Deforestation

Tropical forests include dense rainforests, where rainfall is abundant year-round; seasonally moist forests, where rainfall is abundant, but seasonal; and drier, more open woodlands. Tropical forests of all varieties are disappearing rapidly as humans clear the natural landscape to make room for farms and pastures, to harvest timber for construction and fuel, and to build roads and urban areas. Although deforestation meets some human needs, it also has profound, sometimes devastating, consequences, including social conflict, extinction of plants and animals, and climate change—challenges that aren’t just local, but global. NASA supports and conducts research on tropical forests from space-based and ground-based perspectives, helping provide the information that national and international leaders need to develop strategies for sustaining human populations and preserving tropical forest biodiversity.
Impacts of Deforestation: Biodiversity Impacts


Although tropical forests cover only about 7 percent of the Earth’s dry land, they probably harbor about half of all species on Earth. Many species are so specialized to microhabitats within the forest that they can only be found in small areas. Their specialization makes them vulnerable to extinction. In addition to the species lost when an area is totally deforested, the plants and animals in the fragments of forest that remain also become increasingly vulnerable, sometimes even committed, to extinction. The edges of the fragments dry out and are buffeted by hot winds; mature rainforest trees often die standing at the margins. Cascading changes in the types of trees, plants, and insects that can survive in the fragments rapidly reduces biodiversity in the forest that remains. People may disagree about whether the extinction of other species through human action is an ethical issue, but there is little doubt about the practical problems that extinction poses.

First, global markets consume rainforest products that depend on sustainable harvesting: latex, cork, fruit, nuts, timber, fibers, spices, natural oils and resins, and medicines. In addition, the genetic diversity of tropical forests is basically the deepest end of the planetary gene pool. Hidden in the genes of plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria that have not even been discovered yet may be cures for cancer and other diseases or the key to improving the yield and nutritional quality of foods—which the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization says will be crucial for feeding the nearly ten billion people the Earth will likely need to support in coming decades. Finally, genetic diversity in the planetary gene pool is crucial for the resilience of all life on Earth to rare but catastrophic environmental events, such as meteor impacts or massive, sustained volcanism.


Soil Impacts


With all the lushness and productivity that exist in tropical forests, it can be surprising to learn that tropical soils are actually very thin and poor in nutrients. The underlying “parent” rock weathers rapidly in the tropics’ high temperatures and heavy rains, and over time, most of the minerals have washed from the soil. Nearly all the nutrient content of a tropical forest is in the living plants and the decomposing litter on the forest floor.

When an area is completely deforested for farming, the farmer typically burns the trees and vegetation to create a fertilizing layer of ash. After this slash-and-burn deforestation, the nutrient reservoir is lost, flooding and erosion rates are high, and soils often become unable to support crops in just a few years. If the area is then turned into cattle pasture, the ground may become compacted as well, slowing down or preventing forest recovery.


Social Impacts


Tropical forests are home to millions of native (indigenous) people who make their livings through subsistence agriculture, hunting and gathering, or through low-impact harvesting of forest products like rubber or nuts. Deforestation in indigenous territories by loggers, colonizers, and refugees has sometimes triggered violent conflict. Forest preservation can be socially divisive, as well. National and international governments and aid agencies struggle with questions about what level of human presence, if any, is compatible with conservation goals in tropical forests, how to balance the needs of indigenous peoples with expanding rural populations and national economic development, and whether establishing large, pristine, uninhabited protected areas—even if that means removing current residents—should be the highest priority of conservation efforts in tropical forests.

My reflection: Deforestation is people cutting down whole forests of trees, and making it even less likely for humans to survive. Trees supply oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, and hold down the soil from washing away or making landslides. The destruction and cutting down of forests is often done to clear land for farming, mining, roads, and grazing of cattle. That causes increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, a factor in global warming. By destroying the tropical forests, we risk our own quality of life, gamble with the stability of climate and local weather, threaten the existence of other species, and undermine the valuable services provided by biological diversity. This will lead to soil erosion, floods, water pollution, people who depend on natural resources for their everyday survival. Forest loss will reduces the availability of renewable resources like timber, medicinal plants, nuts and fruit, and game. This people will lose their food supply if deforestation continue. We should not be so selfish that only think about ourselves and ruin others life. Deforestation should be reduce in order to save people that are depend on the forest. While saving them, we are also doing out parts to save our earth.

Reflective Summary on Climate Change

    I learnt that climate change is cause by global warming. Global warming is about temperature rises and make the earth become warmer. Ice will melt, cause the sea level to rise and drown the surrounding. As the temperature rising it will change the ecosystem, threaten many extinct animals and species. It will also cause floods and droughts because of the extreme weather. And hurricanes will change in frequency and strength. High temperature will affect human health.

