...over the present day characteristics of biomes of tropical regions. For some, they are seen as a natural response to the climate of the area, whereas for others they are regarded as a product of human interference. Discuss the statement in the context of the tropical biome you have studied. [40] A tropical rainforest is an ecosystem type that occurs roughly within the latitudes 28 degrees north or south of the equator (in the equatorial zone between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn). This ecosystem experiences high average temperatures and a significant amount of rainfall. In particular, I will be focusing on Borneo Rainforest, which is the oldest rainforest in the world. The island is divided among three countries (figure 1): Malaysia and Brunei in the north, and Indonesia to the south. Approximately 73% of the island is Indonesian territory. In the north, the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak make up about 26% of the island. Climate is the average weather the region receives over a 30 year period. Climate can be on a global scale or a local scale, for instance where it is mountainous more rainfall is generated therefore that region sees a different climate to perhaps a neighbouring region. Aspect and altitude also affects climate, which will be explored in greater detail. The purpose of this essay is to explore whether the natural, climatic factors have influenced the characteristics of the rainforest, or whether humans have had an influence on it. I...
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...Deforestation has become a serious global issue which is resulting in many negative effects such as a loss of biodiversity, land erosion and climate change. Deforestation can be broadly defined as “forest conversion and different types of degradation that reduce forest quality” (Sven, 2000). The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) provides a narrow definition: “depletion of tree crown cover to less than 10% as the deforestation” (FAO, 1993: 10). Forests play a significant role in humanity’s life. According to the World Rainforest Movement (1998), 25% of medicines come from the forests. Moreover, over the past 8000 years, about 5000 square miles of forest has been cut down annually (Rochen, 2008; Seitz, 2008). There are three main causes which lead to the deforestation: logging, overpopulation and road construction. This essay will examine each cause and evaluate the effects. It will begin with discussing the causes of deforestation. Next, it will examine the serious effects. Industrial logging is one of the most significant causes of deforestation. According to Phelps (2005), industrial logging is the clearance of trees for commercial purposes. In West Africa, over the past 40 years, about 2800-3500km² forests have been logged every year (Middleton, 2008). The peasants in Africa play an important role but it is modern industry that cut down so many trees. For example, as Heller (2001) found, every year more than 800 square miles of trees disappear due to the demand of paper...
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...May 9, 2010 Stephanie Gordon Natural Resources and Energy Paper In most tropical countries, only one tree is being replanted for every 10 cut down (Iowa Public Television, 1995-2010). Tropical rainforests “cover about 2% of earth’s surface, but house over half of world’s plant and animal species…” (Iowa Public Television, 1995-2010). Rainforests are vanishing quickly off the earth; over half have been destroyed in the last 10 years. While undefined, there are effects on the tropical rainforest based upon growing human population. There are proper management practices for conservation of natural resources but it is still necessary to determine the risks and benefits of extracting energy. Throughout this essay these points will all be discussed. Effects of Human Population Human population growth directly impacts the natural environment, natural resources, and ecosystems. The majority of tropical rainforests are located in moderately developed and developing nations that are experiencing exponential population growth. Wright maintains that 95% of the world’s population growth is occurring in developing nations at a rate of 1.5% annually, adding 75 million in a year (2008). Population growth adds pressures to natural resources as the need for living space, agricultural land and, food supplies increases. The biggest and most devastating effect of population growth in the Tropical Rainforest is deforestation, causing loss of habitat for wild species and irreversible...
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...The first question that arises when it comes to the story of forest fires is: What exactly is fire? This question can simply be answered that it is a chemical reaction involving fuel, oxygen and heat. The molecules of a combustible substance move around at an ever more rapid pace as the substance heats until it ultimately combusts totally. When this combustion takes place, the chemicals in whatever substance is being heated are broken down and combined with the oxygen present in the air, with the substance acting as the fuel. This combination causes two things to occur, heat and light, which is essentially fire. The intensity of fire is determined by the amount of fuel present, and as the heat increases, so does the rate of its spreading to other fuel sources. The next question to ponder is: What is the cause of forest fires? While the famous “Smokey the Bear” may tell us that only we can stop forest fires, the truth is that the overwhelming majority of forest fires are caused by lightning. There are other natural causes that can spark forest fires as well. Falling rocks can cause small sparks to be created, which in turn can light piles of dried out kindling such as twigs. Superheated lava from volcanoes can also engulf nearby forests, as can the superheated air caused by an eruption. However, as we all know humans can also cause forest fires. Sometimes these fires are started by accident, and sometimes on purpose. There is a myriad of different fuels that allow a forest...
