Deforestation

Yesterday we talked about the rainforests and why they are important. Environmental groups want to protect the rainforests because they are home to millions of species of plants and animals. The trees in the Amazon Forets alone also provide 25% of the world's oxygen.

We also discussed why some groups of people believe it is okay to cut down the trees in the rainforest. Groups like logging companies and cattle ranchers believe that cutting down trees to get timber (wood) and to create farmland helps the economy and creates jobs. Some poor families also support cutting down trees so they can have land to support themselves.

Remember that the definition for deforestation is the permanent destruction of indigenous forests. Once these rainforests are cut down, they may never grow back again. See a photo slide show about deforestation on the National Geographic website. You can also explore that website for more information about the deforestation debate.