Rainforest destruction is now recognized as one of the greatest environmental tragedies of all time. By why are the rainforests disappearing so quickly ?

• In 1800, there were 2.9 billion hectares of tropical forest worldwide. There are 1.5 billion hectares of tropical forest remaining.

• Almost 65% of Central America has been cleared to create pastureland for grazing cattle

• Rainforest land cleared for pasture or farming degrades quickly and is usually abandoned.

• At least 42 million acres of tropical forest are lost each year, approximately 100 acres/minute.

• Between 1960-1990, 445 million hectares of tropical forest were cleared.

• We lose 50 species every day - 2 species per hour - due to tropical deforestation.

Resources

http://www.rainforestlive.org.uk/

The Virtual Rainforest http://www.msu.edu/~urquhar5/tour/

Causes of Rainforest Destruction http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/background/causes.htm

http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/topics/rainforest.html

Man’s Impact on his Environment http://www.westirondequoit.org/ihs/library/environment2002.html