Transcript Document
TROPICAL and TEMPERATE
RAINFOREST
DEFORSTATION
Definition
The definition of deforestation is the loss of
forest land faster than it can be replenished.
Characteristics
Approximately 53,000 square miles of
rainforest destroyed per year.
If continues with the same rate, all the
forests are gone in 100 years.
occurs mostly in urban areas and near
roads.
Developing nations have minimal or nonexistent silviculture programs.
Over half of Earth's original rainforest has
already been destroyed.
Causes - Natural
Forest fires
Flooding
Causes - Human
Cutting of trees for sale as
timber or pulp.
Clearing of forest land to
allow for farming and
animal grazing (cattle
ranching).
Forests being removed or
destroyed by mining.
Clearing of forest land to
replace with residential
areas (urbanization).
Exponential population
growth.
Impacts - Atmosphere
Increase the pace of global warming -melting ice caps to increased desertification.
Micro-climate changes – shift of ecosystems.
Loss of carbon sink (trees consume – sink –
carbon).
Pollution from machinery.
Impacts - Hydrosphere
Increased run off - Flooding.
Stream siltation (build up of sediment).
Alteration of the water cycle.
Rising water temperatures.
Increased contamination of fresh water
sources.
Impacts - Lithosphere
Decreased infiltration rates, therefore a
potential increase in the drying of the soil.
Soil erosion.
Impacts - Biosphere
Many forests are being cleared for the
increased demand of biodiesel – palm oil
plantations, corn fields.
Loss of biodiversity – survival of species.
Species Extinction.
Solutions
Reduce paper and wood consumption.
Pros – changes human lifestyle.
More recycling, better for the
environment.
Cons – logging industry will go down.
Reduce beef consumption.
Pros – less cattle ranching causing no
need for more open space.
Cons – No more hamburgers for lunch.
Solutions Cont’
Support the Rainforest Action Network.
Pros – stops different industries from
harming the rainforests.
Cons – other economies impacted.
Educate yourself more about deforestation.
Pros – avoid doing things you know
contribute to the destruction of forests.
Cons – stops deforestation really slowly.
Examples - Globally
Occurs in South America, Africa, and Asia.
40% of the world's deforestation happens
in South American.
Of this most is in the Amazon Basin .
Examples - Regionally
The west coast of British Columbia is a
temperate rainforest.
Northern Alberta’s boreal forest – Tar
Sands!!!
Alberta
END