disappearing rainforests
In 1800 there were 7.1 billion acres of tropical forest in the World, and this has been decreasing due to deforestation every day and now in 2012 this is only 3.5 billion acres. Experts predict that by 2050 this will have completely disappeared as a direct result of deforestation. Every second, 1.5 hectares (3.7 acres) of rainforest disappears to deforestation and it's predicted that every day 137 species of plants, animals or insects are made extinct due to deforestation.
The main reasons for deforestation are; farming, urban development, commercial logging and for raw materials for synthetic products (plastic, paper, fibre and medicine)
The main reasons for deforestation are; farming, urban development, commercial logging and for raw materials for synthetic products (plastic, paper, fibre and medicine)
The effects of deforestation
There are three main effects of the deforestation of tropical rainforests; environmental, social and economical. Each are devastatingly affected by deforestation, whether it be the Western World that feels the effects economically, the natives that show the effects in produce or the animals that die as a result of deforestation, all are affected.
Depending on the location and density and species of trees in each rainforest, a different level of trees are cut down every year, however there is a general list of effects from deforestation.
Depending on the location and density and species of trees in each rainforest, a different level of trees are cut down every year, however there is a general list of effects from deforestation.
the environmental effects
The 'deforestation cycle'
An obvious effect of the cycle of deforestation is an increase in CO2 in the atmosphere, due to the burning of the trees. Meaning not only is more CO2 released into the atmosphere, but there are less trees available to carry out photosynthesis and convert the CO2 back into O2.
As a result of the increased CO2, there is a greater demand of bio fuels, meaning more palm oil is needed, so rainforests are destroyed to make room for the plantations, and the cycle continues. The need for palm oil is extreme in the Western World, with half of all supermarket products containing palm oil.
As a result of the increased CO2, there is a greater demand of bio fuels, meaning more palm oil is needed, so rainforests are destroyed to make room for the plantations, and the cycle continues. The need for palm oil is extreme in the Western World, with half of all supermarket products containing palm oil.
An orang-utan being darted
Another detrimental effect of deforestation is seen by animals. The cutting down of an animal's habitat results in not just a decreased amount of shelter but a decreased amount of food. This decrease results in interspecific competition, specifically, interference competition, the direct competition between individual animals when they fight over resources.
This interference competition, results in animals fighting and killing each other, and as a result, for the surviving animals, there are less potential mates, meaning there is a greater risk of the species becoming extinct.
Another way that the animals die, is due to the increased chance of human interaction. Humans would automatically see interaction with wild animals as being dangerous and their immediate reaction is to kill the animals.
This interference competition, results in animals fighting and killing each other, and as a result, for the surviving animals, there are less potential mates, meaning there is a greater risk of the species becoming extinct.
Another way that the animals die, is due to the increased chance of human interaction. Humans would automatically see interaction with wild animals as being dangerous and their immediate reaction is to kill the animals.
the social effects
The mammosa fruits
There are many social effects seen by both the Western World at the natives living in and around the rainforests being destroyed. In the Western World, one of the most potentially threatening effects that could be seen as a result of the deforestation of most areas is in the medical profession. As of current, 25% of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest ingredients, only 1% of the species of tropical trees and plants have been tested by scientists for medical benefits. With 137 species becoming extinct every day, there is a complete unknown possibility of pharmaceutical potential being destroyed on a daily basis.
For example the mammosa, plant is boiled in water and the product left is used in some countries to effectively cure some skin cancer types. There is growing concern that the potential for a cancer cure has been, or soon will be destroyed as deforestation continues on such a large scale and at such a fast rate that there is no chance of scientists investigating which plants are potentially cancer curing. The U.S. National Cancer Institute, identified 3000 plants that are potentially effective at fighting cancer, 70% of these are located in rainforests. A huge 25% of active ingredients in available cancer fighting drugs are found only in the rainforest, so cancer trusts such as Cancer Research and the U.S. National Cancer Institute are working alongside with Greenpeace and WWF to help preserve certain areas of rainforest to ensure the preservation of genes from both animals and plants.
For example the mammosa, plant is boiled in water and the product left is used in some countries to effectively cure some skin cancer types. There is growing concern that the potential for a cancer cure has been, or soon will be destroyed as deforestation continues on such a large scale and at such a fast rate that there is no chance of scientists investigating which plants are potentially cancer curing. The U.S. National Cancer Institute, identified 3000 plants that are potentially effective at fighting cancer, 70% of these are located in rainforests. A huge 25% of active ingredients in available cancer fighting drugs are found only in the rainforest, so cancer trusts such as Cancer Research and the U.S. National Cancer Institute are working alongside with Greenpeace and WWF to help preserve certain areas of rainforest to ensure the preservation of genes from both animals and plants.
More general social effects for the Western World, but potentially a more important effect, is the lack of food as a result of deforestation. Many popular items of food on sale in the Western World originated in the rainforest, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, potatoes, nuts, coffee and spices are all being threatened by deforestation. If diseases or climate change for any reason meant that the varieties of plants being grown in the West died off, there may be the necessity to turn back to the original varieties of these foods, but if deforestation continues at the rate it is currently occurring at there is a high possibility that they would no longer be available.
an Indian shaman
There are also social effects on the natives to the rainforests being destroyed, as a result of deforestation, not only are plants and animals becoming extinct, but also tribes of humans. So called 'medicine men' or 'shamen' in these tribes, have had knowledge of how to use over 2,000 of the 3,000 plants believed to be edible to humans. This figure is huge in comparison to the mere 200 used by the Western World. Every time a medicine man dies without passing on their knowledge, thousands of years of knowledge and research into the rainforest is lost.
Not only is the knowledge of tribes lost, but most of the native's livelihood is taken away by the destruction of rainforests; the materials for housing, food such as meat and fruit, work and therefore a source of income, medicine, and wood for fire energy are all taken away by the destruction of rainforests. Another effect on the natives is the destruction of the soil quality as the soil is exposed suddenly to all the elements; sun, rain and wind resulting in severe soil erosion making to soil infertile and unable to grow plants on in the future.
Not only is the knowledge of tribes lost, but most of the native's livelihood is taken away by the destruction of rainforests; the materials for housing, food such as meat and fruit, work and therefore a source of income, medicine, and wood for fire energy are all taken away by the destruction of rainforests. Another effect on the natives is the destruction of the soil quality as the soil is exposed suddenly to all the elements; sun, rain and wind resulting in severe soil erosion making to soil infertile and unable to grow plants on in the future.
economcal effects
animals in a reintroduction program
More effects of deforestation, are economical, however most of these problems are related to the social and environmental problems, for example, if there is less available food for the West, then the price of producing and selling this food will go up. The amount of medicine available will also be limited by deforestation, again resulting in a rise in the price of these products.
Another economical effect of deforestation is the potential care that would have to be taken of the animals left in the rainforests. With the threat of animals becoming extinct, the Western World and protection programs set up for the rainforest put much emphasis on the protection of animals. As a result if there was a distinct drop in the population of one species, there would be much funding going towards reintroducing this species, and as a result there would be much money spent on numerous species with the threat of extinction
Another economical effect of deforestation is the potential care that would have to be taken of the animals left in the rainforests. With the threat of animals becoming extinct, the Western World and protection programs set up for the rainforest put much emphasis on the protection of animals. As a result if there was a distinct drop in the population of one species, there would be much funding going towards reintroducing this species, and as a result there would be much money spent on numerous species with the threat of extinction