Deforestation of the Rainforests

            A major environmental issue that I am going to focus on today is the deforestation (cutting down) of the rainforests. I’m sure you’re wondering how a bunch of trees on the other side of the planet can actually have an impact on you here at home. Well consider this: every time you breathe your body takes in oxygen so that you can live, right? Of course it does. The rainforest is responsible for about a fourth of all the oxygen on the planet, and that’s a pretty big chunk. I don’t know about you, but the current level of oxygen is working just fine for me. I really don’t want it going anywhere.

That’s not all though! If the rainforest is producing that much oxygen that means it’s also responsible for a quarter of all the photosynthesis that is taking place on the planet. So now you’re asking yourself: why does this matter? We all know that too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a big cause of global warming. One of the biggest ways carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere is from photosynthesis, because carbon dioxide plus a few other things are what the plants use to make the oxygen in the first place. Additionally the actual process of cutting all these trees down produces a lot of carbon dioxide. So, with all those extra greenhouse gases, the world is going to get a whole lot hotter a whole lot faster.

The third reason why we have to fight to keep the rainforests is because of what they can give us. Currently, there are about 3000 different species of plants that are helpful in the fight against cancer. Of those, 70% can only be found in the rainforest. Also, 25% of the active ingredients in cancer drugs are only from the rainforest. So many people would die from cancer if we didn’t have these trees. That’s not even the crazy part though. One fourth of all the medicine we have comes from the rainforest, but scientists haven’t even tested 1% of the species available in the rainforest for their medicinal possibilities. That right there is alarming. The rainforest could very well contain the cure to cancer, and maybe even to many stronger illnesses that are gearing up for the future! Knowing that, if we aren’t willing to do something to stop destroying the rainforests then what does that say about us as a species?

Maybe Roderick Nash was right. Maybe the only way the give the rest of the earth a chance is for us to just go away into our island civilizations and leave the rest of the world alone. Maybe however, we can still do something about it. Some nations have begun to give an incentive to people who don’t clear cut the rainforests. Sure, this isn’t a permanent solution because we can’t afford to pay off everyone, but it’s a start! The fact that people are realizing the importance of these trees should give us all a little hope that it isn’t too late for this planet.

            In conclusion, the rainforest doesn’t just contain many different species on this planet; it also may contain the key to our survival. We need the rainforest to breathe, to reduce carbon dioxide levels, and to help fight disease. I’m not saying that stopping deforestation is going to fix all of our problems, but it’s a whole lot better than fixing none of our problems. One day in the future hopefully we can save this beautiful place, and maybe with a little luck, this planet too.

Sources:

http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm

http://www.ecology.com/2011/09/12/important-organism/