Tropical Deforestation and Its Effect on Global Climate Essay

The beauty, majesty, and timelessness of a primary rainforest is indescribable. It is impossible to capture on film, to describe in words, or to explain to those who have never had the awe-inspiring experience of standing in the heart of a primary rainforest. Rainforests have evolved over millions of years to turn into the incredibly complex environments they are today. Rainforests represent a store of living and breathing renewable natural resources that for eons, by virtue of their richness in both animal and plant species, have contributed a wealth of resources for the survival and well-being of humankind. These resources have included basic food supplies, clothing, shelter, fuel, spices,

The depletion of tropical rainforests by third world countries, as well as by American industry, has been a growing area of concern for many environmental organizations. Animal rights activists are livid at the frightening rate in which species are becoming extinct in these regions. Conservationists argue that the foliage is disappearing at rates that replanting programs will never be able to compete with. Environmentalists and Meteorologists fear that the elimination of enormous quantities of acreage will result in a long list of problems, including global warming, abnormal precipitation patterns, and unpredictable weather systems, just to

There are several world changing events happening right now. However, many of these events are either forgotten or rarely discussed. One of these “forgotten” events is the deforestation of the rainforests. Rainforest deforestation primarily started in the 1970’s, but has since increased. Up until recently, deforestation of rainforests was seldom talked about despite how much it has affected the world. Rainforest deforestation needs more attention because it has occurred for many decades despite the environmental damage, the rainforest is important for the economy, food, and medicinal purposes, it has many adverse effects such as climate change, and there are several projects to reduce deforestation.

Advocates for the preservation of these forests state that deforestation has devastating consequences including social conflict, extinction of plants and animals, and dangerous climate changes, and that local deforestation in these forests are causing damages that aren’t just local, but global. While opponents claim that tropical forests are destined to diminish as it is necessary for the growing human population to clear the natural landscape to make room for farms and pastures, to harvest timber for construction and fuel, to build roads and urban areas and to develop the economies of the often poor countries that surround the equator.

Since the year 1970, 758,092 square kilometers of the Amazon rainforest have been lost due to deforestation (“Changing Deforestation 1”). Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses and has been extremely prevalent in the Amazon rainforest in recent years. Many argue that the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest is wrongful because of its negative impact on the environment while others argue that it is necessary to keep the Brazilian economy strong. Although it is beneficial to humanity for many reasons, the deforestation of the Amazon should be put to an end at once because of its serious issues and long lasting impacts in the atmosphere, in nature, in human health and in

The Amazon Rainforest is a very diverse and complex place. It provides at least 10% of the world’s known biodiversity and it is the largest rainforest that the Earth contains (Thompson, 2010). Unfortunately, this valuable Earth biome is endangered due to human activities such as deforestation. About 17% of the Amazon rainforest has been destructed (Thompson, 2010). Deforestation leads to an increase in CO2 emissions and in global warming and it decreases biodiversity. This not only has an impact on the Amazon ecosystem, it has an impact on the whole planet. A lot of wealth inequality resulted around the 1970s when the settling of Amazon began which initiated deforestation (Marston, Knox, Liverman, Del Casino & Robinsons, 2013).

In fact, the Amazon provides about 20 percent of the world’s oxygen (“Destruction of the Amazon”). Conversely, as more of the Amazon forest is deconstructed, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will rise and the amount of oxygen produced will decrease. The increased effects of Global Warming over the years are a result of the deforestation of the Amazon. If the entire rainforest is demolished the Earth would begin to rapidly hold more heat from the sun, due to the build of carbon dioxide and lack of oxygen. The beautiful forest is one of the many keys to maintaining livable conditions on earth.

The largest rainforest in the world is being deforested with little opposition. It is a rainforest that humans have been benefiting from for hundreds of years. Notably, this rainforest is the Amazon, and many people ignore the destruction happening in there and do not realize that thousands of acres of land have been deforested. On the other hand, they are clearing these areas to gain significant resources such as diamonds, gold, lumber and medicinal plants. For these reasons, a controversy over the deforestation in the Amazon has arisen. Although the deforestation has provided valuable natural resources businesses in the forested regions, the removal of the Amazon rainforest is detrimental to its biodiversity because it creates a dysfunctional habitat.

Rainforests are one of the biggest victims to biodiversity loss and deforestation. They cover only 7% of the world's surface but house about half of all the plant and animal species on the earth. If human manufactured deforestation occurs in the rainforests many of the smaller more secluded species are at high risk for extinction. Some animals only live in certain portions of the rainforest and if that certain part is taken out, so is that species.

The tropical forests of Brazil contain a multitude of resources like timber, diamonds, metals, oils, gold and more (Freedman 2004). The most common known reason for deforestation is for wood and wood byproducts. The U. S. alone imports 26% percent of pulp for paper (FAO 2010). But the driving force behind tropical deforestation is the global expanding population. 60% of tropical deforestation is due to expanding agricultural practices to supply the worlds need for sustenance. This includes the growing of crops as well as cattle rearing. Another benefit is industrialization and urbanization opportunities. Most tropical forests are located in developing countries. The most notable benefit is economical revenue and the jobs created from deforestation. Millions of people are employed in the agriculture and timber industry and rely on it to support their families (FAO

Rainforests do many great things for humans. By absorbing carbon dioxide, rainforests are essential to reducing the effects of climate change which creates better air quality and cuts down the risk of heat related illness. They also provide a home for roughly half of all species of wildlife, and plants that make up more than 25 percent of our modern medicine on Earth (). The largest rainforests are the Amazon Rainforest, and the Congo Rainforest; as well as, several other large rainforests spread throughout southeast Asia. There are also many smaller rainforests located all along the equator. Before deforestation became a big problem, these rainforests covered nearly 15% of the Earth's surface, they now cover just 6% (). Deforestation of rainforests is one of the most threatening environmental issues mankind faces. If the situation is not addressed quickly, the world as we know it will change forever.

The largest rainforest in the world, that humans have been benefiting from for hundreds of years is being deforested without opposition. Notably, this rainforest is the Amazon, and many people neglect the destruction happening in the rainforest and do not realize that thousands of acres of land have been deforested. Although plants in the Amazon have been useful for medical applications, deforestation of the Amazon rainforest is detrimental to it’s biotic species because it creates disorder in the habitat.

Rainforests have been declining rapidly over the last few decades. There are various factors responsible for this decline, resulting in serious impacts on the environment and the economy. Critically discuss the causes of deforestation and solutions to it.

The Rainforest is home to many creatures of the world.There are The Amazonians, Rubber Trappers and Environmental groups who want to preserve it. This essay is about how the Rainforest is trying to be preserved from be cut down so people who depend on it can live.

The rate of deforestation is increasing and the tropical forests are falling at approximately 140,000 acres per day (Miller & Tangley 1991: xvi). The forests are crucial to the environment. They are important in minimizing erosion, providing a stable habitat for many animals, and helping to keep the environment clean. Deforestation has devastating effects, not only on the biological dependents within the depleted forests, but also on the surrounding human-populated communities.