Rain Forests

Sydney Chung, Raymond Koo, Abhishek Samdaria, Allen Sieh,

Victoria Wong

Green House Gas Emission Chart

The Significance of Rain Forests • Rain forests = "lungs of earth"• They absorb massive amounts of CO2

• Many plant species exist in these rain forests• Plants are used for medicinal purposes

Deforestation

• Deforestation - the removal of a massive amount of trees in one area, destroying rain forests in the long run. Methods that are most responsible for deforestation include burning and logging.

Deforestation Effects

Burning and Logging

• The idea originates from the agricultural technique, the slash-and-burn method, in which you cut and burn trees in order to make room for fields.• Cutting down the trees allows the cultivation of land to occur.

Burning and Logging

Reason for Deforestation

• The timber from the rain forest is valuable. • To create more land for agricultural purposes • To create more land for the increase in

population • The government sees their resources, such as

their rain forests, as a source of revenue • To make room for road constructions and dams. 

This chart shows the deforestation in the Amazon. It is slowly decreasing in the more recent years.

This chart shows the numerous reasons for deforestation.

Effects of Deforestation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olmzzWo0wps

Why should we stop deforestation?• Deforestation should be halted because rain

forests are a great contributor in the fight against global warming and climate change.• The plant species found in the rain forest can be used for many medicinal purposes. Over a hundred prescription drugs are made with rain forest ingredients.• Taking out the forest would also mean taking out the plant, animal, and insect species.

Forest Burning = Contributor to Global Warming • Burning forests causes an

increase of CO2 in the atmosphereo Fires are denoted by red;

flares from oil and gas extraction, in green. The more intense the color, the greater the frequency of fires.

 

    Fires raging in Africa from             October 1994 to March 1995.

Brazil and IndonesiaIn 2000, Brazil and Indonesia were both recorded to release massive amounts of greenhouse gas linking up with the deforestation rate

This chart reveals the effects of deforestation in Indonesia. The green parts represent the remaining amount of rain forests in the country.

Actions taken to stop deforestation in the 3rd World

  •Indonesia’s president signed a two-year plan on new logging concessions, part of a $1 billion climate change deal with Norway intended to restrain rain forest destruction and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Actions taken to stop deforestation in the 3rd World (continued)

• In 2008, Brazil announced a series of measures that were taken to stop the deforestation of the Amazon rain forest. These measures include stepped-up police vigilance, a ban on using deforested areas, and the suspension of public funds for any group or individual found to be breaking environmental laws.

How should "Developed Nations" compensate to prevent nations from burning and logging

rain forests?• Burning and logging of rain forests is a huge contributor to the hastening effects of global warming. • Developing nations mainly log rain forests because it is a source of their economy.• Developed nations such as the United States and Britain will  offer sums of money to governments that have the largest CO2 emissions to help preserve their rain forests instead of cutting them down.   

How should "Developed Nations" compensate to prevent nations from burning and logging rain

forests? ( continued)

 • In the late 2000s, the World Bank raised $250 million to fund pilot programs and support projects that encourage governments and companies in the developed world to pay for preserving trees in exchange for carbon credits that gives them the right to produce carbon dioxide.•France, Japan and Australia have promised $3.5 billion in fast-start funds to help preserve tropical rain forests. 

   

REDDReducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) is an effort to create a financial value for the carbon stored in forests, offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development. This effort is predicted to raise 30 billion dollars to lower the emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. 

Copenhagen Climate Change• In 2012 the Kyoto Protocol to prevent climate changes and

global warming runs out.• The Climate Conference in Copenhagen is essential for the

worlds climate.• Meeting in Copenhagen a success ending up with

a Copenhagen Protocol to prevent global warming and climate changes.

• The Copenhagen Accord was drafted by the US, China, India, Brazil and South Africa on December 18, and judged a "meaningful agreement" by the United States government.

• The accord recognised that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the present and that actions should be taken to keep any temperature increases to below 2°C. 

• The Copenhagen Accord endorses the succession of the Kyoto protocol. 

• However, as it is neither legally binding nor will it bring about any true results, many countries and non-governmental organisations were opposed to this agreement.

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