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The Argument Against Deforestation

The Argument Against Deforestation. Rainforests: Special Ecosystems. Of the 30 million species found on earth, 28 million are found in the rainforest Huge variety of creatures but some only exist in small numbers, e.g. the Sumatatra rhinoceros and margay of Central America.

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The Argument Against Deforestation

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  1. The Argument Against Deforestation

  2. Rainforests: Special Ecosystems • Of the 30 million species found on earth, 28 million are found in the rainforest • Huge variety of creatures but some only exist in small numbers, e.g. the Sumatatra rhinoceros and margay of Central America

  3. Rainforests: Special Ecosystems • Only 10% of plant species have been fully studied. More Plants and animals are being Discovered every year • 20% of the world’s oxygen supply comes from the Amazon Rainforest

  4. Rainforests: Important to Humans • Many rainforest products are used in medicines. Curare, a poison used on arrow tips by Amazonian Indians is used in surgery to relax muscles before an operation • Many food products are found here e.g. peaches and bananas

  5. Rainforests: Who Cares Anyway? • Indigenous tribes, e.g. the Kayapo and the Nuaulu use the forest for: • Building Materials • Firewood for cooking • Transport - canoes • Clothing - Bark and leaf fibres • Wrapping Materials • Source of money

  6. Rainforests: Who Cares Anyway? • Medicines • Stimulants - drinks • Musical Instruments e.g. drums • Tools Weapons e.g. spears • Colouring • Cosmetics Resins

  7. Rainforests: Who Cares Anyway? • Governments, Ranchers, Mining Companies, Farmers, Logging Companies, Plantation Companies, furniture companies and Paper mills all rely on the rainforest as a source of income but all of these groups make significant contributions to the problem of Deforestation

  8. Deforestation = Environmental Disaster • Deforestation decreases the level of nutrients in the soil as nutrient recycling cannot take place • Surface run off is increased and interception is decreased causing soil erosion and flooding • Insects, animals and plants will be threatened with extinction

  9. Deforestation = Environmental Disaster • ‘Slash and Burn’ techniques that involve burning of the rainforest in order to clear it for ranching, mining etc. are a major contributor towards global warming. In eastern and southern Amazonia, South America in 1987 a massive 83,000 km2 of forest went up in smoke. Said to have been like 100 volcanoes in eruption! DEFORESTATION IS A GLOBAL PROBLEM!

  10. Deforestation = Environmental Disaster • Based on estimates of 1% annual tropical forest loss, the Amazon may be losing as many as 11 to 16 species per day

  11. Deforestation: Does it Help? • Question: Does deforestation help to pay off National debt? Answer: In part yes but this is unsustainable because the forest and with it the money, will eventually run out! It is not a very efficient system as much of the money is lost to corrupt governments and Multi-National Companies

  12. Deforestation: Does it Help? • The combined debt of Nicaragua and Honduras is $10.1 billion. This means that 39% and 20% respectively of their export earnings is spent on debt repayment. Nicaragua cuts down about 2000km2 of its rainforest per year, mainly for fuel wood. It cannot afford to switch to ‘greener’ forms of energy because of its huge debts. CUT DEBT TO CUT DEFORESTATION!

  13. Deforestation: Does it Help? • Countries like Brazil have been cutting down trees to make money for approximately 300 years. Millions are still living in extreme poverty so has it really worked?

  14. Deforestation: The Human Impact • The plants that are lost every day could hold the cures to many diseases such as cancers. 3000 plants have already been identified as having anti-cancer properties with over 70% of these being found in rainforests. We will never know what we can do with these products if we loose them

  15. Deforestation: The Human Impact • Indigenous people are being forced from their homes by the continuing spread of deforestation HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?

  16. Deforestation: Some Facts • Global deforestation is estimated at 17 - 20 million hectares (17 - 20 million football pitches) per year (that’s about the size of Britain!) • Only 22 percent of the earth's original forest coverage remains

  17. Deforestation: Some Facts • Approximately 45 percent of the world's tropical forests, originally covering 1.4 billion hectares, have disappeared in the last few decades.

  18. Deforestation: Stop It Today

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