Deforestation
The World’s increasing population puts a lot of pressure on rainforests. It is estimated that by the year 2100, eight billion people will be living on the earth. This means that lots of area occupied by rainforests will have to be cut down. Fuel will be needed so trees will be cut down for those resources, too. Rivers running through the forests will have to be dammed to generate electricity and also to let roads be built.
Rainforests hold lots of rich soil and natural resources so mines may be constructed in those areas. Wood is also a great resource that will be needed for all kinds of things (paper, buildings, furniture, firewood, etc.).
We are losing the Earth's greatest treasures every single day. Rainforests once covered 14% of the earth's land surface, but now they cover only 6%. Experts say one-half acres of rainforest are lost every second with tragic consequences.
But there is a conflict between saving the rainforest and chopping it down, because deforestation gives people good jobs!
Deforestation and Economy
Many poor countries that have rainforests are under pressure to make land available to their growing populations. Also, these poor countries usually owe lots of money to other richer countries. By cutting down the rainforest and farming in the cleared land some of the money can be repaid to the other the richer nations.
People regret like this man, Unja Tamambaloh, an ex-illegal logger who sold off 5km2 of his own land in Borneo:
“I regret cutting down all those trees on my land. I used to be able to get wood from the forest to build my home and buildings for my family, and I made coffins from a special type of wood that grew there. But that has all gone now.
I’m also concerned about the ecological impact of those years. Rivers have become shallow, the water quality has reduced and there are a lot more floods these days because we cut down so many trees.”
But there is still hope. Check out the next pages for some good news...
Rainforests hold lots of rich soil and natural resources so mines may be constructed in those areas. Wood is also a great resource that will be needed for all kinds of things (paper, buildings, furniture, firewood, etc.).
We are losing the Earth's greatest treasures every single day. Rainforests once covered 14% of the earth's land surface, but now they cover only 6%. Experts say one-half acres of rainforest are lost every second with tragic consequences.
But there is a conflict between saving the rainforest and chopping it down, because deforestation gives people good jobs!
Deforestation and Economy
Many poor countries that have rainforests are under pressure to make land available to their growing populations. Also, these poor countries usually owe lots of money to other richer countries. By cutting down the rainforest and farming in the cleared land some of the money can be repaid to the other the richer nations.
- A logger can earn a living for a time if he cuts down rainforest.
- Palm-oil plantations can be set up after the rainforest is cut down. Palm-oil is needed for a large variety of things, including biscuits!
- After a clearing has been made (due to the deforestation in that area) subsistence farmers may use that land to use for themselves, meaning that they will harvest crops for their own family.
People regret like this man, Unja Tamambaloh, an ex-illegal logger who sold off 5km2 of his own land in Borneo:
“I regret cutting down all those trees on my land. I used to be able to get wood from the forest to build my home and buildings for my family, and I made coffins from a special type of wood that grew there. But that has all gone now.
I’m also concerned about the ecological impact of those years. Rivers have become shallow, the water quality has reduced and there are a lot more floods these days because we cut down so many trees.”
But there is still hope. Check out the next pages for some good news...