Tropical Rainforest Destruction

"Tell me, where the flowers're gone."

From a German song

"Rainforests preservation would be an investment in the future of the planet"

N. Brown, UNO

A. Tropical rainforests are the richest habitats on earth, forming a green belt around the Equator, 20 degrees north and south, from South and Central America to West Africa and South-East Asia. While they cover only 8% of the Earth's land area, they contain more than 50% of all species. They also secure the Earth's most important cycles like the soil, water, air – upon which man is totally dependent.

B. Deforestation has been going on for centuries. By 1988 half of the world's tropical rainforests were gone. Vast areas have been cut down for timber to go to Europe and Japan and also to make way for plantations and mining. Forests are being burned to the ground to make way for cattle ranches to produce cheap beef for US hamburgers.

C. 1,5 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which is the most important greenhouse gas, comes from the burning of rainforests trees every year. So, it adds to the warming of the Earth. Normally, trees absorb CO₂ and release oxigen (O₂) into the air. Today, there are fewer and fewer trees. That means more and more CO₂.

D. When forests are destroyed or degraded, natural habitats perish. This leads to 150 species extinctions globally every day. At present rates, 20% of all species will be gone by 2010. Deforestation will also mean the wasting of natural resources and the elimination of tribal people.

Task 4.1. Decide where these sentences go in the text.

1. Firewod collection for cooking and warmth eliminates vast areas of trees around the cities in Asia and Africa.

2. In Japan they make chop-sticks which they use once and then throw away.

3. The Amazon forest may be completely hamburgerized by the beginning of the new century.

4. Rainforest destruction is one of the main reasons of mass extinction.

5. Tropical forest is the pearl of the natural wonders.

Task 4.2. Say whether the following statements are true or false, give your reasons.

1. We can compensate for the loss of rainforests very quickly if we plant more forests in other places.

2. If we don’t stop the destruction of rainforests, the Endangered Spices List will grow much longer.

3. Animals and birds from the rainforests can find other places to live in.

4. The degradation and the death of the forests of the Earth worsens the greenhouse effect.

Task 5. Read the paragraphs below and the summary which follows. Complete the summary by writing the correct word in each blank.

ir pollution is a cause of ill health in human beings. In a lot of countries there are laws limiting the amount of smoke which factories can produce. Although there isn’t enough information on the effects of smoke in the atmosphere doctors have proved that air pollution causes lung diseases.

The gases from the exhausts of cars have also increased air pollution in most cities. The lead in petrol produces a poisonous gas which often collects in busy streets surrounded by high buildings. Children who live in areas where there is a lot of lead in the atmosphere cannot think as quickly as other children and are clumsy when they use their hands.

There are other long-term effects of pollution. If the gases in the atmosphere continue to increase, the earth’s climate may become warmer. A lot of the ice near the Poles may melt and may cause serious floods.

Air –––––––––– can make people ––––––––––. Consequently, some countries pass –––––––––– to control the quantity of –––––––––– in the air. –––––––––– causes particular damage to the body by harming the ––––––––––. –––––––––– should not be used in petrol because it is bad for children’s –––––––––– and makes them clumsy in using their hands. Poisonous gas from –––––––––– collects in those parts of cities where there are tall buildings. Pollution can also have an influence on the earth’s ––––––––––. The ice may melt near the North and South Poles, resulting in very bad ––––––––––.

Task 6.Study the following text and do the given tasks.

<== попередня сторінка	\|	наступна сторінка ==>
TOPICAL VOCABULARY	\|	The Environmental Crisis – Number One International Problem

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