DeforestationDeforestation

Problems Facing Planet EarthProblems Facing Planet Earth

Question… Explanation… (more detail)

Your thoughts…(at least 2 thoughts)

What is the issue?________________

Who is causing it?

What is affected?

What is being done to help?

Set-up your notebook page:

What is the issue?What is the issue?

Deforestation:Deforestation:

The loss of large areas of forest.The loss of large areas of forest.

LAYERS OF A RAINFOREST

                                                                                

EMERGENT LAYERThe tallest trees are the emergents, towering as much as 200 feet above the forest floor with trunks that measure up to 16 feet around.   Most of these trees are broad-leaved, hardwood evergreens. Sunlight is plentiful up here.  Animals found are eagles, monkeys, bats and butterflies.

                                                                                

CANOPY LAYERThis is the primary layer of the forest and forms a roof over the two remaining layers.   Most canopy trees have smooth, oval leaves that come to a point. It's a maze of leaves and branches.  Many animals live in this area since food is abundant.   Those animals include: snakes, toucans and treefrogs.

                                                                                

UNDERSTORY LAYERLittle sunshine reaches this area so the plants have to grow larger leaves to reach the sunlight.   The plants in this area seldom grow to 12 feet.  Many animals live here including jaguars, red-eyed tree frogs and leopards.  There is a large concentration of insects here.

                                                                                

FOREST FLOORIt's very dark down here.  Almost no plants grow in this area, as a result.  Since hardly any sun reaches the forest floor things begin to decay quickly.  A leaf that might take one year to decompose in a regular climate will disappear in  6 weeks.   Giant anteaters live in this layer.

Healthy Rainforests

Rainforest Destruction

More Destruction

Your thoughts??Your thoughts??

What are your thoughts on this issue?What are your thoughts on this issue?

What do you already know?What do you already know?

Describe your feelings toward Describe your feelings toward deforestation.deforestation.

Who is causing it?Who is causing it?

--AgricultureAgriculture clear-cuts forest areas to provide clear-cuts forest areas to provide room for livestock to eat or farms. room for livestock to eat or farms.

--MinersMiners clear land to mine for ore and minerals. clear land to mine for ore and minerals.-Forests are clear-cut to create -Forests are clear-cut to create productsproducts made made

from wood.from wood.-People cut down forests to make room for -People cut down forests to make room for

houses, roads, and other houses, roads, and other developmentsdevelopments..--PollutionPollution from factories and cars creates smog from factories and cars creates smog

and acid rain.and acid rain.

Who is causing it? (cont.)Who is causing it? (cont.)

80 acres of forest land is cut down every 80 acres of forest land is cut down every minute!minute!

That is 40-50 million acres a year!That is 40-50 million acres a year! Each week, printing the Sunday edition of Each week, printing the Sunday edition of

America’s newspapers requires the America’s newspapers requires the equivalent of 500,000 trees.equivalent of 500,000 trees.

Malaria epidemics are occurring from Malaria epidemics are occurring from rainforests being clearedrainforests being cleared

Who is causing it? (cont.)Who is causing it? (cont.)

Rainforest wood stays in developing countries for fuel Rainforest wood stays in developing countries for fuel wood and charcoal. wood and charcoal.

One single steel plant in Brazil making steel for One single steel plant in Brazil making steel for Japanese cars needs millions of tons of wood each year Japanese cars needs millions of tons of wood each year to produce charcoal that can be used in the manufacture to produce charcoal that can be used in the manufacture of steel.of steel.

5,600 square miles of Amazon rainforest were burned to 5,600 square miles of Amazon rainforest were burned to the ground and replanted with pulpwood trees to make the ground and replanted with pulpwood trees to make paperpaper

The world's biggest pulp mill is the Aracruz Mill in Brazil. The world's biggest pulp mill is the Aracruz Mill in Brazil. Its two units produce 1 million tons of pulp a year, Its two units produce 1 million tons of pulp a year, harvesting the rainforest to keep the plant in business harvesting the rainforest to keep the plant in business and displacing thousands of indigenous tribes. and displacing thousands of indigenous tribes.

Your thoughts??Your thoughts??

What are your thoughts on what you just What are your thoughts on what you just learned about who is causing learned about who is causing deforestation?deforestation?

What surprises you?What surprises you? What did you already know?What did you already know? How does this make you feel?How does this make you feel?

