WHAT IMPACTS DO HUMANS HAVE ON THE RAINFOREST?

DEFORESTATION Deforestation refers to the cutting, clearing, and removal of the rainforest DID YOU KNOW...? Rainforests once covered 14% of the earth's land surface; now they cover a mere 6% and experts estimate that the last remaining rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years. DEFORESTATION

FARMING Sometimes, Rainforests are cleared in order to make way for new farming lands. WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS??

LOSS OF HABITATS - Is caused by such events as deforestation and farming; clearing out the native wildlife's homes - Degradation: vegetation removal and soil erosion deprive native species of food,shelter and breeding areas DID YOU KNOW...? - A greater variety of species live in Rainforests than in any other habitat - It is estimated that habitats the size of two football fields are wiped out nearly everyday from the Amazon Rainforest

ENDANGERED SPECIES AND PLANTS - Given the loss of habitats, many species in the Rainforest, both plant and animal, are becoming endangered - Some of the most endangered animals in the Rainforest include the Jaguar, Three-toed Sloth and the Orangutan - If one of these species, or any other, were to become extinct, this would cause a disturbance to the ecosystems within the Rainforest DID YOU KNOW...? - Experts estimate that we are losing 137 plant, animal and insect species every single day

NATIVE PEOPLE OF THE RAINFOREST - Many indigenous groups have been affected by society as they have been killed or driven off of their land by settlers or by large companies that want the land. DID YOU KNOW...? - Although indigenous people have lived on their lands for thousands of years, in most cases they do not legally own it because they have not filed the necessary papers. - In Brazil alone, European colonists have destroyed more than 90 indigenous tribes since the 1900's

WHY ARE WE DESTROYING RAINFORESTS?