Ruined Rainforests

New housing complexes, malls, a gym, an amusement park, etc., these are all reasons why our rainforests are being cut down. This is actually a big problem that needs to be dealt with. Most people don't understand the seriousness of this issue .Experts agree that by leaving the rainforests intact and harvesting it's many nuts, fruits, oil-producing plants, and medicinal plants, the rainforest has more economic value than if they were cut down to make grazing land for cattle or for timber. We are actually throwing away our money by cutting down these forests. We converted 90 percent of North America's virgin forests into firewood, shingles, furniture, railroad ties, and paper. 90 percent!!!!!!!!! That is so much!!! It's so unnecessary. Think of all of the paper, you throw away in one day. Or all of the papers your teachers hand out to you over the course of a semester. Kudos to the teachers who have everything online. My health teacher even gives us quizzes online. This is EXCELLENT. 

We need the rainforest! First of all, it's beautiful. Why would we disrupt something this gorgeous? Secondly, it gives us a lot of natural resources without being cut down. Including natural remedies for health cures, spices, basic clothing and shelter. By cutting them down, we are ruining all of the natural resources. 

Here are so more interesting rainforest facts:

1.)One and one-half acres of rainforest are lost every second with tragic consequences for both developing and industrial countries.

2.)Nearly half of the world's species of plants, animals and microorganisms will be destroyed or severely threatened over the next quarter century due to rainforest deforestation.

3.)There were an estimated ten million Indians living in the Amazonian Rainforest five centuries ago. Today there are less than 200,000.

4.)At least 3000 fruits are found in the rainforests; of these only 200 are now in use in the Western World. The Indians of the rainforest use over 2,000.

These facts are startling. We need to utilize or rainforests instead of chopping them down for shopping malls. Do what you can! Try to use a minimal amount of paper, print things only when necessary, support rainforest relief efforts! 

Resources:

http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm