Rainforests Destruction

The rainforests once covered about 14% of the Earth's surface but now covers only about 6%. If the rainforests are shrinking, does that have an affect on climate change? We all know that trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the air. The big problem is the destruction of the rainforests. "The destruction of the world’s rain forests plays a role in the problem of global warming. When trees are burned or cut and left to decay, carbon is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is the second largest contributor to the greenhouse effect, the warming of the Earth’s lower atmosphere" (National Geographic). One third to one fifth of carbon dioxide pollution is from the destruction of the rainforests.

The rainforests are being cleared because of the monetary value of the timber and in order to farm the land. the process used to clear the land for farmong is called slash and burn. Up to one to one and a half acres are destroy every second (Rainforest Facts).

Unfortunately, farming the rainforest is very difficult because the soil is nutrient poor. The top soil is only two inches deep and is only good for about two years. The othe problem is that once the trees have been cut down, the rainfall washes most of the top soil away. The lush plants of the rainforests are only able to survive because they store nutrients within themselves rather than getting the nutrients from the soil. The plants gather and store nutrients from decaying plants (Biomes).

"Experts agree that by leaving the rainforests intact and harvesting it's many nuts, fruits, oil-producing plants, and medicinal plants, the rainforest has more economic value than if they were cut down to make grazing land for cattle or for timber" (Rainforest Facts)

Biomes -
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/text/biomes/biomes.rainforest.soil.html

National Geographic - http://www.nationalgeographic.com/earthpulse/rainforest/gallery2.html#

Rainforest Facts - http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm