The forests of the planet are the green pockets of life that through photosynthesis provide oxygen for all of Earth’s living creatures. They are the magical areas of highly concentrated energy that generate the life giving gases that ensure planetary survival. The Amazon rainforest of South America single handedly provides about a fifth of the whole world’s oxygen supply.
With the rapid destruction of virgin old growth forests, we are destroying irreplaceable habitats to millions of plant and animal species and ultimately creating a problem that could lead to the demise of humanity. At the current rate of destruction, it is estimated that we may lose the Earth’s tropical rainforests in less time than one human generation. This would be a tragedy that is unacceptable, and unless humans end this atrocity, it will undoubtedly continue.
As of now, millions of acres are lost to unsustainable deforestation in order to provide land to raise livestock and to profit from the highly desirable precious hardwood that come from exotic locations. Once a clearcut wipes out a pristine forest, it can never return to it’s pure natural state, harboring countless living creatures and rare medicinal plants. Furthermore, the profits gained from this wasteful industry are so minimal in comparison to the long term profits that could be generated by the sustainable harvest of rainforest products. Huge industrial corporations are raping forests for a quick return on their investment, but with an integrative understanding of the forest environment and its beneficial bounty, an even more rewarding profit could be generated time and time again, without destroying the entire area.
The diversity of species that depend on the rainforest for their survival are so many, that their exact number is unknown. Scientific research estimates that over one hundred plant and animal species are lost daily, never to be replaced. There are so many potentially beneficial resources in the rainforest that scientists haven’t even had a chance to research yet. The density of species is concentrated in the rainforests, so when it disappears, we are losing massive amounts of life forms, very rapidly. Along with it, we are losing many possible cures for epidemic diseases, along with culinary and medicinal plants and herbs, as well as the environment that the wildlife rely on for their survival. It is unfair for humans to assume that they have the rights to destroy so much pristine nature without any consideration for all of the species reliant on its preservation.
The forest canopy is crucial to the survival the flora and fauna that exist beneath it, acting as a natural incubator to maintain optimum temperatures. In the Amazonian rainforest, the space above the ground, in the trees and vegetation, is where a majority of all animals reside. The network of trees and vines, interconnected by centuries of growth, provides passageway to animals that travels through them, in search of sustenance. Once this acreage of diverse jungle is clear cut by bulldozers and heavy machinery, rather than being selectively and sustainably harvested by humans, animals lose their roadways and starve, eventually driven to extinction. This proliferation of the tropical rainforests is an unjust atrocity that can be prevented through education, legislation, and by taking immediate action.
There are several solutions to preserving what is left of the world’s remaining forests. It begins with ending the destructive harvesting methods that do not allow the forest to regenerate itself. It is going to take action from world leaders, community leaders, indigenous cultures and individuals working cooperatively in order to rescue our dying resources. There are several organizations that are working toward the conservation and restoration of rainforests and pristine old growth forests everywhere, but it takes a conscious effort from all of Earth’s citizens to truly make a change.
For more in depth information and facts about the rainforest, and several links to groups in action, visit the website:
http://www.rain-tree.com
