Deforestation - Wikipedia Conversion of forest to non-forest for human use Deforestation has many causes: trees can be cut down to be used for building or sold as fuel (sometimes in the form of charcoal or timber), while cleared land can be used as pasture for livestock and plantation. Disregard of ascribed value, lax forest management, and deficient environmental laws are some of the factors that lead to large-scale deforestation. In many countries, deforestation—both naturally occurring and human-induced—is an ongoing issue.[5] Between 2000 and 2012, 2.3 million square kilometres (890,000 sq mi) of forests around the world were cut down.[6] As of 2005, net deforestation rates had ceased to increase in countries with a per capita GDP of at least US$4,600.[7][8] The removal of trees without sufficient reforestation has resulted in habitat damage, biodiversity loss, and aridity. Deforestation is more extreme in tropical and subtropical forests in emerging economies. Causes Environmental effects Atmospheric Soil Notes
News: Rain Forest For centuries, humans have relied on rain forests for a variety of products. Foods such as tomatoes, peppers, corn, rice, coconuts, bananas, coffee, cocoa, tapioca, beans, and sweet potatoes all originally came from the rain forest. Many civilizations have exploited the timber in rain forests and cleared the land for farms. Some preliterate tribes have actually lived in the rain forests for thousands of years. Today people rely on tropical rain forests for a variety of everyday products: paper (7 percent of all paper pulp comes from the rain forest); rubber (used in tires and other products); wax (used in plastics); mahogany and teak (used in wood products such as furniture); and many other items. Destructive Activities Unfortunately, human activities have taken a toll on the rain forest. Farming. Cattle ranching also poses a danger to rain forests. Logging. Other activities. Destruction Aftermath Soil and erosion. Flora and fauna. Climate. Copyright © 2002 Grolier Incorporated.
Deforestation | Threats Forests cover 31% of the land area on our planet. They produce vital oxygen and provide homes for people and wildlife. Many of the world’s most threatened and endangered animals live in forests, and 1.6 billion people rely on benefits forests offer, including food, fresh water, clothing, traditional medicine and shelter. But forests around the world are under threat from deforestation, jeopardizing these benefits. Forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change because they act as a carbon sink—soaking up carbon dioxide that would otherwise be free in the atmosphere and contribute to ongoing changes in climate patterns. Deforestation is a particular concern in tropical rainforests because these forests are home to much of the world’s biodiversity. WWF has been working to protect forests for more than 50 years.
Rain Forest In Brazil, which houses 30 percent of the remaining tropical rain forest on Earth, more than 50,000 square miles of rain forest were lost to deforestation between 2000 and 2005. Biologists worry about the long-term consequences. Drought may be one. Some rain forests, including the Amazon, began experiencing drought in the 1990s, possibly due to deforestation and global warming. Efforts to discourage deforestation, mainly through sustainable-logging initiatives, are underway on a very limited basis but have had a negligible impact so far. The rain forest is nearly self-watering. Plants in the rain forest grow very close together and contend with the constant threat of insect predators. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that 70 percent of the anti-cancer plants identified so far are rain forest plants. Many trees and plants, like orchids, have been removed from the rain forest and cultivated.
Deforestation Facts for Kids - The World Counts TheWorldCounts, 22 July, 2014 When you see paper and wood, what do you think of? Do you think of the tree that was felled to make the product? Before we started to build cities many centuries ago, they say that 60% of the Earth was covered in Forests. Now, there is less than 10% left. Deforestation is when forests are converted for other purposes by cutting down the trees to clear the land for other use. What you need to know about Deforestation Can you imagine Earth without forests? 13 million hectares of forest have been cleared for other uses or by natural disaster. More facts: Rainforests cover only 6% of the world’s surface… yet they are home to more than 50% of the plant and animal species on Earth.A patch of rainforest measuring 4 square miles can contain as many as 1,500 flowering plants, 400 species of birds, 750 species of trees and 150 species of butterflies. Why are Rainforests Important? Rainforests help regulate the Earth’s temperature and weather patterns. Reduce. References
Rainforest Coloring Pages and Activities for Kids Color in your favorite rainforest birds, mammals, reptiles and plants in our coloring book, or teach yourself about the rainforest with our fun experiments, crafts, and quizzes. Coloring Pages: Amphibians Birds Insects Mammals Plants Reptiles Hands-On Projects from The Remarkable Rainforest Teach yourself about the rainforest with experiments, crafts, and quizzes. These activities are reprinted from The Remarkable Rainforest by Toni Albert, © 1994 by Toni Albert. If you order this book directly from the publishers at 800-353-2791, mention the Rainforest Alliance.
Wildfires Article, Forest Fires Information, Wildland Fires Facts -- National Geographic - test Uncontrolled blazes fueled by weather, wind, and dry underbrush, wildfires can burn acres of land—and consume everything in their paths—in mere minutes. On average, more than 100,000 wildfires, also called wildland fires or forest fires, clear 4 million to 5 million acres (1.6 million to 2 million hectares) of land in the U.S. every year. In recent years, wildfires have burned up to 9 million acres (3.6 million hectares) of land. A wildfire moves at speeds of up to 14 miles an hour (23 kilometers an hour), consuming everything—trees, brush, homes, even humans—in its path. There are three conditions that need to be present in order for a wildfire to burn, which firefighters refer to as the fire triangle: fuel, oxygen, and a heat source. Although four out of five wildfires are started by people, nature is usually more than happy to help fan the flames. These violent infernos occur around the world and in most of the 50 states, but they are most common in the U.S.
