TROPICAL and TEMPERATE
RAINFOREST
DEFORSTATION
Definition
 The definition of deforestation is the loss of
forest land faster than it can be replenished.
Characteristics
 Approximately 53,000 square miles of
rainforest destroyed per year.
 If continues with the same rate, all the
forests are gone in 100 years.
 occurs mostly in urban areas and near
roads.
 Developing nations have minimal or nonexistent silviculture programs.
 Over half of Earth's original rainforest has
already been destroyed.
Causes - Natural
 Forest fires
 Flooding
Causes - Human
 Cutting of trees for sale as
timber or pulp.
 Clearing of forest land to
allow for farming and
animal grazing (cattle
ranching).
 Forests being removed or
destroyed by mining.
 Clearing of forest land to
replace with residential
areas (urbanization).
 Exponential population
growth.
Impacts - Atmosphere
Increase the pace of global warming -melting ice caps to increased desertification.
Micro-climate changes – shift of ecosystems.
Loss of carbon sink (trees consume – sink –
carbon).
Pollution from machinery.
Impacts - Hydrosphere
 Increased run off - Flooding.
 Stream siltation (build up of sediment).
 Alteration of the water cycle.
 Rising water temperatures.
 Increased contamination of fresh water
sources.
Impacts - Lithosphere
 Decreased infiltration rates, therefore a
potential increase in the drying of the soil.
 Soil erosion.
Impacts - Biosphere
 Many forests are being cleared for the
increased demand of biodiesel – palm oil
plantations, corn fields.
 Loss of biodiversity – survival of species.
 Species Extinction.
Solutions
 Reduce paper and wood consumption.
Pros – changes human lifestyle.
More recycling, better for the
environment.
Cons – logging industry will go down.
 Reduce beef consumption.
Pros – less cattle ranching causing no
need for more open space.
Cons – No more hamburgers for lunch.
Solutions Cont’
 Support the Rainforest Action Network.
Pros – stops different industries from
harming the rainforests.
Cons – other economies impacted.
 Educate yourself more about deforestation.
Pros – avoid doing things you know
contribute to the destruction of forests.
Cons – stops deforestation really slowly.
Examples - Globally
 Occurs in South America, Africa, and Asia.
40% of the world's deforestation happens
in South American.
Of this most is in the Amazon Basin .
Examples - Regionally
 The west coast of British Columbia is a
temperate rainforest.
 Northern Alberta’s boreal forest – Tar
Sands!!!
Alberta
END