Rain Forest :: essays research papers

Long ago, the Earth had a green belt of pelting forests around its middle that covered almost twelve percentage of the earths land surface.(Miller & Berry 3) Today, the rain forest covers deuce percent of the earths land surface and it is declining rapidly. The following will be a description of the rain forest, factors in its destruction, and if there atomic number 18 any answers to slow or halt the process. "Today, as we enter the last decade of the twentieth century, we have reached a go point we can no longer use the excuse of ignorance."(Hammond 2) citizenry need to try harder to stop rain forest depletion. There are two major areas on earth where rain forests are located. One of these areas is called "The Old World Tropics," which includes Africa and Asia. In Africa, the rain forests are primarily located around the congou tea river. The other area in which rain forests are located is called "The New World Tropics," which contains Central and So uth America. The New World tropics are in lower altitudes as opposed to the Old World tropics, which are at higher altitudes. Rain forests are located around the equator. This location of the rain forests makes them lovesome and humid all year round. There are never cold winters in the rain forests. During winter in the rain forests, people comfortably are able to wear T-shirts and shorts. The rain forest has a rainy season which usually lasts most of the year. "The rain forests of the world are home to more than half(a) of the animal species that live on earth."(CSIRO 1) Many of these creatures are some of the most beautiful and odd creatures in the world, Such as the large rodent Capybara, the Anteater, and galore(postnominal) different colorful exotic birds. There are many beautiful creatures living in our Earths rain forests. Many people are ignorant to the effects of rain forest depletion on our environment, and this ignorance is a major cause in the beginning of th e destruction of the rain forests. "European settlers exploited the rain forests for timber and exonerated them for agricultural purposes."(Parish 4) "The name scrub, which was originally applied to the rain forest by European settlers, became a term for land seen as useless until subject to ax, fire, and plough."(Parish 4) People did not think of the affects on the environment because the little knowledge that was known about the affects was not very widespread.