Importance and Destruction of Rainforests

Study Notes

Importance of Rainforests

Provide a home to a vast array of plants and animals, with many species found nowhere else on Earth.
Hold millions of unique plants and animals, contributing significantly to the rich biodiversity of our planet, with new species still being discovered.
Help stabilize the world’s climate by absorbing carbon dioxide, producing oxygen, and regulating the water cycle, making them a vital component in the fight against climate change.
Protect against flood, drought, and erosion by maintaining soil quality, preventing landslides, and regulating water flows, thereby preserving ecosystems and human settlements.
Serve as a rich source for food, with many staple crops, fruits, and medicinal plants originating from rainforests, providing sustenance and livelihoods for countless people.
Support tribal people, who have lived in harmony with these ecosystems for centuries, preserving their cultural heritage and traditional ways of life.

Destruction of Rainforests

Logging: millions of hectares are cut down every year, often illegally
Mining: companies cut down trees to extract gold and other minerals
Agriculture: land for poor farmers who do not have anywhere else to live
Grazing of cattle
Road construction

Effects of Rainforest Destruction

Extinction of plants and animals
Shortage of valuable food products
Soils and nutrients are washed away, and forest cannot grow again

Human Environment Interaction

Human-environmental interaction is the connection between human society and the environment
It is a complex system due to the fact both society and the environment have many elements
Human-environment interaction affects human life, as society impacts the environment in everyday activities

Human Dependence on the Environment

Humanity depends on the environment for resources and services
Essential resources and services include food, water, climate, and raw materials

Human Adaptation to the Environment

Adaptation occurs due to different factors, such as climate and physical environment
Civilizations adapt to the climate they are located in or the physical environment they are faced with

Human Modification of the Environment

Human activities lead to changes in the environment
Society modifies the environment through deforestation, agriculture, and building dams for development

Description

This quiz covers the significance of rainforests in maintaining biodiversity, climate, and supporting indigenous communities, as well as the threats they face from human activities such as logging and mining.