Tropical Rainforests Essay, Research Paper
Charles Salsgiver
Mr. Edward Pearlman
English 101
December 1, 1997
Tropical Rain Forests
There are many different ecosystems on this planet. They include tundras, prairies, deserts, grasslands, forests, alpine environments, ect. One of the most important and extraordinary ecosystems is the tropical rain forests. A tropical rain forest is a woodland that usually is in the tropical zone. It receives heavy annual rainfall, usually at least 100 inches. It is marked by broad-leaved evergreen trees forming a continuous canopy. The rain forest is home to a vastly diverse plant and animal population. Saving the tropical rain forests is a major concern for the United States as well as the global community.
There are many types of animals that make the rain forest their home. Some of them include monkeys, snakes, birds and millions of insects. There are an estimated fifty million different species of invertebrates living in the rain forest. There are new species being discovered all the time in the rain forest. Just in the last six years 15 new mammals were discovered in the Philippines. Since 1990 seven new primates, the order of mammals that includes humans, have been discovered in Brazil?s rain forest. The discoveries go far beyond animals. Many new species of plants and fungi are being revealed. These could be used to make new medicines. Scientists estimate that half of the worlds species have not even been identified yet. But everyday an estimated thirty five rain forest species are becoming extinct. This is significant because these extinct species can never be used as a medicine. It also disrupts the ecosystem which could cause harm on other plant or animal species.
The tropical rain forests are shrinking at an alarming rate. This year?s dry spell in Brazil is resulting in more fires then ever. According to satellite data burnings are up twenty eight percent from last year. While people are setting fires to clear the land, a technique known as slash and burn, the El Nino weather effect is aggravating those fires. El Nino has dramatically lowered the humidity in the Amazon turning loose foliage into kindling. In effort to control deforestation Brazil?s inspectors are fining those who burn or log illegally. But for every person who is fined there are hundreds who are never caught. There are only about three hundred inspectors monitoring the vast Amazon. In Indonesia the forests are covered by an unhealthy haze brought on by the uncontrolled fires. According to the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, deforestation is most rapid in Asia where nearly eighty eight percent of the forests have been destroyed. In Pakistan and Thailand four to five percent of the forest is lost every year. In fifteen years it could be completely lost, creating semi-desert conditions.
When forest are cleared without proper planning and management people living in and around them are deprived of sources of food, medicine, building material, and water. In developing countries deforestation particularly affects women, because they are usually the ones responsible for providing their families with food and fuel. Women living in the foothills of the Himalayas often spend a whole day collecting wood to cook dinner, where as their mothers collected the same amount in an hour. Deforestation does not only affect the people who live nearby. If forests continue to disappear supplies of game, fruit, and nuts dry up. Drug companies rely heavily on rain forests. Researchers are currently studying chemicals taken from Australia?s black bean tree to see if they can be used to help treat AIDS. Extracts from the almost extinct Pacific yew are proving effective against cancer. So, as the forests vanish so does the potential of finding a life saving drug.
The destruction of tropical rain forests greatly affects the global warming situation. The rain forest acts as a global air conditioner. It cools the planet and rejuvenates oxygen levels in the atmosphere. Trees use up carbon dioxide or CO2 in photosynthesis to make their own food. The growing level of CO2 is a major contributor to global warming or the greenhouse effect. Since the Industrial Revolution human activities such as deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels have caused a dramatic increase in the level of CO2 in the atmosphere. In the past one hundred fifty years the level of CO2 in the atmosphere has risen 27 percent. It is expected to double in the next hundred years. Consequences of the green house effect will be severe. Change in sea-level will be the most dramatic change. Increased variability in weather patterns will occur. Storms and hurricanes may become more frequent and severe. Rainfall patterns would likely changes, causing countries experiencing severe droughts and floods to see an increase in disasters. Many scientists believe this will cause an increase in wildfires. The effects are frightening. New laws and treaties have been signed in order to slow the process of global warming. Most of them have little effect however. One such treaty that the Clinton Administration may sign this month in Kyoto, Japan is quite questionable. It calls for reduced levels of greenhouse gas emissions and a timetable for reaching them. It would likely cost five hundred thousand US jobs every year for a decade, higher energy costs, and an economic slowdown, however countries such as China, India, Korea, and Mexico are exempt. Because these countries are exempt this treaty would do little for the environment.
The tropical rain forests are vital to the stability of the earth?s environment and the well being of the human race. The future of the earth?s rain forests depends on management, planning, and careful regulation of tree cutting. Saving the tropical rain forests is a major concern for the United States as well as the global community.
