Rainforest Biodiversity
Amazon |
Australia |
10% of World's species |
8% of World's plant and animal species |
75% of World's plants |
84% of mammals only found in Australia |
3,000 species of fish, largest number in the world |
3/4 of species on threatened list are there because of habitat loss |
Sources: WWF and The Guardian
The rainforests are some of the most biologically diverse pockets on Earth, with many species of plants and animals in these forests only found in one place, but deforestation has forced many species onto the threatened list due to habitat loss. According to WWF, in Eastern Australia, which is home to many unique plants and animals, 70% of the biodiversity hotspots have been cleared and only 18% are protected. This leaves the species that called the deforested areas home to be endangered and can result in the extinction of some animals due to the fact that their home has been destroyed. The companies that clear the forested land have little to no regard for the living creatures in the forests, as they are only concerned with making a profit. This poses as a threat to the forests because these companies have more power than those opposed to deforestation. Since the plants and animals subject to deforestation can not speak for themselves, it is imperative that we help them fight against the invaders of their homes because otherwise our world loses what makes our rainforests alive.
Causes and How to Help
While animals suffer at the hand of deforestation no matter the cause, some industries are more prevalent in certain areas than others and contrary to popular belief, cattle ranching and agriculture are the leading causes of deforestation around the world. Cattle ranching contributes to the majority of deforestation in the Amazon, as the Brazilian meatpacker JBS, the largest meatpacker in the world, operates many factories and ranches in the Amazon. In an study done by Mongabay, 80% of deforestation in the Amazon is caused by cattle ranching because companies need land to raise the cattle and also land to grow food, mainly soy, for the cattle. This means that with every cattle pasture created on deforested land requires a soy plantation to grow feed for the cattle which greatly increases the amount of rainforest that has to be cleared to raise the cattle and food in addition to the meat processing facilities in the rainforest.
Since meat production is one of the main causes of deforestation, the best way to help preserve our forests is to support agriculture and livestock companies that do not clear cut forests for land. This will lend power to the companies that preserve the forests meaning that the power will be taken away from the large industries driving deforestation which will slow the destruction of the precious rainforests.
Since meat production is one of the main causes of deforestation, the best way to help preserve our forests is to support agriculture and livestock companies that do not clear cut forests for land. This will lend power to the companies that preserve the forests meaning that the power will be taken away from the large industries driving deforestation which will slow the destruction of the precious rainforests.