The World's Shrinking Rainforests

Name: _________________________________       Date: _____________

The world's rainforests are living treasure chests. They're home to an amazing biodiversity and are rich in natural resources, foods, and medicines. Sadly, deforestation continues to take a huge toll on rainforests around the world. On average, about 1.5 acres of precious rainforest are lost every second of every day. It's possible the forests may be gone completely within forty years if the destruction keeps at its current rate.

What are the riches found within these beautiful forests? If they're so valuable, why are they still being cut down? What can be done to save them? You'll find out in this Planet Diary activity.

1. You'll start your exploration with a Planet Diary story about the destruction of rainforests in Brazil. What do the colored dots on the satellite picture represent?
   
   
   
   
2. How much rainforest has Brazil lost already?
   
   
   
   
3. Worldwide, how much rainforest is destroyed each year?
   
   
   
   
4. List the main causes of rainforest destruction.
   
   
   
   
5. Take a look at some important Rainforest Facts. How does the percentage of the planet covered by rainforests today compare to that before the destruction began?
   
   
   
   
6. Read the third bullet point from the top. What's the number one reason these forests are getting chopped down?
   
   
   
   
7. Worldwide, how many rainforest species are lost each day and each year?
   
   
   
   
8. How does today's population of native people in Amazonia compare to that of five centuries ago?
   
   
   
   
9. Why is Amazonia often called the "lungs of the planet"?
   
   
   
   
10. Give evidence of the importance of tropical rainforests with regards to:
    1. biodiversity
       
       
       
    2. food
       
       
       
    3. alkaloids
       
       
       
    4. medicines
       
       
       
    5. cancer fighting
       
       
       
11. Next, you'll learn more about the reasons for Amazon Destruction. First, read the caption below the picture. What does each of the colors show?
    
    
    
    
12. Scroll to A Closer Look at Brazilian Deforestation. Describe how each of the following has hurt the rainforests:
    1. cattle ranching
       
       
       
    2. colonization
       
       
       
    3. infrastructure improvements
       
       
       
    4. agriculture
       
       
       
    5. logging
       
       
       
13. Finally, return to Rainforest Facts and scroll to Rainforest Action. Summarize how smarter harvesting of rainforest resources could help stop the destruction of the forests.