Tropical rainforest conservation

Rainforest characteristics

Tropical rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 1750 mm and 2000 mm. In contradiction to popular belief, rainforests are not major consumers of carbon dioxide and like all mature forests are approximately carbon neutral. [Broeker, W.S. (2006) "Breathing easy, Et tu, O2". Columbia University http://www.columbia.edu/cu/21stC/issue-2.1/broecker.htm] [Pregitzer, K. and Uskirchen, S. (2004) Carbon cycling and storage in world forests: biome patterns related to forest age. "Global Change Biology" 10: 1–26] Recent evidence suggests that the majority of rainforests are in fact net carbon emitters. [Chu, Henry. "Rain Forest Myth Goes Up in Smoke over the Amazon," Los Angeles Times, June 8, 2005.] However, rainforests do play a major role in the global carbon cycle as stable carbon pools. Clearance of rainforest leads to increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Rainforests may also play a role in cooling air that passes through them. As such, rainforests are of vital importance within the global climate system.

Because there are multiple branch levels and microclimates in a rainforest, it is a hotspot for biodiversity. Many species of plants and animals still have yet to be discovered. The rainforest also provides a multitude of resources for local, indigenous people including food and shelter. A number of plants found in the rainforest can also be used for medicinal purposes.

Problems in tropical rainforests

Deforestation of the world’s rainforests releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The Amazon rainforest has been referred to as the “lungs of the world" however there is no scientific basis for such a claim as tropical rain forests are known to be essentially oxygen neutral, with little or no net oxygen production. [Broeker, W.S., 2006 "Breathing easy, Et tu, O2" Columbia University http://www.columbia.edu/cu/21stC/issue-2.1/broecker.htm.] [Moran, E.F., "Deforestation and Land Use in the Brazilian Amazon", Human Ecology, Vol 21, No. 1, 1993“It took more than 15 years for the "lungs of the world" myth to be corrected. Rain forests contribute little net oxygen additions to the atmosphere through photosynthesis.”]

Conservation

By speaking with the local people living in, and around, the rainforest, conservationists can learn information that would allow them to best focus their conservation efforts [http://www.sciencedirect.com.oca.ucsc.edu/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VDY-4DFX36N-1&_user=4428&_coverDate=11%2F01%2F2004&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000059601&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=4428&md5=0bc330ca9ba754cad4878996e7ef5cdf#SECX8 3] .

Another way conservation has become the most economically beneficial option is through carbon credits. Under the Kyoto Protocol, countries must reduce their emissions of Carbon Dioxide by 5% below the 1990 levels before 2012. Countries can meet their mandatory cuts in emissions by offsetting some of those emissions some other way. Through conservation or reforestation of the rainforest, countries can receive carbon credits.

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References

# Streck, Charlotte, and Sebastian M. Scholz. "The Role of Forests in Global Climate Change: Whence We Come and Where We Go." International Affairs 82May 2006 18 May 2007 .
# Peh, Kelvin, Navjot Sodhi, Johnny De Jong, Cagan Sekercioglu, Charlotte Yap, and Susan Lim. "Conservation Value of Degraded Habitats for Forest Birds in Southern Peninsular Malaysia." Diversity Distributions 12,5,572.Sep 2006 18 May 2007 .
# Coomes, Oliver, Bradford Barham, and Yoshito Takasaki. "Targeting Conservation- Development Initiatives in Tropical Forests: Insights from Analyses of Rainforest Use and Economic Reliance among Amazonian Peasants." Ecological Economics 51,1-2.01 Nov 2006 47-64. 18 May 2007 .
# Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Michael Kessler, Jan Barkmann, Merijn Bos, Damayanti Buchori, Stefan Erasmi, Heiko Faust, Gerhard Gerold, Klaus Glenk, Robbert Gradstein, Edi Guhardja, Marieke Harteveld, Dietrick Hertel, Patrick Hohn, Martin Kappas, Stefan Köhler, Christoph Leuschner, Miet Maertens, Rainer Marggraf, Sonja Migge-Kleian, Johanis Mogea, Ramadhaniel Pitopang, Matthias Schaefer, Stefan Schwarze, Simone G. Sporn, Andrea Steingrebe, Sri S. Tjitrosoedirdjo, Soekisman Tjitrosoemito, André Twele, Robert Weber, Lars Woltmann, Manfred Zeller, and Teja Tscharntke. "Tradeoffs Between Income, Biodiversity, and Ecosystem Functioning During Tropical Rainforest Conversion and Agroforestry Intensification." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104,12.14 Mar 2007 4973-4978. 18 May 2007 .

See Also

# Amazon Rainforest
# Brazil
# Environmental Economics
# Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests