Loss of Rainforests

Due to many different causes, rain forests world wide are being
destroyed at a rapid rate. An article titled, Modern-Day Plague states that,
The worlds rain forests could completely vanish in a hundred years at the
current rate of deforestation. About 40% of the deforestation comes from
slash and burning. Farmers cut down acre after acre for agriculture or grazing
livestock.
Ive had the chance to take a look at what is really going on, and the
results are scary. Not only does deforestation destroy ecosystems, habitats,
animals, etc. but it has a major effect on climate change. This can happen
because of many different reason, but one main reason is that of soil lacking
moisture. Forests create a canopy that trap moisture, but when forests, and
trees are cut down for lumber, roads, and grazing land, the moisture that is
usually trapped under the soil is scorched by the sun and evaporates. Trees
also play a part in the water cycle by returning water vapor back in the
atmosphere. (Modern-Day Plague) Trees also are critical in absorbing green
house gases that are responsible for global warming.
Other direct causes of the loss of rainforests worldwide include, the
creation of large dams, mining, tourism and colonization.

(BrazilStephen, Getty)
As Marcus Colchester said, Deforestation, in other words, is an
expression of social injustice. But, who are we being unjust towards? Even
though we live on this Earth, we do not own it. If we dont become more
responsible with the way we live and if we dont limit ourselves, rainforests
will continue to disappear. Now not all of rain forest deterioration comes from

humans. But if our habits, desires, and paths stay the same, some argue that
rainforests could be gone in the near 100 years.
In the article, Tropical Rainforest Destruction Margaret Faoro says,
The rainforests are home to over half of all living things and covers less
than 7 percent of the land surface of the globe. Can you believe that? Some
other scientists, including Faoro, argue that every minute, 10 city blocks will
vanish forever.(Tropical Rainforest Destruction)
Most rainforests are located in South America, Africa, and other
oceanic islands. The biggest (and most well known) rainforest on the planet
is the Amazon. It runs through Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela,
Guyana and Suriname. The Amazon River Bason is home to 16,000 different
tree species, and produces more than 20% of the worlds oxygen.
With all these different species of trees and this giant source of the
worlds oxygen, losing millions of acres a year is a scary thought. But
rainforest destruction, like destruction of the Amazon, not only affects plant
life, oxygen levels, and earthly climate, but has an effect on almost
everything.
In Brazil alone, European colonists have destroyed more than 90
indigenous tribes since the 1900s. With them have gone centuries of
accumulated knowledge of the medicinal value of rainforest species. As their
homelands continue to be destroyed by deforestation, rainforest peoples are
also disappearing. (Rainforest Facts)
With the disappearance of rainforest peoples, come the loss of
immense knowledge of medicinal value. 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. As the rainforest
species disappear, so do many possible cures for life-threatening diseases.
Currently, 121 prescription drugs sold worldwide come from plant-derived
sources. While 25% of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest
ingredients, less than 1% of these tropical trees and plants have been tested
by scientists.
When acre after acre of the planets lungs are slashed, burned, cut and
destroyed, the effect is horrific.
So I ask, what can be done? What can we all do, to slash and burn
the rate that rainforests are being destroyed?
The problem is, there are no silver bullet solutions (Solutions to
Deforestation) to this trending problem. Because these rainforests are so
ginormous, a solution can not be something little. Its time for governments
around the world, to step up and do something. Both Domestic and
international forest services need to create policies that will control the rate
forests are destroyed.
Already in America, many acts have come forth, like the Wilderness
Act, the Lacey Act, and the Roadless Rule, that protect forests from being
illegally destroyed by logging companies and also stops illegal wood products
from entering the US market.

Lets all do what we can, to slash and burn the rate at which rainforests
are destroyed, thus preserving the planets lungs, many plant and animal
species, and 20% of the worlds oxygen source.

Research Cited:
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/forests/solutions-to-deforestation/
http://darwin.bio.uci.edu/sustain/global/sensem/Faoro302.htm
http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm#.VmkRoocvuV4
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/globalwarming/deforestation-overview/
http://www.savetherainforest.org/savetherainforest_006.htm
Reflection from the Author
Before I reported on rainforests, I was always interested in the Amazon. I
always found Amazon Rainforest facts, absolutely outstanding and stunning.
But until I had the chance to get up close and report on this massive disaster
and environmental degradation, I always that that deforestation was just
something that tree huggers would go off about. Sadly, I was wrong. The
rate that these forests are being, burned, slashed, cut down, and destroyed,
is very horrific. The thought of losing all the rainforests in my lifetime is also
a terrifying thought as well. However, I feel that this is an important topic
that I would like to see covered more by politicians and International
agencies/Pacts. I believe this is not out of our control yet. If we all start to
act, I believe we can save our rainforests. I mean seriously maybe theres a
cure to cancer hidden somewhere in those rainforests!