The Amazon Rainforest is currently transforming from a wonderful forest with multiple species and habitats, into the next lifeless desert, due to deforestation. Deforestation is the process of clearing trees from a large area. This process is not only ruining the world, but for humans and animals too. Nearly half of the world's forests have been destroyed, and even more are being cut down at greater rates each year. The rapid deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest over the past 50 years is a serious issue for both the planet and humans alike.
Humans believe they are superior, and that they have the right to destroy natural habitats for personal needs. Without the knowledge of predicting the future, humans put themselves before the environment. Cattle ranching is the main factor in 70% of deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest. In the 21st century, more than “three quarters of forest clearing in the Amazon was for cattle-ranching” (Butler, Amazon Destruction). …show more content…
Farmers cut down immense amounts of trees in order to create room for their livestock. Then, they use the wood from the trees and sell them to make a profit. The Amazon Rainforests’ trees provide goods for everyday needs. A small portion of the Amazon’s timber is used in order to process paper, furniture, and homes. This process is considered to be illegal logging in most circumstances. The most common illegalities is “taking wood from protected areas, [and] harvesting more than is permitted” (Deforestation). Unfortunately, illegal logging is cheaper for the logger, causing it to reoccur. The illegal removing of wood from forests “is thought to be for use as fuelwood” (Deforestation). Fuel is an important source for cooking and heating homes, which is why this mechanism is popular. Humans consider themselves to be more important than the environment, causing their actions to be unthoughtful, which intime will destroy all forests.
Natural causes of deforestation can be just as deadly as human causes. A main concern is that they are unpredictable, and could occur anywhere in the forest, ruining not only habitats, but homes as well. Forest fires are the most frequent type of natural destruction in the Amazon Rainforest. Each year, millions of acres of forests are damaged due to fires. It is the same amount “lost to logging and agriculture combined” (Deforestation). Forest fires spread extremely quickly over vast amounts of land. They are harmful to plants and animals, as well as close by residents. Forest fires can be caused by drought. Drought interrupts the proper amount of water the forest should be receiving. Without the right amount of water, main water sources in forests dry up, such as the Amazon Basin. Plants will be unable to retrieve enough water in order to live, along with the moisture in tree trunks. If there is no moisture in the wood, trees will die, causing a loss of habitats. Scientists are worried that climate change could “worsen droughts in the Amazon” (Butler, Natural Threats to Rainforests). With an increase of drought in the Amazon, wildfires will become more common, meaning more loss of habitat in a shorter period of time. An increase in tropical storms and hurricanes will also ruin the rainforest. Strong winds and harsh conditions can cause tree falls. With trees only being less than meters apart from each other, the domino effect occurs, meaning if one tree goes down, hundreds or even thousands follow. Massive storms could cause “substantial damage to rainforest and recovery may take a decade to centuries” (Butler, Natural Threats to Rainforests). Tropical storms and hurricanes may not create permanent destruction in some cases, but it will take a long process for the forest to rebuild itself. Unfortunately, with an increase in storms, the forest may not have the time it needs to rebuild, and will continue to be destroyed. Although natural causes produce a great amount of damage, they are certainly not intentional, but are simply unpredictable. The Amazon Rainforest is the habitat to the most diverse …show more content…
Whether a cause is natural or human controlled, they both do an intense amount of damage to the Earth. Deforestation has increased the speed of global warming significantly, and will not be 100% restored. The Amazon Rainforest is one of the largest rainforests in the world, and is being destroyed quickly, causing vast changes on the
Humans believe they are superior, and that they have the right to destroy natural habitats for personal needs. Without the knowledge of predicting the future, humans put themselves before the environment. Cattle ranching is the main factor in 70% of deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest. In the 21st century, more than “three quarters of forest clearing in the Amazon was for cattle-ranching” (Butler, Amazon Destruction). …show more content…
Farmers cut down immense amounts of trees in order to create room for their livestock. Then, they use the wood from the trees and sell them to make a profit. The Amazon Rainforests’ trees provide goods for everyday needs. A small portion of the Amazon’s timber is used in order to process paper, furniture, and homes. This process is considered to be illegal logging in most circumstances. The most common illegalities is “taking wood from protected areas, [and] harvesting more than is permitted” (Deforestation). Unfortunately, illegal logging is cheaper for the logger, causing it to reoccur. The illegal removing of wood from forests “is thought to be for use as fuelwood” (Deforestation). Fuel is an important source for cooking and heating homes, which is why this mechanism is popular. Humans consider themselves to be more important than the environment, causing their actions to be unthoughtful, which intime will destroy all forests.
Natural causes of deforestation can be just as deadly as human causes. A main concern is that they are unpredictable, and could occur anywhere in the forest, ruining not only habitats, but homes as well. Forest fires are the most frequent type of natural destruction in the Amazon Rainforest. Each year, millions of acres of forests are damaged due to fires. It is the same amount “lost to logging and agriculture combined” (Deforestation). Forest fires spread extremely quickly over vast amounts of land. They are harmful to plants and animals, as well as close by residents. Forest fires can be caused by drought. Drought interrupts the proper amount of water the forest should be receiving. Without the right amount of water, main water sources in forests dry up, such as the Amazon Basin. Plants will be unable to retrieve enough water in order to live, along with the moisture in tree trunks. If there is no moisture in the wood, trees will die, causing a loss of habitats. Scientists are worried that climate change could “worsen droughts in the Amazon” (Butler, Natural Threats to Rainforests). With an increase of drought in the Amazon, wildfires will become more common, meaning more loss of habitat in a shorter period of time. An increase in tropical storms and hurricanes will also ruin the rainforest. Strong winds and harsh conditions can cause tree falls. With trees only being less than meters apart from each other, the domino effect occurs, meaning if one tree goes down, hundreds or even thousands follow. Massive storms could cause “substantial damage to rainforest and recovery may take a decade to centuries” (Butler, Natural Threats to Rainforests). Tropical storms and hurricanes may not create permanent destruction in some cases, but it will take a long process for the forest to rebuild itself. Unfortunately, with an increase in storms, the forest may not have the time it needs to rebuild, and will continue to be destroyed. Although natural causes produce a great amount of damage, they are certainly not intentional, but are simply unpredictable. The Amazon Rainforest is the habitat to the most diverse …show more content…
Whether a cause is natural or human controlled, they both do an intense amount of damage to the Earth. Deforestation has increased the speed of global warming significantly, and will not be 100% restored. The Amazon Rainforest is one of the largest rainforests in the world, and is being destroyed quickly, causing vast changes on the