Threats

  The biggest threat to a rainforest is human activity. From deforestation to timber development and pollution, the rainforests really are in danger. Rainforests used to cover over 14% of the Earth's surface but now there is only 6%. Rainforests have been dissappearing for the last 50 years and 150 acres per minute or 75million acres per year. The land that rainforests produce on is always wanted for other purpouses such as agriculture, forest plantations,dams,mining, etc. Many trees are logged because of the craftwood industry. Rainforests produce much of our rain and oxygen. If we keep logging these trees, we are making global warming worse and limiting our rain. Sea levels will rise and there will be many floods, droughts and fires as a result of global warming. Another threat to rainforests is from pests and diseases. Myrtle Wilt and Phytophthora are some of the diseases that effect the rainforest in many ways. They grow along the edge of rainforests, along roads or after a fire. Normally the soil of a rainforest can not support these diseases but where there has been disturebance, the disease can be let in. So remember to TAKE ACTION to save our rainforests!