1. The destruction of the Rain Forests
DEFORESTATION
The destruction of the Rain Forests

2. WHAT IS DEFORESTATION?
Deforestation is the cutting, clearing and removing of rain forest into pasture, cropland or plantations.
Deforestation is permanent.
It is estimated that 7.5 million hectares of rain forest are cut down every year.
This is equivalent to 20 football pitches every minute!

3. WHAT ARE THE CAUSES? Agriculture and cattle Logging Mining
Road construction
Hydroelectric power stations

4. WHAT EFFECT DOES THIS HAVE?
The plants and animals that used to live in the rain forest either die or must find a new forest to call home.
Biodiversity – Rain forests have the highest number of different species including plants, trees and insects. The number of species is now being reduced at greater rate than ever before due to deforestation.

5. Washing away of soil - the trees and their roots anchor the soil, without the trees in the rainy season the soil will get washed away.
Without nutrients in the ground the soil is becoming infertile. This is then making it difficult to farm.
Hunting becomes more difficult for the people who live there as the habitat for wildlife is lost. Traditional people's cultures are also lost.
Deforestation is thought to be a contributing factor in global climate change.

6. WHAT CAN WE DO?
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. If we recycle the products that come from trees such as paper, then we can use them over and over again. There will be a lower demand for products made from trees.
Buy from companies that are environment friendly. They don’t ruin our environment just to make money.
Try to eat less meat which requires grazing lands – another reason why forests are cleared.
Buy products made out of recycled materials.
Do not buy newspaper or magazines. Read them online.
Buy furniture and wood that is Certified. This means that the wood was legally cut down.