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Rainforest Destruction
by Rebecca Guilfoyle
Trees burned by ranchers, for their livestock.
Positives and Negative
The deforestation of the rainforest poses a great problem to Latin America and the
world because of the significant pros and cons to the issue. The rainforest provides a
habitat to a variety of animals and people. If the rainforest was destroyed the species that
reside there would become extinct, and the people would be forced to migrate. The
rainforest also puts a substantial amount of oxygen into the atmosphere. In the event the
rainforest was destroyed in an attempt to increase Latin America’s economy, there would
be many negative consequences like a decrease in oxygen.
At the same time, the rainforest holds many economic opportunities. If the rainforest
continues to be destroyed, to make way for infrastructure, farming, logging, ranching, and
other financial opportunities, Latin American countries will benefit economically. Since the
people of Latin America have begun using the rainforest to make a living, there have been
many positive effects. Brazil’s GDP has increased, and they have a trade surplus. There
has also been an increase of jobs and standard of living for the people who work in
industries related to the rainforest.
The government of countries like Brazil are now faced with a complicated decision.
They can continue destroying the rainforest, and benefit economically. Or they can
preserve the rainforest, and not be faced with future problems, such as endangered
species, pollution, global warming, and forced migration. Or they can attempt to do a little
bit of both.
Solutions from the Brazilian
Governments Point of View
There are many solutions to the destruction of the rainforest.
We must choose one that benefits our country economically, while
still preserving parts of the rainforest. That’s why I believe our
country should participate in Debt for Nature Swap. In this program,
foreign countries and groups would pay our government to preserve
areas of the rainforest. We would then use a small amount of that
money to pay guards to police the areas we have agreed to save.
Then we could use the rest of the money as investment capitol. The
money would allow our people to open new business and utilize the
rainforest, in areas not persevered by debt for nature swap. I believe
this will be successful, because we are saving portions of the
rainforest while continuing to grow economically and use the
rainforest to our countries advantage.
Solutions from U.S. Politicians
Point of View
We cannot let the deforestation of
the rainforest continue in Latin
America. Those forests are vital to
the world’s environment. I believe
we should pass international laws
limiting the amount of rainforest
used for economic gain. We must
work with the Brazilian government,
and encourage them to find new
ways to increase their economy. We
could possibly participate in a Debt
For Nature Swap with Brazil.
However, we would have to be
insured that a substantial amount of
rainforest would be preserved, and
that the government would pass
strict laws against deforestation in
those areas. I believe that by
cooperating with the Brazilian
government, we will come to a
solution that preserves the
rainforest.
We must end deforestation now!
Critique
I believe that participating in the Debt for Nature Swap has great
potential to be beneficial but could also ask for great downfall since
the other country could decide not to follow the pact and begin
deforestation on the preserved land at any point. Creating strict laws
against deforestation is a very strong solution. It would create strong
boundaries and make harsher punishments for those who break the
laws. The only issue with this solution is the fact that it relies so
much on the people. If everyone is continuing with the destruction of
the rainforest it would be difficult to punish a whole country. The first
step to take in putting this plan into action is to set laws against
deforestation. All in all the solutions address the problems and have
great potential as long as citizens are willing to comply to new law
and countries are willing to keep their word. Another solution could
be to divide the land into land that will be modernized and the
deforestation will be permitted on this land and have land that is
reserved for wildlife. The reserved land would be preserved and it
would be made illegal to trespass and to destruct any wildlife in that
area.
Sites Used
The Wikihttp://cyridgewgh08.wikispaces.com/
The Powerpoints on the WikiC:\Documents and
Settings\Admin\Desktop\Deforestation in
the Amazon Rainforest.ppt