Management Of Tropical Rainforest

Managing Global Ecosystems

• Woodlands and forests throughout the world are under threat from being cut down for a variety of reasons.

• Therefore management is becoming increasingly important.

• The main method of management is called sustainability.

• This means that the forests are used, but in a way which does not affect their long-term growth.

• Workers carefully harvest the trees and their resources.

• The trees that have been used are then replaced.

Managing Global Ecosystems

• It is essential that the governments of the countries where there are still large areas of forest be persuaded not to allow them to be cut down.

• Unfortunately it is not that easy, as the forests often represent a lucrative short-term economic resource for the country.

Effects Of Clearance On Nutrient Cycle

• The soils of the tropical rainforest seem to be very fertile, as they support a wide range of plants and animals.

• However that is not actually the case.• The vegetation itself produces most of the nutrients that are

then re-used. • There is rapid leaf fall and this is quickly decomposed in the

hot and humid conditions, creating a deep and nutrient rich humus layer.

• By removing the trees, humans have also removed the main source of nutrients in the soil.

• Consequently when areas have been cleared for agriculture, the soils have quickly become infertile and useless.

Effects Of Clearance On Global Climates

• Trees absorb carbon dioxide and convert it back into oxygen, ready for animals to breathe. }

• They are effectively the lungs of the world and are therefore very important.

• By chopping down vast areas of both the rainforests and deciduous woodlands, less carbon dioxide can be processed, meaning that there is more in the atmosphere.

• In turn, this increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is one of the suspected causes of global warming.

Effects Of Clearance On Plants/Animals

• The tropical rainforests are home to countless species of animals and plants, some of which may not have been discovered yet.

• By chopping down the trees, the habitats of these plants and animals are being destroyed and they will die.

• The rainforests provide a huge range of foods and medicines that are essential for humans, and these are also being lost due to the deforestation.