DeforestationDeforestation

A Main Cause of Global WarmingA Main Cause of Global Warming

By Miles Weinberger, Jonathan By Miles Weinberger, Jonathan Arganek, Carter Russell, and Arganek, Carter Russell, and Connor Stephens.Connor Stephens.

The FactsThe Facts

Rainforests once covered 14% of the Rainforests once covered 14% of the Earth, and now only cover 6%.Earth, and now only cover 6%.

One and a half acres of rainforest are lost One and a half acres of rainforest are lost every second.every second.

Over the next 25 years, almost half of the Over the next 25 years, almost half of the world’s animals, plants, and world’s animals, plants, and microorganisms will be destroyed or microorganisms will be destroyed or endangered due to deforestation.endangered due to deforestation.

Rate of Deforestation in Rate of Deforestation in the Tropics the Tropics

As shown in the chart As shown in the chart on the right, the rate on the right, the rate of deforestation has of deforestation has grossly increased grossly increased from 1960- 1990. It from 1960- 1990. It has also increased has also increased since this graph was since this graph was made.made.

More FactsMore Facts

80,000 acres of 80,000 acres of rainforest are rainforest are destroyed everyday.destroyed everyday.

Experts estimate that Experts estimate that we are losing 137 we are losing 137 plants, animals, and plants, animals, and insects every single insects every single day to rainforest day to rainforest deforestation.deforestation.

If we are losing 137 If we are losing 137 species a day, then species a day, then that is about 50,000 that is about 50,000 a year.a year.

The TruthThe Truth

80,000 acres of 80,000 acres of rainforest are rainforest are destroyed everyday.destroyed everyday.

Currently 121 Currently 121 prescription drugs prescription drugs sold worldwide come sold worldwide come from plant derived from plant derived sources.sources.

Before

After

After

Reasons: The Human Side Reasons: The Human Side of Deforestationof Deforestation

Humans cut down Humans cut down trees and bushes to trees and bushes to create farmland and create farmland and space for building space for building homes.homes.

And also to obtain And also to obtain wood from the trees wood from the trees that are cut down. that are cut down.

Los PinerosLos Pineros

The men who work in the The men who work in the pines are a major source pines are a major source of manual labor in the of manual labor in the American pine industry. American pine industry.

They are underpaid and They are underpaid and often work in bad often work in bad conditions.conditions.

They plant plants that They plant plants that stunt the growth of stunt the growth of commercial pines.commercial pines.

Soil ErosionSoil Erosion

Soil erosion occurs from man-made action Soil erosion occurs from man-made action such as overgrazing or unsuitable cultivation such as overgrazing or unsuitable cultivation practices.practices.

The Reasons: The The Reasons: The Environment’s SideEnvironment’s Side

Cutting down trees takes away habitats Cutting down trees takes away habitats for animals all over the world.for animals all over the world.

Plants are what takes Carbon Dioxide out Plants are what takes Carbon Dioxide out of the air and replaces it with oxygen.of the air and replaces it with oxygen.

This is important because Carbon This is important because Carbon Dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps Dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and warms the world. warms the world.

Soil ErosionSoil Erosion

Acts such as overgrazing leave the land Acts such as overgrazing leave the land unprotected and vulnerable.unprotected and vulnerable.

When strong winds or rainfall occur soil When strong winds or rainfall occur soil made be detached, transported and made be detached, transported and deposited in the form of mudslides.deposited in the form of mudslides.

The worst effect of deforestation is soil The worst effect of deforestation is soil erosion.erosion.

Mudslide

MudslidesMudslides

As shown in the previous As shown in the previous slide, mudslides are a slide, mudslides are a horrible and atrocious horrible and atrocious effect of deforestation.effect of deforestation.

Mudslides are caused Mudslides are caused when trees are cut down when trees are cut down then there is nothing to then there is nothing to hold the soil in place.hold the soil in place.

Green Wall of ChinaGreen Wall of China

The Green Wall of China will be a wall The Green Wall of China will be a wall made out of human-planted forest strips made out of human-planted forest strips that will block the Gobi Desert.that will block the Gobi Desert.

The Green Wall of China is supposed to The Green Wall of China is supposed to be 2,800 miles long and to be finished in be 2,800 miles long and to be finished in 2074.2074.

Green Wall of China

Solutions for DeforestationSolutions for Deforestation

There are many different solutions that There are many different solutions that Americans are taking to alleviate the effects of Americans are taking to alleviate the effects of deforestation.deforestation.

Recycling Paper Recycling Paper

Recycling is reusing trees that have Recycling is reusing trees that have already been made into paper.already been made into paper.

Recycling paper instead of making it from Recycling paper instead of making it from new material generates 74 percent less new material generates 74 percent less air pollution and uses 50 percent less air pollution and uses 50 percent less water.water.

TeachTeach others about the importance of the others about the importance of the environment and how they can help save environment and how they can help save rainforests. rainforests.

RestoreRestore damaged ecosystems by planting damaged ecosystems by planting trees on land where forests have been cut trees on land where forests have been cut down. down.

EncourageEncourage people to live in a way that doesn't people to live in a way that doesn't hurt the environment. hurt the environment.

EstablishEstablish parks to protect rainforests and parks to protect rainforests and wildlife. wildlife.

SupportSupport companies that operate in ways that companies that operate in ways that minimize damage to the environment. minimize damage to the environment.

TREES

The EndThe End Are there any questions?Are there any questions?