Ravi Vallabh
SCI 204
10/28/15
iLab1: Deforestation

1. Discuss 5 products that come from tropical rain forests.

a. Chocolate originates from the cacao plant, which grows in Central and South America. Its cultivation is a forest-friendly source of income for those living in the Amazon. (Larsson) b. Moisturizer has ingredients that originate in the Amazon. These ingredients include the Brazil nut and coconut oil. (Larsson) c. Medicine’s ingredients can come from the Amazon and have the properties to smell great and save lives. Tropical rainforests provide for 70% of the plants that have proven anti-cancer properties. (Tropical Forests, Larsson) d. Home and office products come from the most valuable types of wood only found in tropical rain forests. Though this may lead into deforestation, cutting down these trees. (Tropical Forests) e. Açaí is found in the Amazon, and is known as the super fruit of super foods. It is rich in proteins and is a massive health hit. (Larsson)

2. With clear examples, discuss 5 major causes of deforestation.

a. Agricultural expansion (farming) demands come from an increase in consumer product demands. The Trans-Amazon Highway was to be built in the Amazonian basin, but it was a failure. However, the plan was to easily transport wood. (Debjani) b. Shifting cultivation is temporary growth, reliant on the clearing of a given area of a tropical rain forest. Once the cultivation amount is achieved, the area is abandoned. This occurs around the Panama Canal continuously, resulting in large-scale soil erosion. (Debjani) c. Cattle-ranching occurs with the help of clearing large areas of tropical rain forests. Farmers in the US use this in other countries to cash-in on beef exporting without understanding that over time the soil becomes unviable due to grazing. (Debjani) d. Firewood collecting happens in mostly developing countries since it is the main source of fuel. A recent observation in India shows that small trees being used for firewood are exceeding the fresh plant growth rate. (Debjani) e. Timber harvesting is a marketing asset for developed countries, which requires high profit timber to be selected. East Kalimantan (Indonesia) has laws to where only certain area of trees can be cut while leaving behind others, but no law is followed and they move from area to area. (Debjani)

3. Discuss 2 reasons why this is very difficult, especially in the Amazon Tropical Rain Forest.

a. Our world relies on wood for building purposes and it produces paper. The majority of the world doesn’t own laptops, so paper is the given substitute. (Bradford) b. Our world is constantly increasing its population, so we need to replace forest areas with buildings to accommodate more people. (Bradford)

4. Looking at the Water and Carbon Cycle discuss how deforestation impacts these two cycles.

a. The water cycle is dependent on trees. They release water vapor into the atmosphere when rainfall is absorbed and decrease pollution in water by stopping polluted runoff. (Bradford) b. The impact on the carbon cycle is known as the greenhouse effect. Trees and forests balance the carbon/air concentration through photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide creates a blanket of heat that warms the Earth, however this is greatly decreasing with the decrease in trees. (Lambert, Ladefoged)

Bradford, A. (2015, March 4). Deforestation: Facts, Causes & Effects. Retrieved October 30, 2015, from http://www.livescience.com/27692-deforestation.html
Debjani. (2012, February 16). What are the Major Causes of Deforestation? Retrieved October 30, 2015, from http://www.preservearticles.com/2012021623379/what-are-the-major-causes-of-deforestation.html
Lambert, Roy, G., & Ladefoged, Z. (2014, May 16). The Carbon Cycle. Retrieved October 30, 2015, from http://thecarboncycledio.weebly.com/deforesation.html
Larsson, A. (2013, October 23). Ten products and ingredients that come from the Amazon. Retrieved October 30, 2015, from https://blogs.wwf.org.uk/blog/business-government/green-economy/ten-products-and-ingredients-that-come-from-the-amazon/
Tropical Forests in Our Daily Lives. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2015, from http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/kids/facts/daily-lives