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Tropical forests
Tropical forests help to maintain a balanced climate because
of the huge and intense effect of the forests respiration. Large
amounts of oxygen, carbon-diioxide and water- vapour are circulated
in the atmosphere due to the respiration of the trees. Because
of the cutting down of so many trees there is a build up of CO2
and Carbon-Monoxide (from car exhausts), Sulphur-dioxide and
Nitrous-oxides (from factones), all of which is contributing
to the warming-up of the Earth - which we call the Green-house
Effect
The forests regulate fresh-water i.e., the
rivers and lakes, in the local regions. In northern Europe and
north America factory smoke is combining with the clouds to form
Acid Rain which is destroying our lakes and rivers.
A great diversity of plants and animals are
to be found in the forests This store of different species of
plants and animals could become very important in the future
production of food and medicines.
The tropical forests produce very high quality
hardwood timber for the construction and craft industries. They
provide the only source of fuel-wood for cooking for 2 billion
human-beings.
Deforestation
Because of increased population growth in tropical countries
there has been a greater need for agricultural land for food
production.
Roads, railways, dams and mining cause great
damage to forests.
Felling all the trees for timber means the
forest is left unprotected and will not be able to regenerate
itself
A lot of the timber-felling is happening to
pay off foreign debts.
Conservation
Strategies which are helping in the protection of tropical forests
are:
using
timber from managed forests, that is from forests where ant'
some frees are felled and replanting takes place.
using
good quality softwood treated with preservatives instead of hardwoods
from the tropical forests.
using
native hardwoods instead of imported hardwooods.
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