the ground and some is intercepted
by the tree. Some of the water evaporates from
the leaves and branches into the
atmosphere. The rain which has not been
intercepted by the tree hits the ground and
flows along the surface into rivers. Some
water actually infiltrates into the soil and
is taken up by the tree and plant roots. Water
is then lost from the tree via the leaves during
transpiration and this water vapour rises and
it cools and condenses forming rain clouds.
The cycle then starts all over again.
Carbon Cycle
The carbon that is absorbed from the atmosphere
by plants and animals can take several paths before
re-entering the air as carbon dioxide. When a plant
dies, it is broken down by micro-organisms - called
decomposers - that feed on the dead organic matter.
As the micro-organisms consume the plant matter,
they release some of the plant's carbon into the
atmosphere in the form of CO2, although some is destined
for longer-term storage in trunks and branches of trees
and in the bodies of plant-eating animals or carnivorous
animals that eat plant-eating animals. These animals then
return more of the carbon to the atmosphere as CO2 through
respiration, although some will be stored within their bodies
until they die and decompose in the soil.
Many of the activities involve cutting down trees and this
has
a harmful effect on the environment.
All the trees are cut down and sold to other
Countries for a profit. Thus Brazil’s Debt
Can be cleared with it already owned to
Countries such as the U.K.
The Environment
The lack of trees causes a depletion of oxygen
Because there are no trees no use up the extra
Carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. This means that the
Carbon cycle would be affected.
The increased carbon dioxide causes the
Earths atmosphere to become dense
and therefore trap in more radiation from
the sun causing the Earths annual
Temperature to rise.
The rise in Temperature causes the polar ice caps
To melt, and this would cause global flooding. This
Would cause a drastic change in the water cycle
Coastal areas in the world will automatically
Become flooded, and areas such as West Fen
Will also flood because they are already under
Sea level.
Countries such as Bangladesh, with their already
High mortality rate will be affected the most. This
Is because they have no sea defence, and global
Flooding will cause mass destruction of houses and
Leave large amounts of people dead.
Deforestation
No Leaf Litter Less Interception
The Nutrient cycle affected Water cycle affected
No humus produced by decomposers More Surface Run Off
No nutrients released into the soil. Soil Washes Into rivers
River levels rise
Infertile Soil
Flooding.
Nothing being grown
Many interest groups outside of Brazil are interested in the rainforest because to them it is an un-tapped resource. It takes five hours to fly over the Brazilian rainforest, and nearly all of it is trees. The trees themselves are very large and can be sold to other countries for a large profit. Logging companies simply cut down trees in the rainforest and drag them out to the road, and on the way they harm another twenty trees. This is why logging companies are now using heli-logging. This allows the trees to be air lifted to another location without harming any other trees. However, this process is very expensive and most logging cannot afford this and so they jus drag the trees out to the nearest road. Other countries also take an interest in the rainforest because as the disaster chain shows many countries will be affected especially by global warming. Apart from global flooding other areas will become warmer. The Sahara desert will become larger, and this will cause more poverty and a higher mortality rate than before. Groups like Greenpeace, outside of Brazil are also interested because they are concerned about the effect on wild life if the forest is destroyed. It would mean the extinctions of plants and animals that live there.
In my opinion I believe that the future of the rainforest will be bleak unless something is done to prevent it. Countries like Brazil are often heavy in debt and clearing the rainforests and selling the trees will allow these types of countries to pay of their debt of billions of pounds to other countries such as the U.K and America. There is a lot of money in the rainforest because of the trees, especially with trees such as Mahogany growing which can be sold for a high price. However, the Indigenous Indians treat the rainforest as a sustainable resource. They simply cultivate in small areas and then move on allowing the rainforest to grow back. The Indigenous Indians have jobs such as rubber tapers. These jobs do not harm the rainforest, but provide a source of income for the tribe. Also because Brazil is a poor country to survive u either need to have a job in the city of have your own plot of land to grow and sell your own food otherwise you will go hungry and starve. The rainforest has infertile soil and often many plants need to be grown in order to have an income. Plants can’t be grown in the rainforest so it either needs to be cut down of burnt down. Cutting down trees will simply remove them and leave the soil infertile. However, by burning down trees the soil will become more fertile due to the ash left by the tree, but mass amounts of carbon dioxide are released into the air which would add to the enhanced greenhouse effect. Solutions can be made to stop people from cutting down the rainforest, but allow its use in a sustainable way. The government of Brazil could pass a law which prevents clearance of the rainforest. However, the rainforest is a huge and the government can’t afford to keep and eye out on the entire rainforest.
The government can also pass a bill of rights giving indigenous Indians ownership of people who want to exploit the rainforest. However, this too has its flaws because the Indigenous Indians often are armed with clubs and primitive weapons whereas people who wish to exploit the rainforest are usually armed with guns and rifles, and this gives no chance towards the Indigenous Indians to defend themselves. Some Helilogging could be allowed if it were carefully controlled. Helilogging, removing the trees by a helicopter is a way of logging sustainability. Areas of the forest where there are mature trees are carefully chosen. Using the helicopter makes sure that other trees are not damaged as no roads need to be built, no other trees are destroyed. New trees are replanted to replace the old trees that have been removed. Also the forest is so large that it is difficult to catch illegal loggers. On way on preventing this is to persuade the governments of other countries to ban the import of illegal timber. If the wood cannot be sold then what is the point of cutting it down.
One sustainable use of the forest is to allow the drug companies to collect leaves, flowers, bark and shoots of plants with the Indians help. They do no damage to the forest, and by paying for a license and employing the Indians provide jobs for the people and income for the country. They would not harm the Indians way of life and allow rubber tappers to continue working. These groups also cause no damage to the forest. Other activities that could be allowed are the production of non timber forest products. There are many different fruits that can be collected in the forest and sold. The Kayapo Indians for example collect Brazil nuts, squeeze out the oil and sell it to the Body Shop who use it in their products. This supports many people by providing with a job and income. They pay taxes to the government who can use the money to develop new industries and pay for better schools and hospitals. Other industries could be set up to collect the shoots of plants. These can be pottered and sold to market gardens in countries like Holland. These are then sold as household plants in developing countries. Both of these ideas make money from the forest without harming it. The forest can also be used for eco tourism. Visitors can be limited in number and travel through the forest by canoe or take guided walks with Indian guides. This would employ small numbers of people. One problem with this idea is that, in the short term they only bring in small amounts of money unlike the mining and logging industries, and Brazil needs to make the money now in order to pay back their debts and develop the country. Many people think that Brazil can’t simply cancel their debts which they owe to countries. Brazil owes many countries billions of pounds because of interest which they took out on loans. Which country in the entire world is going to cancel a debt which is worth billions of pounds?. None. Unless it is pointed out to them that if they allow the forest to be destroyed then the effects of global warming are likely to cost them more as building barriers to stop land from flooding will cost billions of pounds.
This is why I believe that the rainforest should be used as a sustainable resource and should not be exploited. I believe that using the rainforest as a sustainable resource will allow it to survive for longer, and keep the human race alive.
