Over 75 million acres of planet Earth’s land belongs to the tropical rainforest. (Rainforests Facts the Nature Conservancy) The rainforest is home to many different species, which includes monkeys, snakes, birds, rodents, frogs and lizards. (Earth Floor: Biomes) Many things contribute as threats to this environment. Instead of having such a beautiful and vast area of nature, humans mostly contribute to having it otherwise. The rainforest has much to offer for today’s modern society; everything from timber to clearing the forest to dig mines. The biggest threat to the tropical rainforest is no other than man itself. Humans have the biggest impact on not only the rainforest, but the environment. (Threats to the Rainforests) The Tropical Rainforest
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As mentioned, man is the main reason for threats known to the rainforest. Logging interests cut down rainforest trees for timber used in flooring, furniture, and other items. (Rain Forest Threats, Rain Forest Species-National Geographic) It is considered to be one of the most prominent and best known forms of rainforest degradation and destruction. (Butler, 2012) You would think new and improved logging techniques and greater awareness and concern for the rainforest would put a halt to logging, but it still continues to this day. Power plants and other industries cut and burn trees to generate electricity. (Rain Forest Threats, Rain Forest Species-National Geographic) A majority of the logging goes to the paper industry as well. Logging isn’t the only threat made by man. The cattle industry uses the slash-and-burn techniques to clear land for ranches. (Rain Forest Threats, Rain Forest Species-National Geographic) The slash-and-burn method is the process of cutting down the vegetation in a particular plot of land, setting fire to the remaining foliage, and using the ashes to provide nutrients to the soil for use of planting food crops. The slash-and-burn method is literally burning down our rainforests tree by tree. Farmers use the land in the rainforest to raise cattle, because without all the trees and vegetation, it is a perfect spot for the cattle to graze. Although the rainforest is known for poor quality soil in the soil industry, the agricultural industry clears the forest for cropland. (Stief) Mining also strikes the tropical rainforest as a threat. Mining in the tropical rainforest is used to excavate very unique mineral assets, like copper, tin, nickel, bauxite, manganese, iron ore, and gold. This mining is taking place in the Amazon, and as a result of it, governments are providing tax incentives for large-scale projects, in order to boost development. There are many
As mentioned, man is the main reason for threats known to the rainforest. Logging interests cut down rainforest trees for timber used in flooring, furniture, and other items. (Rain Forest Threats, Rain Forest Species-National Geographic) It is considered to be one of the most prominent and best known forms of rainforest degradation and destruction. (Butler, 2012) You would think new and improved logging techniques and greater awareness and concern for the rainforest would put a halt to logging, but it still continues to this day. Power plants and other industries cut and burn trees to generate electricity. (Rain Forest Threats, Rain Forest Species-National Geographic) A majority of the logging goes to the paper industry as well. Logging isn’t the only threat made by man. The cattle industry uses the slash-and-burn techniques to clear land for ranches. (Rain Forest Threats, Rain Forest Species-National Geographic) The slash-and-burn method is the process of cutting down the vegetation in a particular plot of land, setting fire to the remaining foliage, and using the ashes to provide nutrients to the soil for use of planting food crops. The slash-and-burn method is literally burning down our rainforests tree by tree. Farmers use the land in the rainforest to raise cattle, because without all the trees and vegetation, it is a perfect spot for the cattle to graze. Although the rainforest is known for poor quality soil in the soil industry, the agricultural industry clears the forest for cropland. (Stief) Mining also strikes the tropical rainforest as a threat. Mining in the tropical rainforest is used to excavate very unique mineral assets, like copper, tin, nickel, bauxite, manganese, iron ore, and gold. This mining is taking place in the Amazon, and as a result of it, governments are providing tax incentives for large-scale projects, in order to boost development. There are many