Rainforest Depletion
...iful creatures living in our Earth's rain forests. Many people are ignorant to the effects of rain forest depletion on our environment, and this ignorance is a major cause in the beginning of the destruction of the rain forests. European settlers exploited the rain forests for timber and cleared them for agricultural purposes.(Parish 4) The name scrub, which was originally applied to the rain forest by European settlers, became a term for land seen as useless until subject to ax, fire, and plough.(Parish 4) People did not think of the affects on the environment because the little knowledge that was known about the affects was not very widespread. Another cause in the destruction of the rain forest is people's values. Many people value species according to their worth to human beings.(Miller & Berry 3) People often ignore the problems with the environment simply because they do not want to deal with it. Natural checks against over exploitation have been ignored because those who are now consuming the products of the rain forest are not those who experience the immediate effects of its degredation.(Hammond 2) Many people believe that they will not live long enough to face the consequences of the destruction but they do not realize how fast the rain forests are depleting. Recently in Borneo's Sarawak rain forest, 24 cavers and scientists are braving the rain forests elements and creatures to save the regions natural riches. The cavers and scientists are trying to find plant and animal life diverse enough to protect it from mining and to declare it a national park. Whether the government sets aside the area this year, in five years or never depends on what's discovered out there.(Webster 5) This is a case that often occurs in rain forests. Many governments see no reason to protect the rainforest unless there is an important plant or creature that lives in it. With chain saws, bulldozers, and other powerful equipment, we can bring the giant trees of the rain forest, the very symbol of strength and majesty, crashing to the ground from their lofty heights in just a few hours.(Miller & Berry 3) All of this destruction and havoc is leading our world straight into events that will threaten life on earth itself. Some of the possible results in the future if the depletion does not stop immediately are global warming and increasing ultra violet radiation as the ozone layer of the atmosphere thins. Already 80 percent of rain forest frogs and forty percent of rain forest birds are rare, declining or threatened with distinction.(Parish 4) This is eighty percent of the frogs and forty percent of the birds which are a part of the fifty percent of Earth's entire animal species. The depletion of tropical species effects much of the biodiversityof rain forests, which is the variety of living things.(Miller & Berry 3) The variety of living things and preserving their environment is very necessary in the survival of life. People sometimes become more interested in protecting individual species of animals that may be endangered than preserving the animals' habitats, which are so necessary for survival.(Miller & Berry 3) Hope in repairing the damage done to the rain forests unfortunately leads to unpleasant news. Trying to repair the damage would be like trying to put a band aid over a gaping wound. While we cannot rebuild the rain forests, scientists believe it may be possible...