This Drone Startup Has An Ambitious (Crazy) Plan To Plant 1 Billion Trees A Year The world burns or cuts down about 26 billion trees a year. It replants about 15 billion. You can see the shortfall. That's why Lauren Fletcher wants to automate the process with drone technology. "The only way we're going to take on these age-old problems is with techniques that weren't available to us before," Fletcher says. First of all, BioCarbon's drone flies above an area, mapping its level of forestation and reporting back on the potential for restoration. Fletcher doesn't say the method is better than hand planting, just cheaper. BioCarbon, which is based in the U.K., won a Skoll Foundation award last year and was recently featured in a Drones for Good competition in the United Arab Emirates, where it showed off a prototype. An engineer, Fletcher spent 20 years at NASA before setting up the new company. We'll have to see how the drone-planting method works in the wild—there may be issues in getting the plants to grow. [Top Photo: Oleg Golovnev via Shutterstock]
Cheetos in crosshairs of deforestation controversy - Mar. 30, 2016 SumOfUs, an online consumer advocacy group, launched a campaign against Cheetos saying that its palm oil policy doesn't go far enough to ensure that it is deforestation-free. Palm oil has been a problematic ingredient, because it is often obtained by clearing rainforests, according to the World Wildlife Federation. That has threatened the habitats of many endangered species, including elephants, orangutans, rhinoceroses and tigers. Cheetos maker Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo (PEP), has committed to using sustainable palm oil that is grown on plantations -- not in rainforests. Yet SumOfUs has called PepsiCo's commitment "weak," criticizing Pepsi for its lack of enforcement. "PepsiCo's palm oil policy is a step in the right direction, but it doesn't really do enough to prevent deforestation," said Katherine Tu, campaign leader at SumOfUS. SumOfUs has launched similar palm oil deforestation campaigns against Kellogg's (K), Krispy Kreme (KKD) and McDonald's (MCD).
Endangered Animals List Animal endangerment is a big environmental issue, and the number of endangered animals is constantly on the rise. See the IUCN definitions of different types of animal endangerment here. Below is a list of some of the most popular endangered animals, according to the IUCN classification. Critically Endangered Animals Sumatran Orangutan (Indonesia) Sumatran Tiger (Indonesia) Lear’s Macaw (Brazil) Brown Spider Monkey (Colombia, Venezuela) Rancho Grande Harlequin Frog (Venezuela) Panamanian Golden Frog (Panama) Pygmy Three-toed Sloth (Panama) Yellow-crested Cockatoo (Indonesia) Golden-bellied Capuchin (Brazil) Elegant Frog (Australia) Orinoco Crocodile (Colombia, Venezuela) Mountain Gorilla (Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo) Golden Mantella (Madagascar) Eastern Red Colobus (Kenya) Javan Rhinoceros (Indonesia, Vietnam) Endangered Animals Vulnerable Animals Blue Poison Frog (Suriname) Giant Armadillo (South America) Near Threatened Animals
Solutions to Deforestation The causes of deforestation and degradation vary from region to region. In the tropics, agribusiness clears forests to make space for things like cattle ranching, palm oil and soy plantations for animal feed. Demand for wood products can threaten forests around the world, whether it is for throw-away paper products or hardwood flooring. In too many parts of the world, ineffective or corrupt governments make things worse by opening the door to illegal logging and other crimes. Read more about the drivers of deforestation. Solving Deforestation Deforestation and degradation are a complex problems. The Power of the Marketplace If corporations have the power to destroy the world’s forests, they also have the ability to help save them. Companies can make an impact by introducing “zero deforestation” policies that clean up their supply chains. Companies should set ambitious targets to maximize the use of recycled wood, pulp, paper and fiber in their products. Standing with Indigenous Peoples
Burger King's animal feed grown on deforested land in Brazil, Bolivia The hamburger chain Burger King has been buying animal feed grown on deforested land, according to a new report. The report states that soybeans grown to feed livestock were produced on land carved out by the burning of tropical forests in South America. Jaguars, giant anteaters and sloths have all been affected by the disappearance of this forest land. Around 1,729,738 acres of forest land is estimated to have been lost between 2011 and 2015. The environmental group Mighty Earth says evidence shows a pattern of forest-burning. Forest Burned In Favor Of Farmland To Grow Soybeans Local farmers burned the forest to grow soybeans for Burger King's suppliers Cargill and Bunge. "The connections are quite clear," said Glenn Hurowitz, the CEO of Mighty Earth. Burger King competitors McDonald's, Subway and KFC are not perfect, Hurowitz added. "If Burger King does not respond immediately to people who want to know where their food comes from, then people should shop elsewhere," Hurowitz said.