Tropical Rainforests

Week 3

“You are a defense attorney arguing in court for sparing/saving an undeveloped old-growth tropical rainforest from being cleared and developed. Give your three best arguments for the defense of this ecosystem (Miller and Spoolman,2009, p. 67).”







Tropical rain forests are home to approximately half the world’s terrestrial biodiversity (Auld et al. 1995). Biodiversity provides food, nutrients and energy vital for the survival of organisms (Miller, 2009). If humans choose to clear out part of the remaining tropical rainforest for development they will rapidly raise the number of endangered and extinct species, disrupt nutrient cycles and increase the green house gases in the atmosphere. Why would humans want to destroy the earth’s beautiful, lush tropical rainforests where ecosystems have been developing for hundreds of millions of years? (Oracle Education Foundation, n.d)






• “Extinction is forever” (Miller, 2009, p.56). Human activities have a huge impact on tropical rain forests, being one of the major causes for endangered and extinct species. Destroying these areas is degrading the natural habitat of ecosystems which reduces their chance of survival. Tropical rainforests are unique areas that hold endemic species including the Sumatran orang-utan. This is a critically endangered species as its habitat has been cleared for palm oil plantations (The Australian Orang-utan Project, 2010). Species and their environment are vital for a thriving ecosystem.






• Organisms rely on nutrients to live, grow and reproduce (Miller, 2009). Tropical rainforests are densely covered in trees that recycle an abundance of water back into the atmosphere through transpiration. Clearing forests impacts on the hydrologic cycle. When there are no trees or plants to absorb water the precipitation will lead to erosion, floods and run off. Consequently reducing the amount of fresh water in the area (University of Michigan, 2008). As a result clearing the rainforest will create a drier climate as it is unlikely the forest will receive the same amount of precipitation.






• Clearing forests increases the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which affects global warming (Rainforest Facts, 2010). Too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere results in climate change causing the average temperature on earth to gradually increase (Miller, 2009). By choosing to refuse clearing, humans are reducing the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as plants absorb it through photosynthesis and to support the ecosystem.






Protecting the earth’s tropical rainforests should be a main concern for humans as they are expected to be lost in 50 years. Deciding not to develop on these unique areas will protect species, their homes, ecosystems and climate change.






Reference List



Auld, T. D., Bradstock. R.A., Keith. D. A., Kingsford. R. T., Lunney. D., & Sivertson. D. P. (1995). Conserving Biodiversity – Threats and Solutions. Chipping Norton, NSW: Surrey Beatty & Sons


Fauna and Flora International. (2010). Tropical Forests .Retrieved on August 19, 2010 from: http://www.fauna-flora.org/tropicalforest.php


Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. E. (2009). Sustaining the earth. (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brookes/Cole


Oracle Education Foundation. (n.d).Species: In the Rainforest. Retrieved on August 19, 2010 from: http://library.thinkquest.org/27257/rainforest.html


Rainforest Facts. (2010). Rainforest Destruction. Retrieved on August 19, 2010 from: http://www.rainforest-facts.com/rainforest-destruction.html


The Australian Orang-utan Project. (2010).The Australian Orang-utan Project. Retrieved on August 19, 2010 from: http://www.orangutan.org.au/palmoil.html


University of Michigan. (2008). The Tropical Rainforest. Retrieved on August 19, 2010 from: http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/kling/rainforest/rainforest.html

Week 2 Blog - Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability

Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability

 Humans are superior to other forms of life - Agree

 The earth’s irreplaceable natural capital are depleting faster than nature can renew them. Humans are superior to other forms of life because we have the brain neurons, information and technology to form scientific solutions that will allow us to live in an environmentally sustainable society (Miller and Spoolman, 2009).


  Humans are in charge of the earth - Disagree

 Humans share the environment with living and non – living things that need each other for survival. The environment provides humans with air, water, food and shelter; solar capital provides energy to the natural environment to grow and produce food. Therefore humans are not in charge of the earth (Miller and Spoolman, 2009).



 All economic growth is good - Agree


All economic growth is good as developed countries and developing countries share goods and services to become a more environmentally sustainable society. Economic growth provides people with essential goods and services that improve human living standards (Miller and Spoolman, 2009).

  The value of other forms of life depends only on whether they are useful to us - Disagree


An ecosystem (abiotic & biotic components) includes producers, consumers and detritivores that all forms of life depend on and value for survival even if they are not directly useful (Miller and Spoolman, 2009).



 Because all forms of life eventually become extinct we should not worry about whether our activities cause their premature extinction. Disagree


It is critical for humans to worry about the activities that cause premature extinction of life, as their health and survival relies on all components of an ecosystem. All forms of life would deplete rapidly if one became extinct including humans (Duke, 1996).


  All forms of life have an inherent right to exist - Agree


All forms of life were placed on the earth for a reason whether they were to produce nutrients and energy, consume other organisms or to decompose bacteria. The cycle is never ending therefore all life has a right to exist (Miller and Spoolman, 2009).



 Nature has an almost unlimited storehouse of resources for human use - Disagree



If nature had almost unlimited resources for human use there would be no reason to sustain natural capital which is crucial in today’s life.


 Technology can solve our environmental problems - Disagree


For the last billions of years nature has sustained the environment by using solar energy, biodiversity, population control and nutrient recycling. These scientific principles of sustainability will solve environmental problems rather than technology (Miller and Spoolman, 2009).






Reference List


Duke, G., & Preuss, P. (1996). Investigating Australian Ecosystems. Cambridge, UK:   Cambridge University Press.


Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. E. (2009). Sustaining the earth. (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brookes/Cole.


The University of Melbourne. (2009). What is Sustainability Research?. Retrieved August 12th, 2010 from: http://www.sustainable.unimelb.edu.au/content/pages/what-sustainability-research

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