Tropical Forests
Introduction
A tropical rainforest is defined as a biome that is found approximately twenty five degrees south or north of the equator. These types of forests are mainly found in Central America, Mexico, Australia, Asia and South America. One example of a tropical rainforest is the Brazilian rainforest that is gradually being lost due to logging and deforestation. Since 1970, more that 600,000 square kilometers of Brazilian rainforest has been destroyed.
Discussion
Tropical deforestation threatens the sustainability of ecosystems and human societies depending on these ecosystems. First of all, deforestation leads to increased flooding and soil erosion which leads to loss of nutrients required to sustain crops. It is also evident that deforestation of tropical rainforest leads to decrease in precipitation and evapo-transpiration. Rainfall is important in sustaining different ecosystems and the human societies dependent on these ecosystems. Decreased precipitation also leads to extension of dry season which leads to self-perpetuating deforestation. Deforestation may also lead to global warming impact that may greatly affect biological ecosystems and human societies (Spray and Moran, 2006).
Logging of Brazilian rainforest has led to loss of diversity in the region. Brazil has approximately a third of the remaining species of rainforests in the world. Unfortunately, the region is also one of the greatest rainforest destroyers globally. Hence, logging leads to extinction of both plant and animal species hence loss of biodiversity.It is also clear that indigenous human societies living in the tropical rainforest regions make use of several tree species found in the Amazon rainforest for medicinal purposes. Logging therefore, leads to destruction of these tree species and indigenous societies lack resources for medicinal purposes (Spray, 2006).
Sustainable agriculture in the land that was formerly tropical rainforest can be enhanced by practicing good land husbandry. This will help to minimize soil erosion and also reduce landslides and flooding. Sustainability of agriculture may also be enhanced if shifting cultivation occurs at subsistence level. Cash cropping should be limited and agriculture should aim at supporting a stable population. It is also essential to use hand tools for cultivation. This is because the use of power tools for cultivation and clearing may lead to deforestation (Spray, 2006).
Biodiversity loss in the Amazon regions such as the Brazil region may impact humans on both global and local scales. Some tree species especially from secondary forest satisfy most of the needs of local communities, which means that biodiversity has a great impact on a local scale. The other fact is that some species attract tourists from several countries globally. Moreover, biodiversity itself is a form of tourist attraction. This shows that biodiversity has a great impact on the global scale. Biodiversity also enables production of domestic animals and plants that can be utilized in finding new pharmaceuticals and industrialized nations will be the major beneficiaries of these new pharmaceutical products (Spray, 2006).
The best solution to curb deforestation and logging of tropical rainforests is to advocate for the use of plantations established on deforested land as the source of timber instead of deriving timber from natural forests. The other solution is to ban the use of tropical timber. This ban will help save the tropical rainforests from logging and deforestation. Hence, the Brazilian government and other world governments should work towards implementing tropical timber bans (Spray, 2006).
Conclusion
Tropical rainforests such as the Brazilian tropical rainforest are important biological resources that need to be sustained and conserved. This is because they play a major role in maintaining biological biodiversity and attracting rainfall. Moreover, the tree species are pharmaceutical resources. Hence, it is essential for governments to implement measures that can help to preserve tropical rainforests.
Reference
Spray, S. L, & Moran, M. D. (2006) Tropical deforestation. Rowman & Littlefield
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