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...Rainforest Ecosystem Functions Ben Barr, Melodie Ocampo, Marline Pierre, Martha Tejada BSBH/ENV100 October 17, 2011 Wendy Armstrong Rainforest Ecosystem Functions The rain forest can be believed to be a living organism; they are a forest categorized by the amount of rain that falls throughout the year. Rainforest are some of this planet’s most complex ecosystems. “They once covered 14% of the earth's land surface and now they cover a mere 6%” (RainTree, 2010). Nonetheless, more than half of plant and animal species make it their home. It is home to some magnificent creatures and even some unidentified species. The largest part of the plants and animals that exist in the rainforest are endemic, which means they do not live anywhere else in the world. For this paper, Team C will discover the different aspect of the rainforest; also, how it functions within itself. Rainforest Climate The rainforest climate is humid, and has rain most of the time. Michael, (2001),"The sun warms the land and sea and the water evaporates into the air. The warm air can hold a lot of water vapor. As the air rises, it cools. That means it can hold less water vapor” (para. 1). When the warm meets, the cold vapor happens, clouds produced, and clouds make rain. Adapting to the climate the plants make up the underlining of the rainforest. Moreover, the rainforest is hot because of where it is to the equator. In addition, its plant life will die out if the temperature...
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...Gilliland1 The New Guinea Rainforest By: Maranda Gilliland Gilliland2 Maranda Gilliland Ms. Percefull Introduction to Geography 4 01 2012 The New Guinea Rainforest The island of New Guinea is the second largest island in the world. It is located one hundred kilometers north of Australia. It also has one of the largest tropical rainforests in the world, and is one of the last remaining expanses of tropical rainforest left in the world. The New Guinea Island still has parts that have been untouched and in some places on the island, the natives have never seen a white person. The rainforest however is being rapidly developed in the areas that are accessible. In the rainforest there are a large variety of plants and animals that are only found in this location. This is one thing that makes the New Guinea rainforest so special and unique. It is definitely a place worth preserving. It is also one of the few places on earth that the indigenous people still live on the land. There is a threat to the forest and all that inhabit it. People are logging and mining the forest, which is destroying it. If it is allowed to be destroyed and demolished, thousands of species of rare plants and animals along with homes of the people who live there will be destroyed along with it. The New Guinea Rainforest along with all other rainforest has life in it that should be protected, the destruction of the forest has dire consequences and effects on everyone, whether we realize it or not...
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... Introduction The year 2011 is ‘The International Year of Forests’. This designation has generated momentum bringing greater attention to the forests worldwide. Forests cover almost a third of the earth’s land surface providing many environmental benefits including a major role in the hydrologic cycle, soil conservation, prevention of climate change and preservation of biodiversity. Forest resources can provide long-term national economic benefits. For example, at least 145 countries of the world are currently involved in wood production. At the same time, Sufficient evidence is also available that the whole world is facing an environmental crisis on account of heavy deforestation. Nobody knows exactly how much of the world’s rainforests have already been destroyed and continue to be razed each year. Deforestation is a major issue in today’s era. In the name of modernization, man has cut down trees in great numbers that has lead to the destruction of great forests and the lives of many animals and plant species. We fail to realize that trees are the most important aspects of our planet and the existence of tress does play a vital role. 2. What is Deforestation Deforestation is the conversion of forest to an alternative permanent non-forested land use such as agriculture, grazing or urban development. Deforestation is the permanent devastation of native forests and woods. Deforestation is affecting our environment and the way our earth appears. At...
