Ensuring our future through conservation Essay The world’s natural rainforests are one of humanity’s only remaining hopes to continue its existence.
Rainforests are vast forests filled with lush vegetation, teeming with life (both animal and plant), of which only about 40 percent has been completely discovered and studied. Rainforests are a beautiful place that can only be properly described by the scientist/naturalist, Charles Darwin when he said “Delight…is a weak term to express the feelings of a naturalist, who for the first time, has wandered by himself in a Brazilian forest” (qtd Collins 53). The rainforests of today are somewhat similar to the rainforests of the past. The rainforests of today still contain all of the same vegetation, animal life, and animal species as they did in the past. However, the size of theses majestic rainforests has diminished immensely over a course of about 100 years. Recent studies and estimates conclude that around two percent of the world’s rainforests is lost each year.
Unless we change this amount of deforestation, there will be little of our rainforests left in 50 years. Our rainforests are an integral part in our world’s ecosystem, and therefore need to be conserved as best we can. The rainforests provide safety and life to millions of kinds of life, they may contain cures to many of the world’s diseases, and they provide over 60 percent of the world’s supply oxygen to humans and other animals. Destroying these beautiful and key parts of the world would be catastrophic to mankind. There are many ways in which we can conserve our natural rainforests, and thus partly ensure our survival on earth. Two of these ways are through education of mankind on just how much we need the rainforests and what they can do to save them and through mass reforestation.
Without a complete understanding of the problems facing the planet in terms of its environment, mankind is not going to last for long. People must understand why they should recycle, how they can reduce air pollution, what they can do to lessen their own individual destruction of the earth. It is also important that environmental education be correct and must relate to the person doing the learning. In order for environmental education to be effective, it must be both comprehensible and applicable to the learner. Such awareness may be the only option that exists that can make a difference in saving and renewing the earth’s diminishing natural rainforests. Such education must be fully taught so that the student can understand the inter-relatedness of all aspects of the environment, including his or her role in it.
Once a person understands that all life on earth, not just human life, is dependent on the environment, it is no longer possible to dismiss the planet simply somewhere to live for humans to treat as they will. The best time to begin such environmental education and awareness is with children. Children must begin to learn at an early age that respect for the earth and its environment and all of its inhabitants is a necessary part of life. Each person must understand the consequences of his or her actions on the environment. Beginning in the first years of school, children should be taught the processes of life on this planet. Environmental education can truly make a difference and is the most valuable schooling for the future.
Reforestation began in Ontario after World War II. What happened was, professional foresters were assigned to an area and became responsible for its well being. Under the Crown Timber Act, long term management was prepared. Then the many steps needed to rebuild a forest began. There are many methods for planning a forest.
The simplest method of replanting a forest is to leave it to nature. Reducing competition by eliminating grass, weed or shrubs is another requirement in ensuring a new crop of trees. These will sprout to produce seedlings. Though the weeds were eliminated before, they still grow back, and because of this, poor quality trees will grow. Another method though, is to create a planned forest, where new conifers are grown from seed in a special nursery.
“Seeding is a reforestation .
