Rainforest Conservation

By: Nicole Kurtz

Location of Tropical Rainforests

• Rainforests are located near the equator and tropical zone. Because of there location, they receive a lot of rain.

• Unfortunately tropical rainforests make up less then two-percent of the earth’s total surface.

• Tropical Rainforests only make up six-percent of earth’s land.

Habitat Destruction in Rainforests

• Earth’s rainforests are the home to many unique species.

• When trees are cut down from rainforests, organisms loose their homes.

• This act is called Habitat Destruction.• Habitat destruction is the process in which a

natural habitat is made unable to maintain the needs of a species present.

Deforestation in Tropical Rainforests

• Deforestation is the removal of trees from an area of land.

• Deforestation is a form of habitat destruction.

• In rainforests deforestation is a result of hunting, farming and logging.

“Slash-and-Burn” Technique

• Farmers cut down and burn trees and plants in a small patch of rainforest.

• Then they use it as farm land for a while. • Soon after, the soil looses nutrients because

the trees are gone. • Because the nutrients are gone, farmers can’t

farm, so they slash-and-burn another patch of rainforest and the process continues.

Products from the Rainforest

• Many Americans unknowingly own a lot of products from the rainforest.

• Hardwoods, such as mahogany, teak and balsa woods are from rainforest trees.

• Many rare plants found in rainforests can be used to cure diseases and are found in every-day medicines. Alkaloids found in rainforests are beneficial to the medical field.

• Fruits such as guavas, bananas, papayas and mangoes, are also found in rainforests.

• Palm oil is found in rainforests, and is used in many food ingredients.

Facts About Rainforest

• Already 54% of the earth’s rainforests have been destroyed.

• Rainforests help regulate the earth’s temperature.

• Rainforests contain plants that could cure cancer.

Bibliography• http://globalwarming.house.gov/impactzones/amazon/admin/pages/files/0001.jpg• http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210360/rainforest_location_map001.gif• http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Environment/Pix/pictures/2008/05/14/brazil-stephenferry-getty460.jpg• http://www.life.illinois.edu/ib/335/rainforestdeforestation.jpg• http://www.flbg.org/images/banana_tree.jpg