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Bad Things People Are Doing to the Rainforest

The rainforest is one of the greatest natural resources on Earth. According to The Animal Spot, it is estimated that as many as half of the species of animals on the planet call the rainforest home; and 25 percent of all medications were derived from rainforest plants. This rich and varied habitat has been at risk for decades though, as human intrusion and industry drive into the rainforest, destroying land and upsetting that natural equilibrium.

Logging
- Logging is one of the most destructive actions perpetrated on the rainforest as huge tracts are cut down for the purpose of retrieving the wood from a few trees. The heavy equipment used in rainforest logging operations often destroys the land, making it difficult for the forest to grow back properly. Trees surrounding a logged tree are also often damaged in some way, and soil compaction affects the growth of all the small plants and bushes that typically grow on the rainforest floor.
Farming
- Large and small farms both contribute to the destruction of the rainforest. In South America, "shifted cultivators" are farmers that have been forced off of their own land and started small farms in the areas of the rainforest that have been damaged previously. This further damages the land and reduces the chance for healthy re-growth. Large scale agriculture operations and cattle ranches are responsible for much of the clear cutting that takes place in the rainforest, where huge areas are cleared to make way for grassland. According to RainTree.com, one and a half acres of rainforests are lost every second, "cleared by chainsaws, bulldozers and fires for its timber value and then are followed by farming and ranching operations, even by world giants like Mitsubishi Corporation, Georgia Pacific, Texaco and Unocal."
Mining
- Mining affects the health of a rainforest ecosystem in several ways. First, forests must be cleared to make way for a mine. Then, because the mines are often around water sources, rivers, drainage paths and natural flood plains are often destroyed by the mining process. This upsets the natural water cycle in the area. Mining operations also utilize and create many toxic chemicals. In rainforest countries where mining regulations are not strict, these substances, such as mercury, often end up polluting the water and soil of the forest.
Biological Trade
- The effects that humans have on the health of the rainforest isn't limited to destruction of the land. The natural ecosystem is also affected by the biological trade and illegal collection of animals that occurs in the rainforest. Some animals are hunted illegally, while others are collected and sold for various reasons. Some are bought by private collectors and others sold to companies that test products on animal subjects. Strict regulations are being implemented to prevent this, but until the demand is eliminated this type of trade will persist.

Nature