climate change that has detrimental effects on the ecosystems and species’

ability to adapt and so biodiversity loss increases. As trees are cleared, animals are forced to leave their homes

unprotected and even if new habitat is found, sometimes the change alone is enough to kill them. The costs associated

with deteriorating or vanishing ecosystems will be high.

When trees and plants are destroyed carbon is released into the atmosphere. Carbon Dioxide is a greenhouse gas which

gets trapped in the atmosphere, warms up the earth and changes many things in many places. Trees absorb carbon

dioxide in the air and then release oxygen back out to keep the atmosphere balanced. Additionally, less trees means less

oxygen for humans and animals that rely on oxygen for survival. It has been shown that deforestation is directly linked to

the global warming the earth is experiencing. Global warming is causing more frequent extreme weather events,

changing patterns of rainfall and drought which will have significant impacts on biodiversity.

“This diversity of rainforests is not a haphazard event, but is the result of a series of unique circumstances.” (Butler)

The Amazon Basin is a natural habitat to

many types of animals and organisms; it is

often referred to as the lungs of the earth.

Photo provided by Wikipedia Commons, Taken by Worldwide Happy Media, 2011

Photo provided by Alex Webb http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/last-of-amazon/#page=2

Balancing our economic and population growth with preservation of all the rainforests, particularly the Amazon Basin, is a difficult

task. The Brazilian government says the situation is improving; however, more work still needs to be done to protect the land. So far,

laws and moratoriums have been passed to help try to lessen the amount of forest that is legally allowed to be cleared. Increased

protection by federal police; cracking down on illegal activities in the Amazon and abroad. Conservation groups are helping with more

public awareness of the issues at hand. On the other hand, “critics say there aren't enough agents on the ground and that more land

needs to be put under federal protection.” (Butler)

According to Daniel Nepstad, a senior scientist at the Woods Hole Research Center and the study's lead author,

"market forces and Brazil's political will are converging in an unprecedented opportunity to end deforestation in

the Brazilian.” (Science Daily) Today, we stand at a crossing point; although the damage to the Amazon is huge,

there is still time for us to take action. Saving the rainforest will require a joint effort from all parties.

Cooperation, dedication, and community involvement is a must from government and business industries, both

global and local, along with efforts to lessen the poverty of the local indigenous people. Their poverty helps fuel

the drive for the destruction. The secret is finding a solution that will turn rainforests into economically valuable

national resource for countries that actually maintain and preserve them rather than destroy them. Perhaps

financial incentives could be given to countries like Brazil to keep their rainforests intact, alive and healthy.

Advocate “green consumerism” by buying recycled products, or boycotting companies that support or operate

businesses that come from the rainforests.

Postman butterfly, Heliconius erato or melpomene (blue form)

Lettered Araçari (Pteroglossus inscriptus)

Jaguar emerging from the Pantanal . Solitary Golden Black Howler Monkey (female)

Photos provided by Rhett A. Butler at Mongobay http://mongobay.com/brazil/images.html

All photos were provided by various sources at Google Images/Indigenous people of the rainforest

Inspiring such solutions is perhaps the most important first step toward ending the

destruction of Earth’s forests and increasing public awareness is crucial. Until more

people know about the threats to our tropical forests, and the consequences of such

destruction, the trees will continue to fall.

Works Cited

Butler, Rhett. Deforestation of the Amazon. 1999-2010. October 2011 <http://www.mongabay.com/brazil.html>.

Hitchins, Jeff. Planet in Peril. 2009. 17 October 2011 <Posted by annie1992 Z5 MI (My Page) on Sun, Sep 18, 05 at 1:31>.

Lindsey, Rebecca. Tropical Deforestation. 30 March 2007. October 2011 <http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Deforestation/deforestation_update2.php>.

Science Daily. Geographers Predict Increasing Rate of Amazon Deforestation. 15 July 2011. October 2011 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110714120722.htm>.

The CattleSite. "The Brazilian Beef Industry." September 2010. The CattleSite. October 2011 <http://www.thecattlesite.com/articles/2516/the-brazilian-beef-industry>.

USDA. The Amazon: Brazil’s Final Soybean Frontier. 13 January 2004. October 2011 <http://www.fas.usda.gov/pecad2/highlights/2004/01/amazon/amazon_soybeans.htm>.

Wallace, Scott. Farming the Amazon. n.d. October 2011 <http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/last-of-amazon>.