Rate yourself!Rate yourself!

Look at the learning scale on the side Look at the learning scale on the side wall.wall.

Where are you on that scale right now?Where are you on that scale right now? Keep in mind what you already know, Keep in mind what you already know,

what you have just learned and what you what you have just learned and what you still need to learn!still need to learn!

What is affected?What is affected? SpeciesSpecies Losing Their habitatLosing Their habitat

Pandas in ChinaPandas in ChinaOnce roamed through forests in China.Once roamed through forests in China.Deforestation has confined Pandas to continually shrinking Deforestation has confined Pandas to continually shrinking

areas.areas.Hard to find food, shelter, and mates.Hard to find food, shelter, and mates.Many species of plants and animals are becoming extinct Many species of plants and animals are becoming extinct Half of the world's estimated 10 million species of plants, Half of the world's estimated 10 million species of plants,

animals, and microorganisms from the rainforest will be animals, and microorganisms from the rainforest will be destroyed or severely threatened over the next quarter-century destroyed or severely threatened over the next quarter-century (25 years) due to rainforest deforestation.(25 years) due to rainforest deforestation.

Change in Global ClimateChange in Global ClimateTrees limit the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphereTrees limit the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere Increases of carbon dioxide cause significant increases in world Increases of carbon dioxide cause significant increases in world

temperatures.temperatures.Air and water pollution is increasedAir and water pollution is increased

What is affected? (cont.)What is affected? (cont.) Increased Erosion and FloodingIncreased Erosion and Flooding

Without the tree roots to hold in the soil, water runs across the Without the tree roots to hold in the soil, water runs across the land, taking the soil with it.land, taking the soil with it.

Downstream results in severe flooding.Downstream results in severe flooding.For example, in Asia, deforestation of the Himalayas results in For example, in Asia, deforestation of the Himalayas results in

thousands of deaths from flooding in India and Bangladesh.thousands of deaths from flooding in India and Bangladesh.

Land ClearingLand ClearingCreates lack of nutrients in the soil Creates lack of nutrients in the soil Overgrazing ruins the landOvergrazing ruins the landThe land is abandoned for newly cleared landThe land is abandoned for newly cleared land In Brazil alone, more than 63,000 square miles of land has In Brazil alone, more than 63,000 square miles of land has

reportedly been abandoned in this way. reportedly been abandoned in this way.

Your thoughts??Your thoughts??

What are your thoughts on what you just What are your thoughts on what you just learned about what is being affected?learned about what is being affected?

What surprises you?What surprises you? What did you already know?What did you already know? How does this make you feel?How does this make you feel?

What is being done to What is being done to help?help?

Protect large areas of forestlandProtect large areas of forestland Habitats need to be large enough for animals to Habitats need to be large enough for animals to

roam to find food, shelter, water, and mates.roam to find food, shelter, water, and mates. For example, one 660-pound mountain gorilla eats For example, one 660-pound mountain gorilla eats

66 pounds of food per day. They travel in groups of 66 pounds of food per day. They travel in groups of 6-20 members, so one group will travel 30 square 6-20 members, so one group will travel 30 square miles in a year.miles in a year.

Replant ForestsReplant Forests Loggers are required to replant treesLoggers are required to replant trees Now have restrictions on the age and size of trees Now have restrictions on the age and size of trees

that can be cut downthat can be cut down

What is being done to What is being done to help? (cont.)help? (cont.)

Reduce WasteReduce Waste RecycleRecycle

cardboard, newspaper, office paper cardboard, newspaper, office paper Use reusable items instead of disposable Use reusable items instead of disposable

paper productspaper products Buy items made from recycled paperBuy items made from recycled paper Reduce your use of paperReduce your use of paper

Use a cloth instead of a paper towelUse a cloth instead of a paper towel Use the backside of your paperUse the backside of your paper

Your thoughts??Your thoughts??

What are your thoughts on what you just What are your thoughts on what you just learned about what is being done to learned about what is being done to help?help?

What surprises you?What surprises you? What did you already know?What did you already know? How does this make you feel?How does this make you feel?

Rate yourself!Rate yourself!

Look at the learning scale on the side Look at the learning scale on the side wall.wall.

Where are you on that scale right now?Where are you on that scale right now? Keep in mind what you already know, Keep in mind what you already know,

what you have just learned and what you what you have just learned and what you still need to learn!still need to learn!