The Rainforest

[SilverDragonLily]

I did this for a school project, if anyone is interested in lerning about the rainforest and ways to prevent it's destruction reading this may help
Today, the diminishing lands of rainforests have become a growing concern for scientists, and groups dedicated to protecting the forests. Although, you may assume that since these rainforests are distant from our community, and therefore think that what happens does not affect you, these assumptions are incorrect. You may not realize that the rainforests have or will affect you at some point in your life. In fact there are many ways you may have encountered or used a product from the rainforest without realizing it. The reasons to protect the rainforests are abundant but the rainforests themselves are not.
Although there are several existing rainforests, the most familiar are the Amazon, which is located in South America, and the Tongass of South Alaska. Also there are two basic types of rainforests and they are distinguished by temperature. Temperate rainforests are located in cold regions. An example of temperate rainforests is the Great Bear rainforest, which is located in British Columbia coast and the Tongass, which is in South Alaska. The other type of rainforest is tropical moist and these are in temperate zones. However, sadly both types of rainforests are being destroyed and threatened. In fact, 20% of the Amazon’s forest is destroyed for eternity and even more shocking is that the damage could be greater and is continuing (The wealth of the rainforest, 5). Furthermore, it is said that if the destruction continues, 80 to 90% of tropical rainforest environment will be gone forever by 2020 (The wealth of the rainforest, 4). To show how extreme this situation is, an article states that “Everyday, an average of 214000 acres of tropical forest disappear”(Rainforest Destruction, 1). Additionally, Edward O. Wilson even stated that 137 plants, animals and insects daily, which is 50,000 species annually (The wealth of the rainforest, 5). These statistics are clearly unbelievable, yet the destruction has not ended. In fact, Christopher Hatch responded by saying “The destruction of the Amazon will be the greatest natural catastrophe in the history of human civilization” (Rainforest Destruction, 1). However, I’m sure most of you are thinking that the rainforest destruction will not affect you since their locations are so distant. Still, the truth is that the rainforests supply us with many products, which I will discuss later. In fact, the United States depends on the rainforests for 25% of drug ingredients (The wealth of the rainforest, 6). Also, 10 million plants and animals call the rainforests home and the Amazon Basin supplies 1/5 of the world’s water (The wealth of the rainforest, 1). Still the economy is rated a higher necessity than water, plants, animals and medications. In fact, most of the causes of the destruction of rainforests seem to be economic. For example, logging is one of the causes of the damage done to the rainforests in previous years. Furthermore, the slash and burn method used to grow crops also is responsible for destroying the forest’s precious soil. At any rate, the damage is continuing to the world’s existing rainforests despite their crucial value.

[SilverDragonLily]

