Why are rainforests being destroyed?

By: Andrew Massis and Jordan McLaughlin

Outline

• Rainforests

• How fast is it happening?

• Why are they being destroyed?

• How much is being spent?

• What can be done?

• References

Rainforests

• Home to different plants and animals

• 2 different types: Tropical and Temperate

• Temperate rainforests are found along the Pacific coast of Canada and the United States

• Tropical rainforests are found in 85 different countries

How fast is it happening?

• 2.4 acres are being destroyed every second

• 137 species of life forms are becoming extinct each day

• A total of 50,000 extinct species each year

• At the rate we are going, all of our tropical rainforests will be destroyed by 2030

Why are they being destroyed?

• Used to make charcoal that helps manufacture steel

• Cleared for gazing land for animals

• Room for big farms, mining, logging and people

Who is doing it?

• The paper industry is using the trees for paper

• The fuel wood industry needs millions of tons of wood to produce charcoal used in the manufacture of steel

• The governments allow private concessionaires to use the forests for grazing land and farms

Who is it affecting?

How much is being spent?

• Governments worldwide spend $700 billion dollars a year clearing the rainforests

• One pulpwood project uses more than 750 tons of pulp for paper every 24 hours, worth about $500,000

What can be done?

• Reduce paper use by using both sides.

• Avoid using paper cups and plates.

• Avoid doing business with the biggest rainforests abusers.

References

• http://www.davesite.com/rainforests/• Malcom Penny(1993), Save our World published

by Touchstone Publishing Ltd. located in Brighton,England

• http://www.differentdawn.com/enviroment/rainforest.html

• http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.html