Climate Change: Deforestation in The Tropical Rainforest


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  • Worldwide there are 300million indigenous people, and approximately 50 million of them live in tropical forests. They rely almost exclusively on the forests for their survival needs.

  • Experts agree that by leaving the rainforests together and harvesting it's many nuts, fruits, oil-producing plants, and medicinal plants, the rainforest has more economic value than if they were cut down to make grazing land for cattle or for timber.
  • The latest statistics show that rainforest land changed to cattle operations yields the land owner $60 per acre and if timber is harvested, the land is worth $400 per acre. However, if these renewable and sustainable resources are harvested, the land will yield the land owner $2,400 per acre.
  • If managed correctly, the rainforest can provide the world's need for these natural resources on a permanent basis.
  • Promoting the use of these sustainable and renewable sources could stop the destruction of the rainforests. By creating a new source of income harvesting the medicinal plants, fruits nuts, oil and other sustainable resources, the rainforests is be more valuable alive than cut and burned.
  • Sufficient demand of sustainable and ecologically harvested rainforest products is needed for protection efforts to be successful. Purchasing sustainable rainforest products can affect positive change by creating a market for these products while supporting the native people's economy; also it provides the economic solution and alternative to cutting down the forest just for the value of its timber.