Our rainforest’s are being cut down at a rate of 6000 acres and hour. A fact that may shock you, yet do we really know what the effect this will have? Some believe with the rainforests disappearing at such an alarming rate it will have a devastating effect on the planet resulting in a dying world. Others are reluctant to believe this could actually happen.
But the facts are there the rainforests have a large effect on the atmosphere and climate, destroying them is and will release an incredible amount of carbon dioxide and reduce the amount of life giving oxygen released into the atmosphere changing the air we breath for the worse and aiding climate change. The effects will be dramatic and unstoppable.
Now we are beginning to feel the devastating effects of climate change we are suddenly aware of the impact we are having after ignoring green issues for so long now they have to be taken seriously. It is a matter of life and death, not an issue we can sidestep any longer. Decisions need to be made and change needs to happen and happen fast if we are to save our planet from destruction at our own hands.
Rainforests: An Essence to the World
3 Billion people live in the tropics and much of the natural resources have been spoken for, disappearing to provide land food, fuel and shelter for an ever expanding and demanding human population. The rainforests are being destroyed as their valuable resources become ever more in demand.
Rainforests offer abundance not just in the diversity of plant and animal life but also in resources for humans such as timber, food and medicines. Many plants evolve specific chemicals that can cure certain illnesses.
The indigenous tribes know the medicinal and other properties of various plants growing in the rainforest, knowledge which is past on through the generations. It was only in World War II that we proved conclusively that some plants do have specific medicinal properties. A little known fact is that half the known cures for cancer have been found in forests. We should be protecting this wealth and diversity of plant life in order to observe and study it as it is likely the cures to many more diseases is out there waiting for us to discover and are likely to be destroyed before we ever get the chance.
How to preserve the remaining Rainforests
Rainforests can be managed sensitively and sustainably protecting rare and vulnerable species of plant and animal or the global environment whilst still supplying what we need. Sustainability is they key and will allow us to preserve the rainforest for future generations.
Sustainable forest management involves careful and selectively deciding how the forest is managed. Techniques include replanting or leaving an area to re grow after cutting. Clearing only small areas to enable the forest to re colonize easily afterwards. There should be regular monitoring of the effects of our actions on the wildlife and environment. Protecting areas where no clearing or harmful activities can take place allowing them to act as wildlife refuges.
We need our rainforests and so by damaging them we harm our children and ourselves. We should work in harmony with nature rather than against. Disruption to the environment as we are beginning to learn causes serious harm to ourselves, so we must all do our bit to keep the balance.