Deforestation Deforestation in Rondonia - Brazil Deforestation in Rondonia - Brazil By Renata Kashiwaya Pinheiro

Facts Deforestation: The conversion of forested areas to non-forest land use, such as urban use or wasteland. Deforestation: The conversion of forested areas to non-forest land use, such as urban use or wasteland. The most common reasons for deforestation are grain fields, grassland and urbanization. The most common reasons for deforestation are grain fields, grassland and urbanization. Tropical rainforests and tropical dry forests are the ones which suffer most from deforestation. Tropical rainforests and tropical dry forests are the ones which suffer most from deforestation. Deforestation for soy plantation Amazon Forest Tropical Dry Forest - Hawaii

Deforestation De Deforestation occurs due to the high demand humans have for space (living areas, roads), food (crops and cattle) and houses (timber and furniture) and others such as paper. The two main types of deforestation are logging and slash and burn Clear – cutting of a forest in Oregon Slash and burn clearing of the Amazon forest.

Slash and Burn Santa Fé - Panama

Slash and Burn The slash and burn method is a very popular one, especially to create short term yields from thin soil. The slash and burn method is a very popular one, especially to create short term yields from thin soil. It involves the cutting down of vegetation, which is then left to dry out and be burnt some weeks later. These plots of land are then used for a few seasons before being abandoned as the soil fertility starts to decline. It involves the cutting down of vegetation, which is then left to dry out and be burnt some weeks later. These plots of land are then used for a few seasons before being abandoned as the soil fertility starts to decline. This method causes soil erosion, as soil is washed away by the increased water levels created by lack of trees. This method causes soil erosion, as soil is washed away by the increased water levels created by lack of trees. When followed by sustainable grazing or crop rotation its damage to the environment is lessened. When followed by sustainable grazing or crop rotation its damage to the environment is lessened.

Logging Trees are felled down usually for timber harvest. Trees are felled down usually for timber harvest. Trees can be delimbed, or left with their limbs intact for transportation, depending on their utility. Trees can be delimbed, or left with their limbs intact for transportation, depending on their utility. Burning can occur at the site after logging has taken place to prevent forest fires and release the nutrients. Burning can occur at the site after logging has taken place to prevent forest fires and release the nutrients.

Did you know… - Britain used to be 85% covered by forests. (Now only 5% are left!) - Between the Amazon lost about 296,015 Km² (Around 73,146,899 acres)!!! - Deforestation affects the water cycle, biodiversity, the weather, pollution level, and prevents possible medicinal discoveries.

Biodiversity One of the main problems with deforestation is the loss of biodiversity. One of the main problems with deforestation is the loss of biodiversity. By interfering in their living environment, we are upsetting the natural balance between the living organisms found in the forests. By interfering in their living environment, we are upsetting the natural balance between the living organisms found in the forests. Toucan Sloth Green Iguana

Biodiversity Biodiversity is essential to our world as it has many uses. Biodiversity is essential to our world as it has many uses. It provides foods and drinks (most of which originated from forest biodiversity and many of which still depend on them). It provides foods and drinks (most of which originated from forest biodiversity and many of which still depend on them). Most of the medicines you take are derived from biological sources. In addition, there are millions of unexplored plant species which can have medicinal purposes. Most of the medicines you take are derived from biological sources. In addition, there are millions of unexplored plant species which can have medicinal purposes. Biodiversity plays an important part in regulating water levels and weather temperature, as well as providing ecosystems that are capable of recycling nutrients back into the soil. Biodiversity plays an important part in regulating water levels and weather temperature, as well as providing ecosystems that are capable of recycling nutrients back into the soil. It also provides a BEAUTIFUL SCENERY!!! It also provides a BEAUTIFUL SCENERY!!!

Water Cycle Trees affect the water cycle in many ways: Trees affect the water cycle in many ways:..by providing a root system that increases the infiltration of water into the soil...by providing a root system that increases the infiltration of water into the soil...by reducing the soil moisture via transpiration and water usage...by reducing the soil moisture via transpiration and water usage...tree trunks, steams and litter aid in slowing down water from rainfall, preventing soil erosion...tree trunks, steams and litter aid in slowing down water from rainfall, preventing soil erosion. Without the trees the chances of soil erosion and landslides may change the availability of water for humans, as it is washed away back to the sea and oceans.

Photosynthesis Photosynthesis done by the forests helps maintain carbon dioxide levels constant, as plants are the only ones capable of recycling CO 2 into O 2. Photosynthesis done by the forests helps maintain carbon dioxide levels constant, as plants are the only ones capable of recycling CO 2 into O 2. CO 2 (g) + 12H 2 O (l) + Light → C 6 H 12 O 6 (aq) + 6O 2 (g) + 6H 2 O(l) CO 2 (g) + 12H 2 O (l) + Light → C 6 H 12 O 6 (aq) + 6O 2 (g) + 6H 2 O(l) Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and use it to produce glucose, while releasing oxygen as a waste product into the air. Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and use it to produce glucose, while releasing oxygen as a waste product into the air. Growing plants are the ones which produce the highest oxygen levels, as fully grown plants produce nearly the same amount of CO 2 and O 2. Which is why it is essential to have growing trees in forests. Growing plants are the ones which produce the highest oxygen levels, as fully grown plants produce nearly the same amount of CO 2 and O 2. Which is why it is essential to have growing trees in forests.

Global Warming With less and less trees available to do photosynthesis, more carbon dioxide is left un-recycled in the atmosphere. With less and less trees available to do photosynthesis, more carbon dioxide is left un-recycled in the atmosphere. The gas accumulation is believed to trap the sun’s heat inside the earth’s atmosphere, producing global warming. The gas accumulation is believed to trap the sun’s heat inside the earth’s atmosphere, producing global warming. Higher temperatures cause an increase in draughts or heavy showers during the summer in some countries, crops failures, polar ice caps to melt and a disruption in ecosystems – such as dryer rainforests. Higher temperatures cause an increase in draughts or heavy showers during the summer in some countries, crops failures, polar ice caps to melt and a disruption in ecosystems – such as dryer rainforests.

The Greenhouse effect In addition, the burning involved in deforestation only increases CO 2 levels, combining with the other existing gases - nitrous oxide, methane, and other nitrogen oxides - causing the greenhouse effect. In addition, the burning involved in deforestation only increases CO 2 levels, combining with the other existing gases - nitrous oxide, methane, and other nitrogen oxides - causing the greenhouse effect.

Did you know…? Atropine found in Belladonna plants are used as part of a medicine to dilate pupils. Atropine found in Belladonna plants are used as part of a medicine to dilate pupils. Quinine from the Quinine tree is used as a malaria preventive. Quinine from the Quinine tree is used as a malaria preventive. Deforestation can have large scale consequences. Ex: cutting down trees in the Amazon can cause major traffic jams in São Paulo! (by helping to increase the frequency and intensity of thunderstorms). Deforestation can have large scale consequences. Ex: cutting down trees in the Amazon can cause major traffic jams in São Paulo! (by helping to increase the frequency and intensity of thunderstorms).

The Amazon The Amazon forest covers 5.5 million kilometres and occupies nine nations of South America. The Amazon forest covers 5.5 million kilometres and occupies nine nations of South America.

Amazon Size The Amazon Forest is ± ¾ of the area occupied by the United States!! And 60% of it is located in Brazil, and is sometimes referred to as ‘the lungs of the earth’.

Animals found in the Amazon

Why does deforestation persist? Even though the Amazon is known to contain the worlds largest biodiversity – which include exotic animals and plants – deforestation continues with no regards to the consequences, why? Even though the Amazon is known to contain the worlds largest biodiversity – which include exotic animals and plants – deforestation continues with no regards to the consequences, why? It is very hard to monitor and pursue farmers or people who engage in deforestation, due to its large size. It is very hard to monitor and pursue farmers or people who engage in deforestation, due to its large size. Brazilian legislation states that clearing land for crops is considered an ‘effective land use’. Brazilian legislation states that clearing land for crops is considered an ‘effective land use’. Much of the county’s economy depends on the crops and cattle cultivated on the Amazon lands cleared. Much of the county’s economy depends on the crops and cattle cultivated on the Amazon lands cleared.

Causes of Amazon Deforestation

Some Solutions Areas of land which contain forests could be sold to private areas for preservation. Areas of land which contain forests could be sold to private areas for preservation. Trees used for building could be replaced by bricks and concrete or stucco buildings. Trees used for building could be replaced by bricks and concrete or stucco buildings. Better development of forest management, and reforestation could be used to maintain forest areas. Better development of forest management, and reforestation could be used to maintain forest areas. Rehabilitation of formerly used plots of land – build a rotation mechanism for crops and cattle. Rehabilitation of formerly used plots of land – build a rotation mechanism for crops and cattle. Develop a better law enforcement around remaining forests to prevent illegal deforestation. Develop a better law enforcement around remaining forests to prevent illegal deforestation.

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Bibliography Books: Books: - Biology by Campbell and Reece - Biology by Solomon, Berg and Martin Websites: Websites: ork/amazonfacts.shtml ork/amazonfacts.shtml ork/amazonfacts.shtml