The document discusses the causes and impacts of deforestation of rainforests. It notes that over 10 million hectares of tropical rainforest are destroyed annually, primarily due to logging, agriculture, mining, dams, fires, and population growth. Deforestation leads to loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, changes to the climate, and loss of homes for indigenous people.

1. Rainforests
Deforestation
Year 8 Geography- Topic 1 – Global Environments - 2011

2. Deforestation
Deforestation is the process of
destroying forest areas
According to recent data, between
2000-2005, over 10.4 million
hectares of tropical rainforests
were destroyed each year

3. Deforestation
Brainstorm why the world’s
rainforests are being cut down

4. Deforestation
Reasons for Deforestation
Population Dam
Logging Agriculture Mining Fire
Pressure Building

5. Deforestation - Logging
Kilometre's and
kilometres of
trees have been
cleared by large
timber
companies with
profit a main
driver

6. Deforestation - Logging

7. Deforestation - Logging

8. Deforestation - Logging
But it will just grow
back so why do
we need to worry?

9. Deforestation - Logging
But it will just grow back so why
do we need to worry?
It can take 100’s of years for
regrowth and it will never grow
back to its original beauty and
variety of plant and animal species

10. Deforestation - Logging
Two options for the logger:
1)Clear-Felling which
removes all trees over a
large area
2)Selective Logging
involves loggers selecting
particular trees to be cut
down with the idea to give
the rainforest a better
chance at growing back

11. Deforestation - Agriculture
Shifting
Cultivation
This involves
farming in one
place for a few
years before
moving on to a
new site

12. Deforestation - Agriculture

13. Deforestation - Agriculture
Cash Cropping
This includes
things such as
coffee, rubber
and tobacco

14. Deforestation - Agriculture
Cattle Grazing
Large areas of rainforest are cleared to become
pastures for cattle.
Most cattle produced is exported to wealthy countries
for use in fast food outlets

15. Deforestation – Population Growth
Population Growth & Poverty
Limited amounts of rainforest cannot support the
needs of a growing population.
Many people turn to shifting cultivation and the use
of trees as a source of fuel and building material

16. Deforestation – Population Growth

17. Deforestation – Mining
Mining
Large sections of rainforest areas are rich in minerals
and precious metals. In response, large areas of
rainforests are cut down and the ecosystem
destroyed.

18. Deforestation – Dams
Dams
Dams are a serious threat to rainforests. Huge areas
of rainforests are cut down to construct the dam and
large areas are flooded to create reservoirs

19. Deforestation – Fire
Fire
Loggers cut through the rainforest and set up logging
roads. These roads cut the rainforest into sections
and they dry out. As a result, they are prone to fire

20. What’s the Impact?
What is the
impact?
How does
deforestation
affect
rainforests?

21. What’s the Impact?
Did you know that an average of 137
species of life forms are driven into
extinction every day
That’s over 50,000 per year
This means a significant loss of
biodiversity

22. What’s the Impact?

23. What’s the Impact?
Did you know that many
indigenous people have
lost their homes as a
result of rainforest
destruction?
Between 1900 and
1950, 87 indigenous
groups in Brazil were
destroyed

24. What’s the Impact?

25. What’s the Impact?
What’s the Impact of
Deforestation?
Loss of homes
Loss of Soil erosion and Changes to
for indigenous
Biodiversity loss of nutrients climate
people

26. True or False?
1)Some species of bamboo have been found to
grow up to 91 cm’s per day in the rainforest
2)Trees in tropical rainforests are so densely
packed, that rain falling on the canopy can take up
to 10 minutes to reach the ground
3)The Rafflesia is the world’s largest single flower
and releases a foul smell like rotting flesh