Works Cited
Philip Hurst. Rainforest Politics. Zed Books
Roy Gallant. Earth?s Vanishing Forests. Atheneum
Billy Goodman. The Rainforest (Closer Look At). Copper Beech Books
Paula Hogan. Vanishing Rain Forests (Environment Alert). Gareth Stevens
CNN. ?Forests Shrinking At Alarming Rate?. Oct. 8, 1997
CNN. ?In the Amazon, deforestation is on the rise?. Nov. 24, 1997
National Geographic Website. nationalgeographic
Gregg Easterbrook. ?Greenhouse Common Sense?. US News and World Report. Nov. 24, 1997
Timothy M. Ito Margaret Loftus. ?Cutting and Dealing?. US News and World Report. Mar 10, 1997
Laura Tangley. ?New Mammals in Town?. ? US News and World Report. Jun. 9, 1997
Smithsonian Website. si.edu
World Wildlife Fund Website. wwf
Другие работы по теме:
The Cave Essay Research Paper Notes on
The Cave Essay, Research Paper Notes on ?The Cave? author- Jean McCord George- Bum who lived in a cave and made statues Charles- Main char. Charles was running when he saw a cave. He stopped and
Changes In Amazon Essay Research Paper During
Changes In Amazon Essay, Research Paper During the past several decades, changes in the global climatic pattern has become evident and has attracted much attention from both the general public and the professional environmental organizations. Deforestation is one of the main reasons for these known changes.
Jewelry From Africa Essay Research Paper Most
Jewelry From Africa Essay, Research Paper Most jewelry of Africa comes from the kingdom of Benin, which is located in a tropical rain forest in southern Nigeria. In the kingdom of Benin, the Oba rules over the life and death of his subjects. In the Equatorial Rain Forest, ivory is plentiful and is valued for it?s rich patina and magical powers.
Civil War Essay Research Paper Charles is
Civil War Essay, Research Paper Charles is the main character from ?If It Comes Back?. He is a guy who hangs around a park. Charles is needy, dense, and obsessive. When he meets Amy, a crippled young woman in a wheelchair, these characteristics become more obvious.
Tale Of Two Cities Comparison Of Charles
And Sydney Essay, Research Paper Charles and Sydney Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, two charachters in A Tale of Two Cities, have a few similarities and a few differences. One for example
Rainforest Biome Essay Research Paper I live
Rainforest Biome Essay, Research Paper I live in the rainforest, and I love it. So I?m going to share with you some information about my home and way of life. Let me start off with some of my favorite things about my home. One thing would be the Climate. It is not to hot and not to cold, and the temperature stays about the same all year round, the warmest and the coldest months do not differ by more than 5 degrees.
Tropical Rainforest Essay Research Paper Myeedah LeslieEnv
Tropical Rainforest Essay, Research Paper Myeedah Leslie Env. Science Tropical rain forest Along the Congo- Basin region of Africa lies some of the worlds most beautiful rainforests. The Congo- Basin, in west-central Africa, includes most of the land drained by the Congo River and it s tributaries. The Congo River is Africa s second largest River.
Charles Inglis Essay Research Paper Charles Inglis
Charles Inglis Essay, Research Paper Charles Inglis was born in Donegal, Ireland in 1734. As an Anglican clergyman and a Loyalist, he came to America. He became a teacher and then was ordained to London, England in 1758. He returned though to America in 1759 to be a missionary in Dover, Delaware until 1765.
Charlemagne Essay Research Paper We know a
Charlemagne Essay, Research Paper We know a good deal about Charles the Great because we have two biographies of him written by men who were close to him. The more important of these is by Einhard.
Civil War Essay Research Paper Fatoorechi ShivaPer
Civil War Essay, Research Paper Fatoorechi, Shiva Per. 5 H. History 11-10-99 The Civil War leads to the Glorious Revolution The civil war lasted from 1642 to 1649. Directly after the civil war came the
Rain Forest Essay Research Paper RAIN FOREST
Rain Forest Essay, Research Paper RAIN FOREST JOURNAL ESSAY Every second, one acre of all the Earth s rain forests is destroyed. Already, half of all the rain forests have been destroyed. This is unacceptable and it must be stopped. We all must help with all our efforts to save the rain forests. If we keep on cutting down the rain forests at this pace, there will be no rain forests left in fifty years!
Tropical Rain Forests Essay Research Paper TROPICAL
Tropical Rain Forests Essay, Research Paper TROPICAL RAIN FORESTS Tropical rain forests are considered to possess more plants and animals than any other forests on earth. There is a seemingly endless array of unique species of both plants and animals. Unless you’ve been to a tropical rain forest, it’s difficult to grasp the idea of what a rich treasure they actually are.
Charles Richard Drew Essay Research Paper Charles
Charles Richard Drew Essay, Research Paper Charles Richard Drew Charles Richard Drew was born in Washington DC on June 3, 1904 to Charles and Nora Drew. Charles was a carpet layer and Nora was a schoolteacher. Charles was the first of five children. Growing up, Charles was a superior student maintaining nearly perfect grades throughout high school.
Charles Darwin Essay Research Paper Charles DarwinOne
Charles Darwin Essay, Research Paper Charles Darwin One of the most famous names in science and in the economy today, is Charles Darwin. Darwin is best known for his contributions in science; his famous theory of evolution. He also contributed to the market and command economy with his belief, “survival of the fittest.”