   I use to think that climate change is a natural phenomenon. But after this research, i realize that climate change is a global problem that everyone is concern about. Human is the main creator of global warming. We had creating too many greenhouse gases by deforestation, factory farming, and burning too many fossil fuels. We are also creating carbon footprint in our daily life by using electrical appliances. This will contribute to global warming and lead to climate change.

   We still have space to improve the current situation. I am glad to hear that there were many people in the world were concern about the problem and actually had did something to help. But there were also villagers still conducting deforestation, factorys were also producing many greenhouse gases. I hoped all this will be prohibit, we can use renewable energy as it can prevent global warming.

   I can improve the current situation by changing my life style such as having more outdoor activities instead of staying at home watching television. I will also urge people around me to reduce using electricity. I will used recycled products as they use less energy to manufacture.

   I suggest we should reduce our carbon footprint in our daily life such as taking public transport in order to save electricity. The government should also do their part in spreading information about the importance of stop global warming in order to prevent climate change.

 (319 words)

Climate change

The consequences of global warming Consequences for the climate




Global warming is very likely to produce other changes :

– retreat of glaciers,

– melting of pack ice,

– rise in average sea level,

– changes in precipitation patterns, resulting in floods and droughts,

– increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events such as hurricanes and cyclones,

– changes in the circulation patterns of marine currents, such as the Gulf Stream and the North-Atlantic Drift, which could result in the cooling of certain regions (Western Europe, …). (see picture 1)



Some of these change have already started and can be traced back to global warming. In particular, this is the case with the melting of glaciers. These climate changes are clearly going to have consequences on the flora and fauna. It is forecast that a large number of species are in danger of disappearing. (see picture 2)

Consequences for human beings



Besides an increase in natural catastrophes, agricultural yields could be modified and the zones where carriers of diseases such as cholera and malaria are present could be extended. Many growing populations living in tropical zones could be particularly impacted by climate change. Other populations could be displaced as a result of rising sea levels.



Whole peoples could see their way of life modified, like the Inuits of Kuujjuaq (Northern Canada) whose mayor, Larry Watt, ordered air conditioners in June 2006 after temperatures reached 31 °C !

Economic consequences



Calculations of the economic impact of global warming are very difficult to make. Some economists speak of a cost of two euros per tonne of carbon, whereas others suggest 50 euros. Among the various figures put forward, one estimates that global warming might cost up to one percentage point of economic growth. It is worth noting that banks, insurance companies, farmers and developing countries are likely to be the most exposed. However, depending on the capacity of adaptation shown by the economy and by political organisations and on possible technological revolutions triggered by the challenge of climate change, a more optimistic outlook is not to be entirely excluded.




My reflection
Climate change refers to seasonal changes over a long period of time.
The causes are greenhouse gases produce by human and deforestation. Factory pollution and carbon footprint. These will lead to global warming.The consuquences are: increasing earth temperature. Melting ice cause flooding. Temperature too high cause drought and diseases.ecosystem changing. (animal will lost their homeland and cause them to extinct)
 
Let's began to save our EARTH!
If not our children will suffer!
 
 
http://www.planete-energies.com/content/7_11_6_the_consequences.html

What is a carbon footprint? (Climate Change)

http://www.carbonfootprint.com/carbonfootprint.html 
( The website also teach you how to calculate your carbon footprint. Go and try it! It's fun! )

Before this research: What is a carbon footprint? Footprint with carbon dioxide? I know nothing about carbon footprint.

What have i learnt through this research: I learnt that carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change.It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation and other activities that using electricity.
We can reduce our carbon footprint by:
( Conservation of Electricity) Turn off all the electronic devices when not in use.
( Conservation of water ) Not to use clean water to wash the floor or planting. You can collect rain water. Use water wisely.

GLOBAL WARMING (Climate Change)

global warming

http://environment.about.com/od/faqglobalwarming/f/globalwarming.htm

Before this research: I only know that global warming is all about the Earth getting hotter and hotter. Then it will change the climate. But i don't know what cause Global warming.

After this research: I learnt that Global warming is cause by human activities. Human altered the chemical composition of the atmosphere through a buildup of greenhouse gases – primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. If we continue to produce this greenhouse gases, the rising global temperatures will cause sea level to rise and alter local climate conditions, affecting forests, crop yields, and water supplies. It may also affect human health, animals, and many types of ecosystems. Deserts may expand and some of our countryside may be permanently altered.

SAVE OUR EARTH!!