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...Daniel Katz, the co-founder of Rainforest Alliance in 1986 and the current Programs Director for The Overbrook Foundation. He started his work almost 30 years ago at a time where there were very few organizations dedicated to the protection of rainforests and very few people actually knew of the growing problem of deforestation. In fact, he was laughed at by family and friends and generally known as a tree-hugger. However, through pursuing his passion, he co-founded what was at the time known as the New York Rainforest Alliance (which later went international) and started a nonprofit that would grow to become one of the leaders of change for tropical forests. Rainforest Alliance worked very differently than other nonprofits. They strictly stayed away from policy making and simple boycotts. Instead, they tried to find solutions to problems for all parties involved. They worked with the corporations to try to ensure their products were following guidelines and worked with the farmers and workers in these rainforests to ensure that their livelihoods were still in place. Rainforest Alliance's main attraction for companies was the frog symbol that companies could place on their products should they meet all standards required. Doing so insures a stronger rainforest which leads to a healthier planet as well as helps bring in new customers who support the frog for the companies. Katz hopes to continue growing the support for the protection of rainforests throughout the world and dreams...
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...Chapter 1: The World of the Forest * Ituri Forest – Northeast corner of the Belgian Congo * Stanley’s Dark Continent – * country he loved and hated * scene of ill-fated expedition to relieve Emin Pasha * Emin Pasha – expedition costing hundreds of lives and imposing hardships on survivors trekked across great forest three times, losing more lives each time through fighting, sickness and desertion * Outsiders: All came from open country full of plains, sunlight and warmth – thus people who visited the Ituri and feel overpowered by damp air, drying out between violent storms, and remoteness and loneliness * For those who live there: cool, restful, shady world with light filtered hazily through the trees. No silence to them: forest full of exciting and mysterious sounds * Believe cry high up in trees is the chameleon telling them honey is nearby (scientists say chameleons are unable to make these sounds) * World of forest is closed, possessive, and hostile to those who do not understand it. * May think it hostile to humans because in every village, people have fear of forest * Villagers are friendly and hospitable to strangers, offering them the best of whatever food they have and clearing out a house where the traveler can rest in comfort and safety * Villages set among plantations in clearings cut from heart of forest – it is from the plantations that food comes, not from forest, and for villagers life is a constant...
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...loose weight that I had gained over the years, and a friend pointed out these new supplements that were trending for weight loss (McHugh). At first when I heard about them I didn’t think it was going to work, especially since supplements for weight loss don’t really work that well. While doing my general research I found out that not only was it used for weight loss but many other uses as well. The main use for it in the states was for weight loss and it was a hit or miss type of deal. Learning about the acai berry because of weight loss intrigued me and finding out it was an organic compound worked out perfectly for the organic chemistry research paper. The acai berry was first discovered in the Amazon Rainforest in South America by a tribe that lived in the rainforest. The people of the Amazon used the berry as a main food source in their diet because they soon realized how much of an impact the nutrients and antioxidants in the berry affected their health. They believed that the berry would help them live a long healthy life and also discovered the medicinal benefits of the fruit as well ("Active Acai Berry Supplement."). They also found out it improved their immune system and were able to not get sick as much or as fast compared to when they didn’t eat they acai berries. They were stronger and felt more energetic and were able to fight off...
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...Deforestation of Tropical Rainforests Gabriel Corbeil ENV/GEO 120 March 20, 2015 Introduction: Tropical rainforests represent an important percentage of the globes biodiversity. This ecosystem is estimated to house 50% of all plant, insect and animal life. Covering less than 7% of Earth’s surface, it nonetheless is attributed with producing 20% of our oxygen supply. This unique biome arcs like a green arrow along the equatorial line. Its primary locations are South America, Central Africa and South-East Asia. Each region is facing varying degrees of serious deforestation. The result being widespread loss of humid tropical forest “Between 1990 and 1997, 5.8 ± 1.4 million hectares of humid tropical forest were lost each year, with a further 2.3 ± 0.7 million hectares of forest visibly degraded.” (Achard et al. 2002) The heart of the problem lies beneath a tangled mess of socio-economic growth resulting in massive deforestation chiefly for the land. Commercial farmers using the land for cattle, soybeans, palm oil and monoculture tree farms take advantage of loose government regulations. The most common tactic for land for forest removal is “slash and burn” where existing vegetation is cut down and burned for fertilizer. This technique has major impacts on multiple cycles key to forest health. Most notably the hydrological cycle, the nitrogen cycle and the carbon cycle. If this trend continues there will be major changes in precipitation and air quality, both locally and globally...
