Forests are irreplaceable for natural environments. They have several vegetable strata that are usually characterized by trees of different sizes, shrubs, plants of smaller size and a rich underbrush of herbs adapted to conditions of lower illumination and greater humidity than the upper strata. These “layers”, whose plant structures intertwine branches, roots and trunks, provide a great diversity of habitats to other species of plants, parasites and climbers, and of the most varied animals.
Why are Rainforests Disappearing
The tropical and subtropical regions are most vulnerable areas, that maintain a large part of biodiversity on the planet. There, moist forest have been razed by loggers and bulldozers. The use of these lands for agricultural crops and the breeding of heat-resistant livestock, as well as the use of natural resources for various purposes (timber, textile, pharmaceutical and other industries) resulted in the progressive devastation of such areas.
The worlds rain forests are vital to sustaining life and keeping the ecological balance so crucial to survival for all beings. As they become more and more depleted, the futures uncertainty becomes a dark vision that cannot be ignored. Mans own ignorance and greed has greatly jeopardized the future of life on earth as we know it and without drastic changes in the here and now, the future is nothing short of dismal.
History of Rainforest
Only a few thousand years ago, tropical rain forests covered approximately twelve percent of the earths surface. Today,statistics range from a mere two percent to just under five percent, scattered and fragmented from the lush forests they once were. It is home to about fifty percent of the worlds animal species and a rich source of medicinal plants and other important foods and products. There are also thousands of indigenous people who call the rain forests home. They are virtually untouched by western advances in technology and are living as they have done for thousands of years. While their livelihood and cultures are in jeopardy, the world at large is in jeopardy as well.
Effects of the Forest Depletion
Loss of habitat
Rainforests are being cleared by humans for reasons including urbanization, agriculture, and to obtain wood for the timber industry. Deforestation can lead to endangered or extinct animals being due to habitat loss. When tropical forest areas are completely destroyed, animals that once lived there find that there is a shortage of shelter and food that is based. When a part of the rainforest has been destroyed, the small rainforest pockets that have been left behind and the new edges of the jungle are exposed to risks such as heat and wind. These areas have been repaired before the forest surrounding the rain has been destroyed. The result of this is that newly exposed trees and other plants may die,
Specialization Species
The loss of only a small part of a rain forest can lead to the extinction of species, we observe the rainforest of the Michigan State University Information Center. This is because many animals in the jungle have very specific requirements when it comes to their habitat. As a result, these specialized animals are only found in very limited areas of a rainforest. If this area is cut, the species may be lost altogether.
Climate Change
Tropical forests play an important role in managing the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.Tropical Tropical Forest Information Center at Michigan State University suggests that approximately 200 tons of carbon dioxide can be stored in a single hectare of tropical forest. Because of this, the jungle helps to limit the effects of climate change that this important greenhouse gas could cause. Depletion of rain forests causes more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, resulting in climate change. If the greenhouse effect continues to increase, the resulting changes in climate can lead to changes in the habitats of animals around the world. This would increase the risk of endangered animal species worldwide.
Wider Implications
According to the NASA Earth Observatory website, the loss of animal species in tropical forests may have wider implications for humans and animals. Studying the genetics of many different species in the jungle, it is possible for scientists to find clues to help discover cures for serious diseases in humans and other animals. If the species are still lost due to depletion of the jungle before scientists were able to learn about them, we may lose these vital clues. Biodiversity, such as exists in rainforests, is also important for the future of life on Earth.
Conclusions
It is widely believed by many scientists that if the rain forests disappear, it could mean the end of life for most, if not all, of the earths species, including man. That is a sobering and frightening prospect. The rain forests are the single most important source for the clean air we breathe through their process of converting carbon dioxide, which all mammals exhale, to clean are we all need to breathe.
Every year, we lose a part of the rain forests to equal the size of Florida. By 2060 the rain forests can be extinct and that will only be the beginning of a devastating domino effect for all living things.
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