Threats

 

Despite rainforests being such a rich and diverse environment, they are under threat. The main threats to rainforests are often the result of human activity. These threats include:
 

  • Rainforest trees are cut down for timber used in flooring, furniture, and other items.
  • Power plants and other industries cut and burn trees to generate electricity.
  • The paper industry turns huge tracts of rain forest trees into pulp.
  • The cattle industry uses slash-and-burn techniques to clear ranch land.
  • Agricultural interests, particularly the soy industry, clear forests for cropland.
  • Subsistence farmers slash-and-burn rain forest for firewood and to make room for crops and grazing lands.
  • Mining operations clear forest to build roads and dig mines.
  • Governments and industry clear-cut forests to make way for service and transit roads.
  • Hydroelectric projects flood acres of rain forest.

(National Geographic, 2011)

 

Deforestation

 

Deforestation is the process whereby the Earth’s forests and woodlands are cleared on a massive scale. This often has disastrous consequences for the quality and aesthetics of the various landscapes and it is predicted that of the current rates of deforestation are to continue, the world’s rainforests could disappear within the next one hundred years.

The negative effects of deforestation include:

  • Loss of habitats
  • Potential extinction of millions of plant and animal species
  • Soil and land degradation, desertification, land instability
  • Increases to climate change and greenhouse gases

(National Geographic, 2011)

– for referencing https://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview.html

 

Logging forests can also have positive impacts on local and surrounding communities. These benefits occur through the creation of job opportunities and the encouragement of development, resulting in potential social, economic and political growth.

 

For more information on the causes and effects of deforestation please visit Deforestation – Man’s Sin and explore the ‘Navigation’ bar,