Amazon RainforestAmazon Rainforest

Our rain forests around the world are being Our rain forests around the world are being destroyed at a rate of 36 football fields destroyed at a rate of 36 football fields deforested each minute.deforested each minute.

Amazon RainforestAmazon Rainforest

Covers most of the Amazon Basin Covers most of the Amazon Basin

Amazon RiverAmazon River It moves more fresh water into the It moves more fresh water into the

ocean then any other riverocean then any other river

What is a rainforest?What is a rainforest? A complex ecosystem with many layers.A complex ecosystem with many layers.

CanopyCanopy Lower StoryLower Story Forest FloorForest Floor

The Amazon

Tropical Wet Rainforest.

Covers more than 2 million square miles.

Mostly located in Brazil.

Many different species of trees, plants, and animals.

DeforestationDeforestation

DeforestationDeforestation ~ the clearance of forests by ~ the clearance of forests by logginglogging and/or and/or burningburning (also known as slash (also known as slash and burn). and burn).

The logs are sold and The logs are sold and

the cleared land is turnedthe cleared land is turned

into into farmlandfarmland or a place or a place

to graze to graze cattlecattle..

Deforestation: Slash and BurnDeforestation: Slash and Burn

““Slash and BurnSlash and Burn””

Why does deforestation Why does deforestation happen?happen? LoggingLogging AgricultureAgriculture

(subsistence farming)(subsistence farming) Cattle Cattle RanchingRanching

The soils are too poor to sustain agriculture The soils are too poor to sustain agriculture & grazing. Farmers are forced to clear more & grazing. Farmers are forced to clear more land every couple of yearsland every couple of years

Why does deforestation Why does deforestation happen?happen?

Poor People with Poor People with LittleLittle education education

They must make a living somehowThey must make a living somehow Need money Need money more than they think they more than they think they

need to protect the rainforestneed to protect the rainforest

What does deforestation What does deforestation look like?look like?

The lighter areas are The lighter areas are where the forest has where the forest has been cut down.been cut down.

Satellite Image

Change Over TimeChange Over Time

What differences can What differences can you see between you see between 2000 and 2006?2000 and 2006?

What can be the What can be the result of this?result of this?

BiodiversityBiodiversity

Wide range of Wide range of speciesspecies PlantsPlants AnimalsAnimals InsectsInsects

The region is home The region is home to about 2.5 million to about 2.5 million insect species aloneinsect species alone

Deforestation results in Deforestation results in declines in biodiversity.declines in biodiversity.

80% of the world80% of the world’’s s biodiversitybiodiversity is found in is found in tropical rainforeststropical rainforests

We lose137 plant, animal and insect We lose137 plant, animal and insect species every single day due to rainforest species every single day due to rainforest deforestationdeforestation

Deforestation contributes Deforestation contributes to climate changeto climate change

Deforestation causes Deforestation causes carbon dioxide carbon dioxide to to build up build up in the atmospherein the atmosphere

Trees and plants removeTrees and plants remove

carbon dioxide from carbon dioxide from

the atmospherethe atmosphere

Deforestation adds to Deforestation adds to climate changeclimate change

Trees provide shade and shade Trees provide shade and shade moderates temperatures. With shade, the moderates temperatures. With shade, the temperature may be 98 degrees during temperature may be 98 degrees during the day and 60 degrees at night. the day and 60 degrees at night.

Without the shade, temperatures would Without the shade, temperatures would be much be much coldercolder during the night and during the night and much much hotter hotter (around 130 degrees) (around 130 degrees) during the day.during the day.

Deforestation has social Deforestation has social effectseffects

Indigenous peoples lose their homelandIndigenous peoples lose their homeland

Profit or Protect?Profit or Protect?

Developing (newly industrialized) countries Developing (newly industrialized) countries have to be careful how they spend the little have to be careful how they spend the little money they havemoney they have

Priorities are food, clothes, and houses for Priorities are food, clothes, and houses for their peopletheir people

Protecting the rainforest takes a distant Protecting the rainforest takes a distant secondsecond

How can we help them protect the rainforest?How can we help them protect the rainforest?

Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

Finding ways Finding ways to use the to use the resourcesresources of of the rainforest the rainforest without without destroying itdestroying it

Is it possible?Is it possible?

Land Use ConflictLand Use Conflict

The groups we will look at all have a different The groups we will look at all have a different view on how to use or preserve the rainforests.view on how to use or preserve the rainforests.

Does this editorial cartoon support using the rainforest to make money (economic development) or does it encourage people to protect (preservation) the rainforest?