The disappearance of rainforests. Part Three

Tropical forests contain huge carbon reserves in their trunks, leaves, litter and humus (estimated at 340 billion tons). Recent calculations show that as a result of intensive deforestation of tropical forests, the same amount of carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide) is released as when burning fossil fuels, and all this carbon dioxide accumulates in the atmosphere. The consequence of such accumulation may be a general warming of the planet's climate, especially at the poles. No one knows exactly what such uneven warming will lead to, but it is likely that it will cause a general desiccation of soils in those areas of North America where wheat is grown. Another consequence of warming may be an increase in the level of the World Ocean, if the western part of the Antarctic ice sheet begins to melt intensively, just as it was in the early geological epochs. The fate of our planet is inextricably linked with the fate of tropical forests, not only because they affect the climate, but also because there are more direct and immediate connections. The influence of rainforests is directly or indirectly felt everywhere: in the hospital, in the store, at home, on the road. Without the "gifts" of rain forests, the cost of many types of industrial products would have risen sharply, and some industries would have ceased to exist altogether. Much of what gives us pleasure would disappear forever. Every time we drink coffee, eat chocolate, bananas or nuts, or use something made of natural rubber, we come into contact with the "gifts" of the tropical rain forest. American or Brazilian nuts, cashew nuts, passion fruit, papaya, avocado, cocoa and bananas are all products of rain forests. If the African forests disappear, all wild varieties of bananas will disappear. If the forests of South and Central America disappear, then all wild varieties of cocoa, rubber, avocado, cashew nuts and American nuts will disappear with them. The plantations will be almost completely given over to insects, pests or diseases, which in the new conditions may be invincible. The tropical forest in the imagination of those who have never lived in it often seems full of dangers, but many of its "gifts" are used in medicine. Major surgery uses curare poison for anesthesia. And this discovery of American Indians is prepared from plants that grow only in the rainforests of South America. Another important drug used in surgery is ezerin, which is obtained from the Calabar bean, which grows in the rainforests of West Africa. uk casino sites