Ocean Deep Essay Research Paper Snelgrove and
Ocean Deep Essay, Research Paper Snelgrove and Grassle in The Deep Sea: Desert and Rainforest published in Oceanus, volume 38 in 1995 argue that the popular belief that the deep sea is little more than an ?ocean desert? is a pure fallacy. Contrary to such thinking a multitude of benthic organisms dwell on the ocean bottom; despite the frigid temperatures and high pressure, a large heterogeneity of creatures, rivaling in variety and number those inhabiting tropical rainforests, thrive in this environment.
LOTF Essay Research Paper Introduction
LOTF Essay, Research Paper Introduction The first main problem the boys have in the novel Lord of the Flies is that they are unprepared for survival on an uninhabited
The Piano Lesson Essay Research Paper The
The Piano Lesson Essay, Research Paper The Lesson of the Piano Lesson To a person such as myself I tend to believe that freedom is in the mind and not as much a physical thing. Mainly because you can be shackled and imprisoned but they can never take away your dreams, hopes, thoughts and aspirations. Those will always remain with you no matter what occurs to an individual.
Tropical Africa Food Production And Essay Research
Paper Tropical Africa: Food Production and the Inquiry Model Hunger is the result of disasters such as drought, floods, the changing of the jet stream patterns and other natural disasters. They are beyond our control.
Rain Forest Essay Research Paper The Rain
Rain Forest Essay, Research Paper The Rain Forest The destruction of the rainforest is a problem that the people of the world can not continue to ignore. 14 percent of the Earth’s land used to be
RAINFOREST DESTRUCTION Essay Research Paper This we
RAINFOREST DESTRUCTION Essay, Research Paper ?This we know- the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.? ?Chief Sealth of the Duwamish Tribe. (Nations,108).
Because Essay Research Paper Becuase this is
Because Essay, Research Paper Becuase this is not my job, I decided early on to limit my reviews to one book per author. You can imagine, then, how hard it was to decide WHICH book of Charles Dickens to review. I mean, to choose between A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist, and Great Expectations was downright cruel.
Ensuring Our Future Through Conservation Essay Research
Paper Ensuring Our Future Through Conservation The world’s natural rainforests are one of humanity’s only remaining hopes to continue its existence. Rainforests are vast forests filled with lush vegetation, teeming with life (both animal and plant), of which only about 40 percent has been completely discovered and studied.
Australia Essay Research Paper Did you know
Australia Essay, Research Paper Did you know that Australia is its own country and continent? It is also the world s smallest continent and largest island with an area of 7, 671, 930 sq km. It is said to be the oldest country in the world, but it was discovered last. Australia is one of the most interesting places on the earth, because it has everything.
Realistic Proposals For Sustainable Development Of Essay
, Research Paper Kumaran Consultants GroupKumaran Consultants Group, sala 43150017-400 – Brasilia – DF Tel: (55 61) 431-5489 and 431-5678Fax: (55 61) 431-5567 February 16, 1999Ministry of DevelopmentEsplanada dos Minist rios, Bloco E, sala 39870067-900 – Bras lia – DFTel: (55 61) 317-7557 and 317-7923Fax: (55 61) 317-7657 Dear Sir or Madam: Realistic proposals for sustainable development of the rainforest source Tropical rainforests are some of the richest and most interesting botanical treasures on earth.
Dickens Biography Essay Research Paper In the
Dickens Biography Essay, Research Paper In the Charles Dickens novel, A Tale of Two Cities, symbolism in used to portray the themes though out the book. Through his characters and their actions as well as their
Soil Analysis Report Essay Research Paper Soil
Soil Analysis Report Essay, Research Paper Soil Analysis Within the next few paragraphs, I will tell you all about the soil sample I collected and did tests on. I got some soil from out of one of my mom’s gardens. This one had a lot of flowers from Florida. This is a summary of what all I did to work on finding everything about my soil.
Princess Di Essay Research Paper THERE ARE
Princess Di Essay, Research Paper THERE ARE MANY IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE MOVIE STARS, ATHLEATS, PEOPLE WHO INSPIRE OTHERS, AND PEOPLE WHO HELP OTHERS. ONE PERSON WHO I BELIEVE EXCELLED IN OUR WORLD WAS PRINCESS DIANA. PRINCESS DIANA WAS A LOVING, CARING, AND HELPING WOMEN WHOM A LOT OF PEOPLE ADMIRE.
Causes For Deforestation Essay Research Paper Causes
Causes For Deforestation Essay, Research Paper Causes for Deforestation The Rainforests are being destroyed, daily at alarming rates. The deforestation is caused by three main factors: Commercial Logging, Non-commercial Farming Operations and Commercial Agricultural Development, there are also many minor factors, but the biggest of these is Cocaine production.
Hurricanes Essay Research Paper The second part
Hurricanes Essay, Research Paper The second part of our report will be about hurricanes. A hurricane is an intense tropical low-pressure area with winds that are 120 kilometers per hour or greater. Hurricanes are also called tropical cyclone or typhoon. The most damage a hurricane does is when the storm surges hits.