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...forests are located near the equator. Rain forests have a tropical wet climate and are quite humid all the time. The yearly rainfall is often more than 100 inches a year. Tropical rainforests produce almost half of the oxygen on earth. Scientists say that more than half of all the world's plant and animal species live in tropical rain forests. Rainforests only cover less than 6% of Earth's land surface. The rain forest is home to the greatest biodiversity on the planet. The rainforest is home to many endangered animals and has more kinds of trees than any other place on the planet. A few of the massive amounts of endangered animals include primates, big cats, frogs and birds. Critically endangered animals include the Sumatran tiger, Brown Spider Sumatran, Orangutan Monkey, the Golden Mantella, Panamanian Golden Frog, and the Pygmy Three-toed Sloth. The rainforest is home to more than two thirds of the worlds plant species. Rainforest plants have to live in a warm humid environment. Rainforest plants include orchids, carnivorous plants, and Epiphytes. Orchids are the largest family of plants in the world. There are many different species that range greatly in size with some petals getting as long as 2 ½ ft long. Orchids come in every color, except black and can grow anywhere and on anything, like rocks, underground and on other plants and trees. Epiphytes also known as air plants, can be found everywhere in the rainforest but are mostly found on branches, trunks, and sometimes...
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...climates and organisms. In Miller and Levine Biology, 10 biomes are discussed. They are the Tropical Rain Forest, Tropical Dry Forest, Tropical Grassland, the Desert, Temperate Grassland, Temperate Woodland, Temperate Forest, Northwestern Coniferous Forest, Boreal Forest, and the Tundra. They all have a vast amount of differences between all of the biomes, and they will be discussed. Although not discussed in the book, the taiga is the biggest biome. The average temperature of the taiga is 32 degrees fahrenheit with about 12 to 33 inches of precipitation per year. There is little diversity in plant life. A few broad leaf tree species live in the taiga but mostly evergreen trees are the only ones that have adapted to really thrive in this environment. There are some animals that have adapted to live in the cold and snowy environment. A predator called the ermine has a thick coat of dark fur that turns white in the winter. The snowshoe rabbit also has a fur that turns white in the winter. The wolverine is able to mate during ideal conditions by delayed implantation in which they suspend dormant fertilized eggs until the conditions are ideal for bearing their young. Rainforests are the most diverse having more than 15 million species living in the biome. The rainforest biome is sometimes separated into two different biomes. They are referred to as tropical and temperate. The tropical rainforests are located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. More than half are...
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...Patricia Wilkerson SCI201-1403A-09 Phase 1 (DB2) Prof Tanyi Obenson July 11, 2014 Sustainability is a way of having and controlling the resources that we need to survive for now and in the future. Stewardship is the moral and ethical structure that informs the public and the government of what is happening and what needs to be done to correct it. Amazon Rainforest has issues because of commercial agriculture. Many of the trees are being cut down in order to grow their crops. They cut the trees down then burn the land. They then put fertilizer down to help the ground grow their plants. Sometime the fertilizer washes into the nearby stream. This affects the fishes and the other living things in the stream. Another issues is the cattle pastures that they put on the land is destroying the land. The movement of the castles over the land causes the soil to become dense. When the soil becomes dense it kills the root of the grass. Stewardship and Sustainability is very important for the Amazon Rainforest to survive. We all need to have someone direct us to what is needed to be done to keep the Amazon Rainforest from being destroyed by deforestation. We will all have to do what we can do to help with the sustainability of the Amazon by curving some of the deformation of the forest. We all got to remember that Amazon Rainforest’s forests absorb greenhouse gases, methane emissions, and nitrous oxide emissions. This helps to filter the air that we all needs to breathe. When mankind...
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...agriculture, wildfire or timber harvest.” In other words, it can be described as the clearing of trees. It may not seem like an issue that is severe, but when it comes down to it, the clearing of trees tends to affect the ecosystem in a number of ways. It is important to keep in mind that deforestation does not only occur in the United States, it is a big problem in the Brazilian and Bolivian Amazons. In addition, deforestation threatens our climate as well as the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people that rely on forests for food and economic activity (Greenpeace). Forests also serve as habitats to rare and undiscovered animal and plant species and play a key role in providing water and preventing flooding and erosion (Greenpeace). Tropical rainforests are diverse ecosystems that are home to millions of species. These forests continue to shrink as they are exploited for wood and cleared...
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