What is deforestation
What causes deforestation
How does deforestation affect us
What can we do to stop it
De + Forest = Deforestation
Deforestation refers to the cutting, clearing,
and removal of rainforest or related
ecosystems into pasture, cropland, or
plantations (Kricher, 1997).
In other words, the destruction of a rainforest.



I. Logging (for paper, etc)
II. Mining (for electricity & jewelry)
III. Oil and gas extraction
(for electricity)

IV. Cattle ranching (for meat,
milk and wool)

V. Agriculture: Cash crops
like soybeans
…tropical
rainforests, which
cover only 6-7% of
the earth's surface,
contain over half
of all the plant and
animal species in
the world!
Rainforest in Malaysia on the island of Borneo
Atlantic coast of Brazil has lost 90-95% of its
rainforest
 Central America has lost 50% of its rainforests
 South America has lost 70% of its rainforests
 Philippines has lost 90% of its rainforests
 Madagascar has lost 95% of its rainforests
 El Salvador has lost 70-85% of its rainforest
due to heavy bombing during the civil war
1984-1985
 Sumatra has only 15% of its rainforests left
 Only 6% of Central Africa's forests are
protected by law

We are losing about two U.S. football fields of
rainforests every second!
This amounts to 214,000 acres per day: an area
larger than New York City,
and 78 million acres per year: an area larger
than Poland!
On average, 137 species become extinct
everyday; or 50,000 each year!
“If the current rate of deforestation continues, all
of the world's rain forests will vanish within 100
years – causing unknown effects on global
climate and eliminating the majority of plant and
animal species on the planet”





Extinctions of plants, insects, animals, and indigenous
peoples (due to decreased habitat which causes
territorial conflicts, homelessness, lack of food
availability, migration disturbances, etc)
Soil erosion occurs when trees and plants are
removed; the rain water washes away the nutrients in
the soil
Desertification (spreading of dry, hot, arid conditions)
Climate change (more carbon dioxide is released into
the atmosphere, thus increasing the effects of global
warming)
Pollution (ground, water and air pollution from oil
extraction and mining chemicals)






Loss of culture
Loss of farmland and forest resources
Social conflicts over land and natural
resources, between ethnic groups
Poisoning from oil and mining waste
Global economic uncertainty (due to the
depletion of natural resources)
And many more!
People who live in the
rainforest depend on the
natural environment for
food, shelter, materials for
cooking, and clothing. If the
forest is cut down or if their
environment becomes
polluted from oil extraction
and mining, they are forced
to move or risk starvation
and sickness.





Always use both sides of paper when writing, drawing, photo-copying,
faxing, etc.
Use pencils until they are stubs! Think of pencils as gold (you'll never lose
them if you do)
Trees get cut down for cattle to graze. Instead of eating meat, think of
eating other sources of protein such as fish, soy, beans, whole-wheat,
and nuts.
Save electricity by turning off lights, TV, radio, and computer when you
are not using them.
Save water by NOT taking baths; instead take quick showers (turning off
the water while you soap up) and then turning it back on to rinse quickly.
While washing your hands and brushing your teeth, turn off the
water. You'll save gallons if you do.




Encourage your parents to buy furniture and wood that is
Certified. That means the wood was legally cut-down.
Buy organic fruits and vegetables. That means there are
no insecticides or pesticides (poisonous chemicals)
sprayed on the food. These chemicals are harmful to you
and to the environment.
Instead of buying gold or diamonds, which are mined and
cause environmental damage, consider jewelry that is
made from materials that are not mined... such as glass.
Whenever possible, walk, bike, carpool or use mass transit
(bus or train).
Hmmm, can you think of other ways to conserve wood, oil and gas,
electricity, minerals and elements, and water, etc...?