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