There are many reasons to protect the rainforests. Despite the fact that this land is distant from our area of residence, it is still a vital part of our life since it supplies us with products, which we may use. Firstly the rainforest has an invisible compact on our lives and environment. Providing oxygen to the world, they have sometimes been called the “Lungs of our Planet” (The wealth of the rainforest, 1). Still they refresh our environment and maintain it by maintaining the earth’s rain and water system or the hydrologic cycle (Tropical Forests in Our Daily Lives, 2). Not only does it provide us with fresh air, the rainforest also works as a “global air conditioner” by absorbing carbon dioxide and storing it. As many of you know, too much carbon dioxide will result in global warming. Yet the rainforests store carbon, cleanse the air, maintain the hydrologic cycle and therefore prevent global warming. More visibly, the rainforest provides the United States with ingredients found in medicines. For example, vincristine, which is a plant from the rainforest called Periwinkle, is now one of the most helpful cancer drugs available. As a result of this treatment, survival among children with leukemia has increased. Unfortunately, the plant Periwinkle is now extinct in the Madagascar rainforest due to deforestation(The Wealth of the Rainforests, 2). Additionally, the U.S National Cancer institute stated that 3000 plants are anti-cancer medicines. 70% of these plants are only found and available in the rainforests. Also, 25% of the ingredients in these modern drugs are found only in the rainforest (The Wealth of the Rainforest, 2). Still the National Cancer institute is continuing research projects of finding cures for diseases from cancer to AIDS. Today treatments and medicines for diabetes, muscle tensions, surgical complications, malaria, heart disease, arthritis and many more are from chemicals supplied by tropical forests. Plus, products such as stimulants, tranquilizers and contraceptives also are from ingredients in the rainforest (Rainforest Destruction, 1). In addition, theories concerning alkaloids state that they protect plants from both disease and insects. Moreover, it is believed that these alkaloids are valuable medically as well. Still, the plants that provide medical characteristics are not the only source of cures in danger. Lost information threatens as destruction causes indigenous people to loose their homes and even die. Momentarily half of the Amazon tribes are gone already. Their homes are invaded by miners, ranchers, and others causing their culture to vanish. Still not only do we loose the inhabits of the forest, but also their knowledge and valuable information. This issue is important since in the event of the death of a doctor, their teachings have not been distributed to a successor. Also there are no written documents or books that hold their knowledge. With no successor, or documents their information and knowledge dies with them. Therefore, the rainforest must be protected as well as it’s inhabits because as the people are destroyed so is the knowledge of the rainforest’s cures. Also the rainforests physically serve as laboratories (Tropical Forests in Our Daily Lives, 2). The forest is the source of cures, treatments, food, protection, maintenance of the environment and storage of the past. Therefore, when it is destroyed, the lab and information is lost as well. Not only does the rainforest provide us with medical resources, but it provides food as well. Experts state “The rainforest is more valuable economically by selling its nuts and fruits instead of cutting it down for other uses. In fact, the rainforest supplies at least 3000 fruits (The wealth of the rainforest, 1). Examples of fruits are coconuts, figs, oranges, lemons, bananas, rice and potatoes. Yet food is not the extent of the products supplied by the rainforest. The forest provides fibers in rugs, mattresses, ropes, and strings among more. Also, oils in insecticides, fuel, paint varnish and more are resources from the forest, especially those found in cosmetics, soaps and shampoos (The Wealth of the Rainforest, 2). However, the rainforest also provides products for homes and daily living areas. We may not realize, but wood for homes and furniture also are from the rainforests. Still by using these woods, we are destroying the environment and the ecosystem(Tropical forests in our Daily Lives, 1). Obviously, the rainforests are more important in our lives than we realize, yet unfortunately at the same time they are being destroyed.
Hopefully, you now realize that the rainforest is valuable and need to be saved and there are many ways to help protect the rainforests. First and foremost, learn more and teach others about the necessity to save the rainforests and the hidden and overlooked affects they have in our lives. Also, you could join a group, however these may be expensive. Nonetheless, if this causes a problem, there are many inexpensive ways to protect the rainforest without costs. Grassroots and the Rainforest Action Network are two groups and a website to contact and learn more about Grassroots is provided in the handout. The next suggestion is to reduce beef use. By doing so, we lessen the demand for beef raised in the rainforests and results in less clearing of the forestlands. Also, reducing oil use will prevent climate destruction. If possible, avoid cars that use large amounts of gas. Another option is to carpool if it is possible. Also reduce paper use to avoid the need for logger to disforest. For example, use both sides of paper, use clothe bags, napkins, and towels, avoid disposable products, and instead buy recyclable or tree-free products if possible. Of course these are merely suggestions and most are simple. The second website link on you handout will take you to a website with a list of tips and suggestions. These suggestions are simple, basic teachings such as putting trash in garbage instead of littering; turn off water faucets, lights and appliances when they are not being used. This website also provides suggestions that are even for your car maintenance to protect and keep the environment clean, to ways that you can help by making differences in you lawn, business and even on vacation. After reading over these suggestions, the main concept is to conserve. Thus there are still ways to help without paying any costs. Hopefully, you will research the website, and learn more and even make an effort to follow some of the suggestions.

[SilverDragonLily]

“If you are thinking 1 year ahead, sow seeds. If you are thinking 10 years ahead, plant a tree. If you are thinking 100 years ahead, educate the people.”(How you can help save the rainforest, 1). I hope that this information has inspired you to become interested in the rainforest and to want to help protect it. Remember that although the rainforests are located some distant from our small community, they still affect us and we affect them. Their infinite knowledge, information, medicines and resources will someday change our life and affect us. Still, if they do not exist then and are destroyed by destruction they cannot be replaced. As I said, the reasons to protect the rainforest are abundant, yet the rainforests themselves are not.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

“How You Can Help Save The Rainforest.” Help Save the Rainforest. [Online] Available www.savetherainforest.org/savetherainforest-002.htm. April 26.

“Rainforest Destruction.” Facts for Learning:Rainforest Destruction. [Online] Available factsforlearning.2facts.com/,-topic-display.asp?pin=I-0402210¶m=go22rainforest.

“7things you can do to save the rainforest.” 7 things you can do to save the rainforest. [Online] Available www.ran.org/info-cneter/factsheet/oic.html. April 26.

“The Wealth of the Rainforests.” Rainforest Facts [Online] Available www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm. April 27.

“Tropical Forests in Our Daily Lives.” [Online] Available www.rainforest-alliance.org/resources/tfluves.html. April 12.
for more information regarding the rainforest, visit the sites listed in the bibliography