Tropical Rainforest - Part 2 The Importance
- Created by: Lydia Sinclair
- Created on: 08-01-13 10:48
View mindmap
- The importance of tropical rainforests
- Resources
- Timber, fuel, plant foods, bushmeat (deer and wild pigs for locals), palm leaves for roofs, medicines, fibres, palm oil, waxes
- Rainfall
- Much of the rainfall is returned to the atmosphere through transpiration by plants and wind carries it inland. If forests are lost rainfall will be reduced in those countries.
- Biodiversity
- High biodiversity means the ecosystem can better resist change. Aesthetic and educational value. Ecotourism generates income from the forest without destroying it
- Carbon Stores
- Further forest growth removes CO2 from the atmosphere during photosynthesis.
- Economic value of unexploited resource
- Medicinal plants and new foods suitable for domestication. Gene pool of wild plants of species already cultivated may contain desirable characteristics
- Soil conservation
- Rainforests are supported by thin, poor soils. Tree roots hold shallow soil together and reduces wind speed and impact of rain and therefore soil erosion.
- Resources
Similar Environmental Science/Studies resources:
Teacher recommended
Comments
No comments have yet been made