Rain Forests Web Quest
Go to: http://www.rain-tree.com/schoolreports.htm (main page)
Click “Rain tree’s Rainforest Facts”
1. What percentage of the Earth’s land did rainforests once cover and what percentage do they cover
today.
Did cover 14% and now covers 6%
2. How many acres of land is lost every second? One and a half acres
3. What kind of equipment do loggers use?
They use chainsaws, bulldozers and fires are used to clear rainforests.
4. Five centuries ago how many Indians were living in the Amazon Rainforest and how many exist
there today?
Ten million used to live there and now there are less than 200,000.
Click “Rainforest Information”
1. Click the box “Rainforests” and write the two types of rainforests, as well as the differences between
them.
Temperate and Tropical rainforests. Tropical are close to the equator and temperate are found
along coasts in the Pacific Northwest of the US or Canada in the temperate zone.
Go back to the main page and click “Plant Based Drugs and Medicines”
1. How many chemical substances are derived from plants? 120
2. Go down to the following table and list four plants and their clinical use.
There are over 50 plants to choose from the list.
3. On the table find the drug Betulinic acid and click it. Explain what it is supposed to do, if it has
shown positive results and what tree it comes from.
Found to selectively kill human melanoma cells, while leaving healthy cells alive and is found in the
bark of white birch trees.
Go back to the main page and scroll down to “Current Events – what’s happening now”
Then click “Current Events and News Articles”
 Next click the news article titles “New project to protect poverty stricken communities in CAR
Rainforests”
1. Summarize, in your own words, the main theme of this article.
In the Central African Republic they are logging the trees to pay the government taxes and the
poor are seeing none of this money. As well, the logging is destroying the rainforests and
depleting the area of its natural resources.
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Next click the “Go Back” arrow.
On the left side of page click the box “New Game” then click “Next”
1. Industrial logging is the biggest threat to rainforests worldwide. (click “Next”)
2. Stop the chainsaws by helping local people take action. (click “Next”)
3. Mapping is often the first step to the legal protection of Rainforests.
(click “Next”)
4. Click “Play” and see how well you do at this game.
Go back to the main page and scroll down to “Causes of rainforest destruction”
Click “Overall Causes of Deforestation”
1. List the eight direct causes of Deforestation.
 Agriculture and cattle raising
 Dams and Mega-projects
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Fires
Logging
Mangroves and shrimp farming
Oil and gas
Plantations
Mining
2. Describe the image shown on the right side of the page – what is it showing us?
Image shows a burnt down forest with only a few blackened trees standing and halo of smoke.
Go back to the main page “Causes of rainforest destruction”
Click on the second “Mining” title
1. Why are large mining companies being held responsible for serious social an environmental
damage in the Brazilian Amazon?
A depository of waste contaminated with arsine, barium and manganese that is threatening the
health of thousands of people in the state of Amapa.
Go back to the main page and scroll down to “Solutions to rainforest destruction”
Click “Sustainable Agriculture”
1. Define sustainability and then explain the importance of sustainable agriculture.
The ability of an ecosystem to maintain ecological processes and functions, biological diversity and
productivity overtime. Agriculture sustainability integrates productive agriculture, biodiversity
conversion and human development.
2. What is the Rainforest Alliance attempting to do for companies and consumers? Use examples from
“Agriculture Program Mission” for more information.
Sustainable agriculture is the centre of the Rainforest Alliances efforts conserve ecosystems by
protecting healthy soils, rivers and wildlife and by promoting dignified living conditions for farm
workers and rural communities. It has, also, prevented deforestation and careless agrochemical
use.
(Write this section of Web quest on a separate piece of paper)
Go back to the main page and scroll down to “Indigenous People and Indian Tribes of the Rainforest”
1. Choose one of the tribes, as listed, and discuss:
Tribes: Kanoe, Tembe, Tupi-Guarani, Bororo, Matese, Arara, Ava Caoeiro, Kayapo, Arawete,
Aparai, Suya, Xambioa, Wari, korubo, et cetra…
(a) Who they are and where do they live?
(b) Briefly describe their culture, including how they live.
(c) What are some of the issues facing their culture?
Go back to the main page and scroll down to “What can you do to help”
In a paragraph, discuss at least four ways that you can help protect the rainforests based on the
information given from the web page.
1. Ask your parents to buy foods -- like bananas and coffee -- that are grown in a sustainable way
-- In a way that is safe for the environment, for wildlife, and for people.
2. Ask your school to buy environmentally friendly paper.
3. Have a bake sale or school fundraiser to raise money to donate to an organization that works
to conserve rainforests.
4. Read about other children who live in and near the rainforest -- See how they and their
families depend on the plants and animals in the rainforest.
5. Tell your friends and family about how important the rainforests are, or ask your teacher to
teach your class more about rainforests.
6. Use less paper -- re-use paper instead of throwing it out. Cut it up to use as a notepad, or
recycle the paper you use. Ask your parents and teacher about how they recycle their paper.
7. Write a letter to an organization or company that is working to protect the rainforest and tell
them they’re doing a great job!
8. Look around your home for things you use or eat that originate in the rainforest -- Think
about how many things that we use every day originate in the rainforest, and how it would
affect you if they were no longer around.