45 Percent Of Asia's Rain Forest example essay topic

Michael McAfee Geography 6: 10 -9: 00 pm July 27, 2003 The Jungle is Neutral. The jungle is neutral, so why do we hurt it? Throughout the ages the jungle has been left untouched. It was harsh and inaccessible due to its remote locations and almost unbearable heat and insects. It was a thing of mystery, where humans were unwelcome. As the twentieth century arrived though, humans started to take interest in the rare and extremely diverse biome.

The jungle which can be found in 50 different countries, on five continents and which makes up approximately 8.3 percent of the earths surface is under attack (McKnight and Hess, p. 322). Not only do biologists think the jungle houses up to half of the world's species, the jungle is also a key recycler of the green house gas carbon monoxide. Humans have exploited the jungles of the world at an alarming pace. Some 51 acres a minute; 74,000 acres per day; 27 million acres per year are destroyed (McKnight and Hess, p. 322). More then half of the original African rain forest is now gone, about 45 percent of Asia's rain forest no longer exists, and the proportion in Latin America is approaching 40 percent (McKnight and Hess, p. 322). The rate of deforestation is highest in Asia due to commercial timber exploitation, but West Africa is not far behind with 90 percent of Nigeria's forests cleared and 8 o percent of Ghana's (McKnight and Hess, p. 322).

There is no disputing the fact that the resources from the jungles of the world have led to a better quality of human life. But these are only short term gains for the countries. Once the land is clear sure there is a short nutrient boost that lasts for about 2-3 years, but then what? The fields stop producing; grassy pastures that were used for grazing are taken over by weeds. Mass erosion starts and never seems to stop.

In the end all you are left with is dirt, barren dirt and rocks. Where are all the gains? They stopped long ago. That is not even the worst part; think about what else we lose? The pharmaceutical products and new food crops, even natural insecticides that we have yet to discover.

All may not be lost though. Bit by bit the countries of the world are trying to cope. Agroforestry, the planting of crops with trees instead of cutting them down is being developed in many areas. Also countries such as Brazil are setting aside tropical rainforest land as reserves, so that it is not strip cleared and laid to waste. Will it be enough, only time will tell?

Bibliography

McKnight & Hess (2002). Physical Geography, A landscape appreciation. (7 the. ). Prentice Hall.