Threatened environments In this presentation we are going to look at threatened environments. We will be looking at coral reefs, Antarctica and the tropical rainforest.

is a threatened environment? A threatened environment is a natural place which is under threat of destruction or damaged by humans. They can do this by mining, deforestation, global warming, tourism and development.

Coral reefs Where is the coral reef? Why is it in danger?How can we help? What is the biggest threat? Who is responsible

As you can see the coral reefs are located around 30⁰North and 30⁰ South of the equator

Coral reefs are in danger from tourists standing on them, boats damaging them and people overfishing in the areas where they are. Pollution is also a problem as it contaminates the water, and kills them. Did you know that coral is a living things They are live organisms made of tiny animals called polyps. Polyps eat normally from the reef until they are about to die. They attach themselves to the seabed where they grow a rock like substance around them. After lots of them die it forms a rocky landscape because some go on top of each other. This provides a home for fish.

are coral reefs important? Coral reefs are important because they hold 2% of the worlds fish, provide food for people who go fishing there, stops the coast from being eroded and even medical discoveries such as medicines for cancer.

Stop dangerous fishing e.g. with explosives. Reduce pollution and make sure all rubbish goes in a bin, not the sea. Donate to a nature conservation group that protect the reefs Tell others about the problems of the reef. Stop global warming

Antarctica

Antarctica is found at the South Pole. It has a southern magnetic field. It is frozen and in winter it is in permanent darkness but in summer it has 24 hour daylight. It is cold because the rays of the sun are not as concentrated at the Poles. Where is Antarctica and what is it like there?

Antarctica is in danger from countries who want to mine for oil, diamonds and other minerals. The Ice sheets are melting due to rise in global temperatures. More tourists want to visit Antarctica and so add more pollution to the area. DDT is a chemical that was found in Antarctica but not used there. This shows pollution can travel and cause damage. Penguins, seals and whales have all been hunted for their skins and blubber for human use. Why is Antarctica in danger? Who is responsible?

What can be done to help? You can help by saving energy to reduce the amount of pollution which adds to global warming. All mining should be banned. All countries must obey the Antarctic Treaty. Tourists should be managed properly to reduce the damage they do.

Where is it? Why is it in danger? Who is responsible? What can we do to help?

As you can see the tropical rainforest is found in similar places to the coral reef, 30⁰North and 30⁰ South of the equator. The countries are south America, Australia, Africa and some parts of Asia

The forests are being cut down for lumber, cattle ranching, and to make way for mining. It is also being ruined to make way for buildings and roads. Many animals that live in the forest are in danger of becoming extinct.

Big mining companies and illegal loggers are causing a lot of the damage. Agriculture (farming) too is a problem as trees are cut down to grow crops for sale in other countries.

What can we do to help? Tell others about it. Plant trees where they have been cut down. Teach people how to live there without damaging the environment Have protected areas of the forest that no one can go in. Support companies who don’t damage the forest. Many forests are cut down to grow palm oil. This is damaging the homes of the orang-utans and they are becoming endangered. You can help by buying palm oil free products.