Why is the rainforest so important? Today we are learning to……. Describe why the rainforest is so important to us. Explain why the rainforest is being destroyed. Discuss how groups of people are trying to conserve the rainforests.

Why is the rainforest so important to us? Today we are going to learn through an activity called a Quick off the mark. Each student has an information sheet and 18 questions- read and answer the questions as quickly as you can. Use the answers to the questions to complete a piece of writing that answers the question above – be sure to use all the evidence covered in your questions to support your response. On your marks Get set Go………

Why is the rainforest so important to us? 1.Name the 6 key areas of importance. 2.How long did tropical rainforests take to evolve? 3.How many species of plants and animals do they contain? 4.Why do so many plants grow in the tropical rainforest? 5.What do the plants provide for rare animal species? 6.How much rainwater does the Amazon store? 7.How do the rainforests help to stop the increase of famine and drought? 8.How do the rainforests clean our atmosphere? 9.What does deforestation mean? 10.What percentage of carbon emissions comes from deforestation? 11.Why is the soil in the rainforest poor in nutrients? 12.How do trees help to prevent soil erosion? 13.How does deforestation cause flooding downstream? 14.What does the rainforest provide for the indigenous people? 15.How do the people cutting down the trees endanger the indigenous people? 16.What percentage of our modern medicines originate from the tropical rainforest? 17.What plants are used to treat Leukemia and Malaria? 18.Name 5 foods found in the rainforest.

Why is the rainforest so important to us? 1). Name the 6 key areas of importance. Habitat for plants and animals/regulate climate/prevent soil erosion/homes for indigenous people/rainforest pharmacy/forest products 2). How long did tropical rainforests take to evolve? million years 3). How many species of plants and animals do they contain? 30 million Why do so many plants grow in the tropical rainforest? Warm & steamy environment What do the plants provide for rare animal species? Food and shelter How much rainwater does the Amazon store? Half of the earth’s rainwater How do the rainforests help to stop the increase of famine and drought? The rainforests continually recycling huge quantities of water, feeding the rivers, lakes and irrigation systems, How do the rainforests clean our atmosphere? They absorb the carbon dioxide that we exhale, and provide the oxygen we need to breathe What does deforestation mean? Cutting down trees What percentage of carbon emissions comes from deforestation? 18-25%

11). Why is the soil in the rainforest poor in nutrients? This is because the nutrients are stored in the vast numbers of trees and plants rather than in the soil 12). How do trees help to prevent soil erosion? Tree roots bind the soil together, while the canopy protects the soil from heavy rains 13). How does deforestation cause flooding in lowland streams? The unprotected soil is then simply washed away in heavy rains, causing blockages and floods in lowland rivers 14). What does the rainforest provide for the indigenous people? food, shelter and medicines 15). How do the people cutting down the trees endanger the indigenous people? they bring diseases which the indigenous people have no resistance to, threatening their survival 16).What percentage of our modern medicines originate from the tropical rainforest? 25% 17) What plants are used to treat Leukaemia and Malaria? the rosy periwinkle, found in Madagascar, is used to cure leukaemia, while the anti malarial drug quinine is taken from the bark of the Andean cinchona tree 18). Name 5 products found in the rainforest. nuts, bananas, coffee and spices, and industrial products such as rubber, resins and fibres, were originally found in tropical rainforests.