Amazon Rainforest



I am just boggled by the incredible amount of biodiversity in the rainforest. "A single pond in Brazil can sustain a greater variety of fish than is found in all of Europe's rivers" (Raintree Nutrition, Inc.). Europe, a small continent, has less biodiversity as far as fish are concerned than Brazil, a single country. Even more impressive is that more than "20 percent of the world oxygen" is made in the Amazon Rainforest (Raintree). More than 20% comes from just the Amazon Rainforest, not all the rainforest in the world just the Amazon Rainforest. That alone should pique the interest of anyone who likes breathing. However, according to Raintree Nutrition, Inc. (link here: http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm ) the rainforestes are disappearing at alarming rates. 



"The red areas show where the Asner-led team found
selective logging disturbance in Brazil" -Science Daily



Rainforests loss "more than 200,000 acres... every day" and the Amazon Rainforest is predicted to disappearing entirely in our lifetimes if nothing is changes. While there are some efforts made toward sustainable selective logging practices, unregulated selective harvesting of hardwoods is and has been incredibly damaging to the Amazon Rainforest. A research team lead by Carnegie scientist Gregory Asner has found that "every year unregulated selective logging of mahogany and other hardwoods destroys an area of pristine rainforest big enough to cover the state of Connecticut" (ScienceDailyLLC). Clearly, something more has to be done. The rainforests are destroyed for economic reasons, so why not protect them for economic reasons. Raintree mentions that "if medicinal plants, fruits, nuts, rubber, chocolate, and other renewable and sustainable resources are harvested, the land will yield the landowner $2,400 per acre" and can then be pasted on to support the next generation. By placing an emphasis on the value of the rainforests being renewable, slash-and-burn operations could be pushed out by more lucrative sustainable harvesting methods. This will not happen over night, and it will not happen in a world that prizes tropical hardwoods for coffins; however, it is a possibility that given the right incentive governments, companies, and citizens could save the rainforests. 


Link for Science Daily article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/10/051023123348.htm