Rainforests and Rainforests and DeforestationDeforestation

By Kwan SeokBy Kwan SeokThomasThomasMathiasMathias

AxelAxel

ContentsContents

• Rainforests of the worldRainforests of the world• Biodiversity Biodiversity • DeforestationDeforestation• What causes deforestation?What causes deforestation?• Effects of deforestationEffects of deforestation• Percentage of remaining rainforestsPercentage of remaining rainforests• Graph of remaining rainforestsGraph of remaining rainforests• Our actions to stop deforestationOur actions to stop deforestation

Rainforests of the worldRainforests of the world

• Rainforests covered about 14% of Rainforests covered about 14% of the Earth’s surface, but now cover the Earth’s surface, but now cover only about 6% of the Earth’s surface. only about 6% of the Earth’s surface. Some experts say that within 40 Some experts say that within 40 years, rainforests could be goneyears, rainforests could be gone

BiodiversityBiodiversity• Biodiversity means different types of living things.• There are about 772 species in 1 square mile of rainforest.• The table below shows the typical biodiversity in a rainforest

• Cutting down trees will kill species until none Cutting down trees will kill species until none are left!are left!

•Experts estimate that 137 species are becoming extinct everyday due to rainforests being cut down.

DeforestationDeforestation

• What’s the definition of What’s the definition of deforestation? The answer is that deforestation? The answer is that our planet is slowly becoming a our planet is slowly becoming a desert. This happens because desert. This happens because humans cut down too much trees to humans cut down too much trees to make paper, build recreational make paper, build recreational services and more. Because of this, services and more. Because of this, as we speak now, trees are still as we speak now, trees are still being cut down.being cut down.

What causes What causes deforestation?deforestation?

• 1. Lack of land in some countries with forests 1. Lack of land in some countries with forests are causing deforestation. For example, more are causing deforestation. For example, more than half of land area of Brazil is covered with than half of land area of Brazil is covered with the Amazonian rainforest, and therefore, the Amazonian rainforest, and therefore, many trees are being cut down to allow many trees are being cut down to allow homes to be built for the ever increasing homes to be built for the ever increasing population.population.

• 2. Conversion of forests to agricultural land to 2. Conversion of forests to agricultural land to feed the growing human population. feed the growing human population.

• 3.Since there are lots of people around, they 3.Since there are lots of people around, they need wood to make stationary (ie books, need wood to make stationary (ie books, newspapers).newspapers).

Effects of deforestationEffects of deforestation

• After deforestation, mountains After deforestation, mountains without trees can cause severe without trees can cause severe damage. Without tree roots the land damage. Without tree roots the land gets weakened and landslides and gets weakened and landslides and mudslides can occur.mudslides can occur.

Percentage of remaining Percentage of remaining rainforestsrainforests

• 55% of the world’s total rainforests 55% of the world’s total rainforests have disappeared. This might have disappeared. This might decrease much more if we don’t take decrease much more if we don’t take action now.action now.

Graph of remaining Graph of remaining rainforestsrainforests

• This graph shows theThis graph shows the

remaining rainforests of remaining rainforests of

the world now, and it alsothe world now, and it also

tells us that there won’t tells us that there won’t

be many rainforests in be many rainforests in

2040. We have to take2040. We have to take

action! action!

Our actions to stop Our actions to stop deforestationdeforestation

• Don’t waste paper! It takes only a Don’t waste paper! It takes only a few seconds to chop down a tree, few seconds to chop down a tree, but it takes years to grow another!but it takes years to grow another!

• Recycle used paper! Use the roots Recycle used paper! Use the roots and shoots boxes around school.and shoots boxes around school.

• When printing, use recycled paper, When printing, use recycled paper, and print on both sides.and print on both sides.