Deforestation Flashcards
Bonus fact: How much rainforest has been lost:
An area the size of China
Bonus fact: Every _ seconds, and area the size of a __________ _____ is lost
2, football field
Why is the TRF important - Climate:
28% of the world’s oxygen comes from rainforests, and they prevent the climate from being too hot and dry
Why is the TRF important - Water:
20% of the world’s water comes from the Amazon Basin
Why is the TRF important - Biodiversity:
TRFs contain 50% of the world’s animal and plant species - 1000s
Why is the TRF important - Climate change:
TRFs absorb CO2 which is partially responsible for climate change.
Why is the TRF important - People:
Indigenous tribes live in the TRFs doing no long term harm, and they rely on the rainforest to survive.
Why is the TRF important - Medicine:
25% of medicine comes from the TRFs, and >2000 species of plants have medicinal properties. The Rosy Periwinkle, in Madagascar, helps cure leukaemia
Why is the TRF important - Resources:
The trees in the rainforest provide fruit, nuts, rubber, and valuable hardwoods.
Three countries with increased deforestation from 2000 - 2010:
Indonesia (107%), Peru (94%) and Madagascar (36%)
Three countries with decreased deforestation from 2000 - 2010:
Mexico (36%), Laos (24%) and Cambodia (22%)
Selective logging:
Felling only fully-grown trees, allowing younger ones to take their place, keeping trees in the area
Replanting:
Collecting seeds from primary forests and planting them - eg the Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil, who pledged to replant 12 million hectares in June 2015
Eco-tourism:
Tourism that is sustainable, and looks after the environment whilst providing jobs
Conservation:
Buying land to made into nature reserves
