What is deforestation?

Deforestation is the clearing of trees where the land is used for a non forest use. This cleared land may become farms, ranches, urban (cities), suburbs, or highways. 



Picture
  • Water Cycle in a Rain Forest
  • Through transpiration, water and minerals are transferred from the ground by the plants roots to the leaves. 
  • The plant leaves contain stomata where the exchange gas and water to the atmosphere occur.  
  • Much of that moisture in the air accumulates in clouds and is released as rain which replenishes the soil’s moisture level.
  • Transpiration is in effect a pump of water from the soil beneath the forest into the atmosphere. 
  • Half of the rainfall in the Amazon returns to the atmosphere due to transpiration (Spilsbury, 2010). 
  • If the forest is cut, the rain runoff will become rivers or a bigger body of water. This results in dry soil or drought like conditions. This drought like situations result in forest fires that further result in a depletion of the forest. Global warming can create warmer air and drier trees create ideal conditions for forest fires. (Spilsbury, 2010). 
Activity-
"What Came First- the Water or the Rain Forest?"  (About 3 minutes) 
After watching this you tube video, draw and write a paragraph explaining the water cycle in a rain forest. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3OWgb0Bv-A)
Videos and Activities-
Check out these great videos on the greenhouse effect and carbon travels.

Why are rain forest so important?

Rain forest are important because...
  • They are the lungs of the earth. Trees and plants absorb the carbon dioxide and release oxygen for people and animals need to survive.
  • They provide homes for large number of plants and animals.
  • They help prevent floods and droughts.
  • They play a major role in the water cycle.
  • They provide medicines and foods. 
Pictures of the Amazon from Mongabay.
 You Tube documentary on Brazil rain forest (45 min)
Some pictures of deforestation and a short quiz.
Deforestation in the Amazon (5 min)
United Nations (a group of world leaders) and some important scientist try to stop deforestation and to rebuild the forest so they came up with the REDD plan. Some people question whether this plan would help prevent deforestation.

Taking Root
  
Is an Ohio local organization for the prevention of deforestation. To find out more about this organization and the crisis watch the video clip below (5 minutes).
References;

Spilsbury, R. (2010). Deforestation crisis. New York, NY: Rosen Central.