Tropical Rainforest - a Costa Rican Treasure

There is no doubt that the tropical rainforests ofrainforest environments live in delicate balance
the world are in danger. Every hour approximatelywith one another and destroying the ecosystem
six species of life in our tropical rainforests areinterrupts this balance.
destroyed. Experts agree that the number oneIn addition, tropical rainforests are also an
cause of extinction in the tropical rainforest is dueimportant part of the global weather system.
to the destruction of the tropical rainforestWhen tropical rainforests are destroyed, the
environment.water cycles in that part of the world are altered.
In the tropical rainforest, logging, cattle ranching,The result is drought, flooding and soil erosion in
mining, oil extraction, hydroelectric dams andareas where the rainforests used to stand. This
subsistence farming are the leading causes ofalso affects the wind and ocean current patterns
destruction. Other factors, like development andas rainfall distribution changes. Cutting down
the consumers of industrialized nations have leadtropical rainforests has a profound ecological
to further destruction of the tropical rainforestsimpact.
of the world.These statistics make the destruction rates even
Tropical rainforests are vitally important to themore devastating. In 37 years, at current
Earth and its people. Fifty to seventy percent ofdeforestation rates, there will be no more tropical
all life forms live in tropical rainforests. The tropicalrainforests on Earth. Preservation and restoration
rainforests are also the oldest, most complex,of the tropical rainforests of the world is essential
richest and most productive ecosystem on theand imperative. Tropical forest reforestation is
Earth. Over 200 million indigenous people dependbeing addressed in countries like Costa Rica,
directly on the survival of the tropical rainforest.where forests had previously been cut down for
The tropical rainforest also provides invaluablecommercial purposes. With planning and effort,
resources for studying animal behavior and plantindividuals and corporations can save the tropical
development. Plants and animals in tropicalrainforests.