THE EFFECTS THAT CLIMATE CHANGE HAS ON AUSTRALIA’S TROPICAL RAINFORESTS BY TODD WOODWARD AND SAM BRAYSHAW

TROPICAL RAINFORESTS Tropical rainforests cover approximately 900,000 square hectares of Australia and contain many different types of flora and fauna. Tropical rainforest must receive 1.3 metres of rain per year to be classed as a rainforest. Australia’s tropical rainforests are known as being one of the most ecologically fascinating natural areas in the world. The Daintree tropical rainforest is situated near Cairns in Queensland and is one of the most famous tropical rainforests in the world.

ANIMALS IN TROPICAL RAINFOREST The Australian tropical rainforests have a wide variety of animals living in them. Some of the animals found in the Australian tropical rainforests are birds, reptiles, marsupials and insects including a variety of butterflies. The animals are important for the tropical rainforests especially the birds because they spread rainforest plant seeds throughout the rainforests. The animals are protected in these tropical rainforests because the forests are protected within the world heritage sites.

PLANT LIFE IN AUSTRALIAN TROPICAL RAINFORESTS Australia’s tropical rainforests are great because of their wide range of plant life. Although the shape, size and texture of the leaves of trees and plants in the tropical rainforests differ their colour is usually always green. Australian tropical rainforest plants are beautiful and fascinating and are a source of food and medicine. The Daintree tropical rainforest in Queensland is home to the widest range of plant life that is threatened with extinction in the world. The Daintree rainforest has 12 primitive plant families.

TROPICAL RAINFOREST LOCATIONS IN AUSTRALIA Australian tropical rainforest locations in Australia.

THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AUSTRALIAN TROPICAL RAINFORESTS Global climate change is effecting Australia’s tropical rainforests in a very serious manner even to the point where they may even become extinct. With the decrease in rainfall the conditions in the tropical rainforests will change. Most plant life in tropical rainforests require a tropical environment to survive. Flora and fauna will be threatened by the higher temperature. Deforestation also threatens the flora and fauna of Australian tropical rainforests. Trees take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. This process cuts down pollution.

Drought will threaten the existence of the flora and fauna in the rainforests. Forest fires will be more frequent due to the higher temperatures and the lack of rain. Plants and animals will be destroyed. More flooding will occur because of the rising sea level. Climate change will cause more severe winds and cyclones that will cause damage to the tropical rainforests of Australia. Temperature change in the tropical rainforests will cause animals to relocate

Pollution caused by humans releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere will damage the Australian tropical rainforests. If climate change destroys flora and fauna in the Australian tropical rainforests tourist numbers will decrease and the economy will be effected. Climate change disrupts the ecosystem and the tropical rainforest becomes vulnerable to weeds, feral animals and disease. The cloud base will rise in altitude because of climate change resulting in less cloud striping in the tropical rainforests.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AUSTRALIAN TROPICAL RAINFORESTS To reduce the impact of climate change Australian’s need to reduce greenhouse pollution. Participating in the carbon pollution reduction scheme is essential. Australian’s can find alternative electrical supply. An example of this is wind turbines. We must all reduce our carbon footprint by driving less, using less water at home and using less electricity.

We must protect Australian tropical rainforests from deforestation. Australian tropical rainforests need to be made more resilient to higher temperatures and changing rainfall. We need to increase awareness of the damage human behaviour has on climate change.

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