Rainforest Deforestation

http://kids.mongabay.com/lesson_plans/lisa_algee/deforestation.html

Where are the world’s rainforests?

• Rainforests are generally found around the equator

• Rainforests once covered 14% of the world’s surface

• Now rainforests only account for 6% of Earth’s land surface

http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/where.html

http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm#.VjK4FSs3Urk

DEFORESTATION: when forests are permanently altered to convert the land for other uses.

It is estimated that 18 million acres of forest are cut each year

ABOUT DEFORESTATION

http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm#.VjK4FSs3Urk

http://www.livescience.com/27692-deforestation.html

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview/

Pic: http://thefrogblog.org/2013/12/17/218-central-american-farms-achieve-a-climate-smart-milestone/

CONSEQUENCES OF DEFORESTATION

1. ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION

2. ANIMAL POPULATIONS DECREASE OR BECOME

EXTINCT

3. INDIGENOUS PEOPLE LOSE THEIR HOMELAND

http://www.wcwtinternational.org/oilfriendorfoe.htm http://imgarcade.com/1/rainforest-people/

EXTINCTION OF ANIMAL LIFE

10% OF THE WORLD’S ANIMALS SPECIES ARE ESTIMATED TO LIVE IN AMAZONIA

70% OF THE WORLD’S PLANT AND LAND ANIMALS LIVE IN FORESTS

ON AVERAGE, 137 FORMS OF LIFE NATIVE TO THE TROPICAL RAINFORESTS BECOME EXTINCT EACH DAY

HTTP://WWW.RAN.ORG/FACT-SHEET-TROPICAL-RAINFOREST-ANIMALS#IXZZ3Q19LKPFBHTTP://ENVIRONMENT.NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/ENVIRONMENT/GLOBAL-WARMING/DEFORESTATION-OVERVIEW/HTTP://WWW.NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/CLIMATE-CHANGE/EXPLORE-AMAZONIA/#/ART/INTRO/HTTP://REEFANDRAINFOREST.CO.UK/TOURS/GROUP-TOURS-ITINERARY.PHP

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES

Deforestation ruins soil Without the canopy of

trees, soil becomes dry and infertile

- Fewer trees leads means that more carbon dioxide will be released into the atmosphere and destroy the ozone layer

- Global warming is exacerbated by deforestation

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES CONT.

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview/http://cowboybyte.com/38064/top-scientists-start-to-examine-fiddled-global-warming-figures/

Indigenous people lose their homes

500 years ago, there were an estimated 10 million indigenous people living in the Amazon rainforest

Currently the population of indigenous people living in the Amazon rainforest is less than 200,000

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/amazon.htm https://www.pinterest.com/pin/251005379202523357/

Why is the tropical rainforest being destroyed?

Agriculture and ranching Most of the Amazon has been lost to cattle

ranching

Logging, mining, and oil extraction

http://thehungergames.wikia.com/wiki/File:Cow_face.jpg

http://bandeforestation.weebly.com/

http://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation