Deforestation in the Tropical Rainforest 1st November Deforestation in the Tropical Rainforest

Deforestation is the clearing of large areas of forest for human uses, such as timber or agriculture.

Causes of Deforestation Effects of Deforestation

Causes of Deforestation Effects of Deforestation Clear land for farming Cattle ranching (hamburgers) Poverty – need land to grow food on Illegal and legal (permission from the government) logging – mahogany and teak, building and making furniture Permission from the government Companies exploring for oil and metal, gold and copper – minerals Transportation links – motorways and development Local tribes suffer (Amerindians) Losing their land, threatened, many have died Infected by diseases they are not used to e.g. colds, ‘flu The animals suffer – loss of habitats, hunted/poached (often illegally) The soil suffers - nutrients are washed away, no dead leaves to make new soil The world as a whole suffers – species are becoming extinct, plants that could cure diseases Burning forests produces CO2 which speeds up global warming Less of a carbon sink as fewer trees

Nutrient Cycles Key: = process = inputs and outputs Biomass (dense vegetation cover) Litter (leaves on the ground) Soil (rotted leaves, creating humus)

Nutrient Cycles Biomass (dense vegetation cover) Litter (leaves on the ground) Soil (rotted leaves, creating humus) Bacteria and fungi decompose and release nutrients Nutrients are taken up to plants through roots Leaves fall to the ground all year round

Nutrient Cycles Biomass (dense vegetation cover) Litter Leaves fall to the ground all year round Nutrients are taken up to plants through roots Litter (leaves on the ground) Bacteria and fungi decompose and release nutrients Soil (rotted leaves, creating humus) High rainfall and temperature affect plant type Leaching (the loss of minerals) occurs as nutrients are washed out Some material added from wearing away of rocks

Nutrient Cycles Key: = process = inputs and outputs Biomass High rainfall and temperature affect plant type Key: = process = inputs and outputs Biomass (dense vegetation cover) Leaves fall to the ground all year round Nutrients are taken up to plants through roots Litter (leaves on the ground) Soil (rotted leaves, creating humus) Leaching (the loss of minerals) occurs as nutrients are washed out Bacteria and fungi decompose and release nutrients Some material added from wearing away of rocks

Nutrient Cycles after Deforestation Biomass Less leaves fall Less nutrients for plants, so less plants grow Litter Leaching is worse, as nutrients are easily lost from thin soil Less nutrients go into soil Soil

Homework Due Wednesday 3rd November Try Wikipedia! Read the article and underline key points Research deforestation in the Amazon rainforest and fill in the facts Try Wikipedia!

Homework – due Wednesday Design a poster which aims to raise awareness about the destruction of the rainforest - deforestation. Think about your audience (who is it aimed at?) What are the important topics to focus on, when trying to raise awareness? You will be marked on effort, presentation and geographical content