1. Watch the vid.. What’s the story?

3. What do you know? How much TRF has been lost? Why is it being lost?
Why don’t we just replant it?
What are the consequences of losing it?
What are the consequences of continuing to destroy it?

4. UNDER CANOPY 10- 20 meters above the forest floor Few branches
Younger plants waiting to penetrate the upper canopy

5. The structure of a tropical rainforestm
Emergents
35m
Main Canopy
20m
Under Canopy 5m
Shrub layer 1m
Forest Floor

6. FOREST FLOOR
Diffused light, therefore not covered with dense plant undergrowth – only receives 1 to 2% of the sunlight
The plants have adapted to the dark and quiet
Has shrubs at less than 1 meter

7. The structure of a tropical rainforestm
Emergents
35m
Main Canopy
20m
Under Canopy 5m
Shrub layer 1m
Forest Floor

8. EMERGENTS Trees that have grown up out of the canopy
Over 50 meters tall (35 – 60)
Small leaves to prevent moisture being blown away by the wind, as seeds are
Unlimited light and sun

9. The structure of a tropical rainforestm
Emergents
35m
Main Canopy
20m
Under Canopy 5m
Shrub layer 1m
Forest Floor

10. THE CANOPY Covers the rainforest Captures the energy from the sun
Largest amount of biomass of any ecosystem on the earth
Largest amount of leaves, fruit and flowers in the rainforest
At meters above the floor
Home to 90% of the organisms found in the rain forest; many seeking the brighter light

11. The structure of a tropical rainforestm
Emergents
35m
Main Canopy
20m
Under Canopy 5m
Shrub layer 1m
Forest Floor

12. SHRUB LAYER Only about 5% of the light reaches this layer.
It is usually dark and damp
Plants here rarely grow to more than 3.5m in height.

13. The structure of a tropical rainforestm
Emergents
35m
Main Canopy
20m
Under Canopy 5m
Shrub layer 1m
Forest Floor

14. Now check your answers...

15. Watch the vid.. What’s the story?

16. So?

18. Deforestation – the removal or destruction of areas of forest.
Tropical rainforests are being destroyed at the rate of 32,000 hectares per day.
The size of the remaining forest is about 5% of the world’s land surface.
80% of the Amazon is ‘untouched’ - selective and small scale deforestation can benefit local communities.
"Who, or what, is to blame for the destruction of the rainforest?"

24. Why are tropical rainforests being destroyed? Explain each…
(use textbook)
Logging
Road Building/Urbanisation
Arable farming
Cattle Ranching
Mining – minerals
Oil extraction
Hydro-Electricity Power Stations
Drugs trade

25. Quick questions Where are tropical rainforests located?
Why are they considered ‘fragile environments’?
What are the main layers of the rainforests?
Why are rainforests being cut down (deforestation)?
What amount (total and %) is/has been damaged?

26. High End Questions Destruction of TRF’s should not be limited?
Is us telling them to stop is hypocrisy?
The worlds resources are there to be used?
Long term consequences don’t matter?