Rain Forest Destruction
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Capuchin Monkey
More than half of the world's animals live in the rain forest. Many of the earth's insects are found in the tropical forests, as well. Of these inhabitants, a number are endangered animals. With each passing year, and many hundreds of thousands of acres of the forests are destroyed, more and more habitat is cut away, sending the creatures to the brink of extinction. Some startling statistics are that over an acre of rain forest is destroyed each second. That is truly incomprehensible. Within 40 years, they could be gone. Vanished from this planet. Yet, at one point in our history, rain forests covered about 14% of the earth. We need to stop the rain forest destruction!
Rain forests in Brazil, Indonesia and South East Asia, in particular, are impacted by logging and clearing work. Some work is done to build roads. Other times, the clearing is for farming or cattle ranching. Homes are being built in the cleared areas. Even gold and silver mining is being conducted, as well. Oil exploration and refinment work is also being done in these areas. Rain forest destruction is happening at an alarming rate, for indefensible reasons.
Removal of the trees destroys the upper canopy of the forest, taking away the homes of many birds in the rain forest. With each desecrated acre of forest land, the earth suffers potential overall climate changes, as forests are key to carbon dioxide intake from the air. Global warming impacts could accelerate with the continued rain forest destruction rate.
In addition to climate changes and animal extinction, we are threatening the culture of native peoples that live within the rain forests with contined rain forest destruction. These tribes are becoming exposed to new diseases with the advancement of our tractors and bulldozers into their lands. Moreover, the removal of trees can result in soil erosion and water pollution, endangering all those that live and work in the area.
The loss of native tribes, and many of the unique plants and animals that live in the deforested areas also may threaten our ability to treat illnesses and diseases. We may be wiping out future cancer cures in our rush to build roads through these pristine forests. Many indiginous tribes have medicine men with great knowledge of the medicinal values of particular plant species within the tropical forests. At least one-quarter of Western pharmaceuticals are based on ingredients from the rain forest. How many more drugs could we create from this finite resource? We may never know if we continue to allow the rain forest destruction.
Help Save the Rain Forest
What Can You Do?
There are a number of things you can do to help stop the rain forest destruction. First, be a responsible consumer, and reduce, reuse, recycle! Second, make sure that you do not purchase exotic pets that may have been taken illegally from the rain forest (some types of monkeys, macaws, etc.). Third, when purchasing wood furniture, investigate the source of tropical wood to determine if it was sustainably grown. Fourth, drink shade-grown coffee, and purchase other food products grown in a sustainable manner. You can also click to give at sites like www.therainforestsite.com.
Get educated, spread the word, and be responsible! Our next generations are counting on us!
Internet Resources to Get You Motivated and Thinking About Rain Forest Destruction
- Tropical Rainforest Animals
Startling statistics of the rate of rain forest deforestation and its impacts - Rain Forest Facts
Startling information about the rate at which rain forests are disappearing, including the animals that live within them - Causes of Rain Forest Destruction
- Think Quest.org
Information about the destruction of the world's rain forests - Kids' Fact Sheet - Things to Do to Save the Rain Forest
I'd Rather be a Forest Than a Street
If the rain forest destruction is upsetting to you - find out what you can do to save it, and many more environmental tips and advice at www.peachygreen.com. See you over there!
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Comments
This is so scary! My son asked me to write this hub, and I'll tell you quite honestly, I was getting a bit emotional at times. Watch the videos. Arrrgh!
Again an amazing hub Steph. The thought of all that beauty disappearing actually causes me physical pain.
Great hub regards Zsuzsy
Yes, the videos are true. This is the worst thing - lose the forests and we lose all of our air.
In the US West, planting projects in the desert are under way, so all is not lost.
I feel so BAD about the birch tree I killed as a child because I did not know that peeling off the bark all the way around would kill it. Why aren't we taught to take care of trees in elementary school?
this is another great trargedy, great hub.
Great question, Patty! Why? Zsuzsy... I had pain writing this. I wasn't sure I could get through all the facts. I had to just put in summaries and link to the rest. It is so disturbing. Thanks Bob. I so completely agree!
This is the kind of stuff which makes me lose sleep!! Really"
Great hub and thumbs up to you and your son!
"At least one-quarter of Western pharmaceuticals are based on ingredients from the rain forest." thi sis very scary, imagine all the possible cures and mediciines that we will be missing out on in the future...
Thank you Compu-Smart and Johnngd. I lose sleep over this too. I wish more people would sit up and take notice! Steph
This is a great hub Steph - such a challenging situation.
Man is a big destructor of the environment.
Very serious matter we have to think about this globally.
Thanks for reading and commenting amy jane, topstuff and himalayan. It is indeed challenging and serious. I hope we can slow or stop the destruction soon.
great site! I went to the rainforest site and clicked. I'll be back. Do you hae a way Ican post your button for a clck through from a green site am working on as I write this.
Hi Organized Living - thank you! Do you want to link to my hub, or only to the save the rainforest site? In either event, when you are editing your text, highlight the words that you wish people to click on and then hit the little chain to create a hyperlink. Insert the URL (either for this Hub, or for another website). Good luck! Steph
Hi Steph I already have you linked on my page thnks to the hubpage catagories. however I am now going to add a permanent link to your hub TY.
Iwanted something that wouldtake people straight through to the sponsored click and save the rainforest page. really thought that was agreat idea. I know how to do it but i was wondering if they have an official affilaite/sponsor pogram
The picture that you called a squirrel monkey is actualy a cappacin monkey.
Great hub though. Suirrel monkey's are much smaller and are blonde with black markings on their heads.
spelled it wrong lol capuchin monkey.
Thank you Ariel! (misled by Google images...LOL)
Straphanie, thank you for writing on this very HOT matter, these days. I simply cannot believe, how the greatest superpowers of this planet cannot protect these 'lungs of our planet' with absolutely all resources available. Why to posses the most modern weaponry and ultra skilled soldiers, if there are a few individual farmers in Amazon area, who are literally destroying the Amazon rain forest and native tribes there, as well. (I know, that's the topic for the President)?
Ervin, I agree. It will take an organized consortium of governments to recognize the rainforest as a wonderous natural resource on which the planet depends, just like polar ice caps. There have been some influential entertainers that have taken this on as a personal cause, but more information needs to be disseminated and more pressure needs to be made before its too late (if it is not already). If the world is truly concerned about Global Warming, which I believe it is, then we have to look at all sides of the equation. Cut emissions, but also retain significant vegetation that helps to clear the clogging CO2 out of our air.
Save a natural habitat
This is a capuchin monkey
a great hub, and thanks to your son who asked you to write this hub. It educates people and shows us the facts on how terrible the destruction of our rainforests are.
Hi midnightbiiss and thank you! My son is very sensitive to environmental issues (must get it from his mom). It is worth considering, even if the facts are distressing! Steph
god
Great hub. My life is lived in and around the forests of Ireland. They affect me very deeply... I can't imagine what this planet would be like without its magnificent forests. Maybe I will see the rain forest one day ;-)
good Pic
the really ironic thing about this is the farther we (the superior race) keep going with destroying these rain forests, the closer we are to killing ourselves. It's for the most part kinda patheitc how stubborn people are we can't get together and think of a way to give and take equally.
so save trees for a better future
Patty Inglish, MS says:
2 years ago
Good Hub! If the forests are destroyed, the land becomes desert, the soils formerly held firm by roots blown away and plant life growing scare or absent. If that happened to a majority of land on earth, the planet could no longer hold its atmosphere. And it could happen more quickly than people think, not in the next generation, but in our own.
Thanks for the Hub!