the valdivian rainforest

Environmental Impacts

on the Rainforest

The biggest environmental impact is the major loss of habitat, as plants and trees are the most vulnerable for logging practices.

Did you know that 70% of the Earth's land animals and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive or live properly in their habitats ( environment) while people are destroying them.

The Primary Forest area is being reduced globally annually by 60,000 square kms (about the size of Ireland). It is estimated due to the process of logging we are loosing 3 to 6 billion trees per year and killing 1 to 3 billion species of animals.

Solutions

THE ENDANGERED VALDIVIAN RAINFOREST

1. Plant a tree.

2. Go paperless.

3. Recycle and buy recycled products.

4.Look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification on wood and wood products.

5.Eat vegetarian meals as often as possible.

6. Start a conversation - talk to people about Deforestation

7. Tell your local council

Who is Responible for protecting the Rainforests

I believe we are all responsible. We can all make an effort to improve rainforests globally. People need to gain a better understanding to comprehend the damage caused by deforestation. As global citizens

we must start to take initiative for our actions which have resulted in the damage of rainforests.

Environmental Impacts

on the Rainforest

Forest Fires can also have an environmental impact on rainforests. Most of the destructive forest fires that have raged out of control across the world have been either started by many logging and agricultural development companies, especially those within the palm oil industry. A detailed study on the effects of fires concluded there is a major decrease in foliage (leaves & shrubs) and related changes to the stand structure of trees when fires occur. Horizontal and vertical air movements caused by fires, can also produce significant and lasting effects on the climate of the rainforest.

The Valdivian Rainforest

Environmental Impacts on the Rainforest

Destructive logging practices is the main cause of deforestation. Deforestation has many negative impacts on the environment. Firstly, climate change. Due to the lack of trees, greenhouse gases are being trapped in our atmosphere more frequently because there less trees to absorb the toxic gases.

When using heavy machinery during logging forests this causes soil to compact, and makes it more vulnerable for soil to erode. Where forests are ruined by loggers minimum flows of water decrease during the dry season, leading to drought. While floods and soil erosion increase during the wet season, when trees are removed.

By Bella Williams

Brief Overview

Valdivian Rainforest

Use of the

Rainforest Products

Location

The Valdivian Rainforest is known as a temperate rainforest. It has over 8000 species of plants and animals that live within it. However, the rainforest is at high risk of becoming extinct (endangered) due to the servere logging that is taking place. Major companies use the wood from the rainforest to make money.

Companies cut down trees for:

• money
• homes
• paper
• furniture
• clothes
• food
• sometimes drugs like medicine

The Valdivian Rainforest is found in the Southern Hemisphere. It's located on the west coast of southern South America and lies mostly in Chile and stretches into a small part of Argentina.

This narrow strip of rainforest is located between the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes Mountain Ranges to the east.

Facts

Deforestation - what is it?

Threatened and Endangered Species

Many mammals, birds and plants are found in the Valdivian Rainforest.

Deforestation occurs when major companies & some unlicensed companies clear out and cut down several trees to make land available for other uses or use the timber from the trees to make other products.

But many of these species are endangered!!

Did you Know?

An estimated 7.3 million hectares of forest, which is roughly the size of the country of Panama, are lost each year due to logging.

• It's one of the world's five major temperate rainforests.
• It's the third biggest rainforest in the world following the Congo Rainforest and the Amazon.
• It's 248,000 sq. kms in size.
• In the Valdivian Rainforest there are approx 50 trees removed everyday.
• Some trees in the Valdivian Rainforest are as old as 150 years.

Why do people do this?

Such as the:

• The Red-Legged Cormorant (or its scientific name Phalacrocorax gaimardi). This is a type of bird that can fly, swim and waddle when it walks. There is only 400 remaining in this world due to either logging & polution of water in the rainforest. Therefore, the Cormorant is struggling to survive in its natural environment.
• The Mountain Monkey (Dromiciops gliroides). It lives in the mountains of the Valdivian and swings high in the trees. This specie of monkey is being threatened due to the the logging of the trees in the rainforest. Even though there are 2000 monkeys remaining, they are dying rapidly due to the logging practices that are taking place.

Bibliography

• To make more land available for housing and urbanisation
• To harvest timber to create commercial items such as paper, furniture and homes
• To create ingredients that are highly prized consumer items, such as the oil from palm trees
• To create room for cattle ranching and mass grazing

• http://wwf.panda.org/who_we_are/wwf_offices/chile/index.cfm?uProjectID=9L0803

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valdivian_temperate_rain_forest

Thankyou for Watching