Trees, which have been in existence for over 400 million years, are the world’s largest living creatures. The world’s biggest tree, a giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) named “General Sherman,” stood over 83 meters tall, measured over 31 meters in circumference and weighed about 6,096 tonnes, when it was last measured in 1975! It grew from a seed that weighed only 5 milligrams. That’s smaller than a vitamin pill!
While “General Sherman” may be the world’s biggest tree, the world’s tallest tree is another giant sequoia named “Harry Cole.” Harry measures over 112 meters from base to crown - the height of a 37-story building!
29.6 per cent of the world’s land area is covered by forest. About 10 per cent of that is in Canada. Rain forests generate about 40 per cent of the world’s oxygen. A 30 meter tree with 200,000 leaves can suck up 43,000 litres of water and breathe it into the air in just one growing season. Medicine in aspirins originally came from the bark of a willow tree. One acre of trees can absorb over 2.5 tons of carbon dioxide in a year. Every ton of recycled paper saves approximately 17 trees and saves 4,100 kilowatt hours of electricity - enough energy to heat the average home for six months.
“We cannot win this battle to save the species and environments without forging an emotional bond between ourselves and nature as well — for we will not fight to save what we do not love.”
~ Stephen Jay Gould
The subject of the Rainforest is dear to my heart. It is well known that these precious forests play an important role in the health of Mother Earth and her inhabitants. These rainforests are the lungs of this planet. Without them, we cannot live and breathe. Not to mention the tragic loss of so many herbs and medicines in this wanton destruction of the plant nation. So, knowing this precious resource is being wasted for no other reason but greed, why do we continue to let this occur? We have the knowledge to create other sources in building materials. We can put a stop to this devestation before it is too late. People need to truly be aware of how serious this has become… it is not a theory, it is a fact. And talking about it won’t solve the problem. People need to be proactive in solving this very serious travesty visited upon this Earth, this gift of a planet the Creator has placed us upon.
Here are a few Amazon Rainforest facts…
* The Amazon Rainforest covers over a billion acres, encompassing areas in Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and the Eastern Andean region of Ecuador and Peru. If Amazonia were a country, it would be the ninth largest in the world.
* The Amazon Rainforest has been described as the “Lungs of our Planet” because it provides the essential environmental world service of continuously recycling carbon dioxide into oxygen. More than 20 percent of the world oxygen is produced in the Amazon Rainforest.
* More than half of the world’s estimated 10 million species of plants, animals and insects live in the tropical rainforests. One-fifth of the world’s fresh water is in the Amazon Basin.
* One hectare (2.47 acres) may contain over 750 types of trees and 1500 species of higher plants.
* At least 80% of the developed world’s diet originated in the tropical rainforest. Its bountiful gifts to the world include fruits like avocados, coconuts, figs, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, bananas, guavas, pineapples, mangos and tomatoes; vegetables including corn, potatoes, rice, winter squash and yams; spices like black pepper, cayenne, chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, sugar cane, tumeric, coffee and vanilla and nuts including Brazil nuts and cashews.
* At least 3000 fruits are found in the rainforests; of these only 200 are now in use in the Western World. The Indians of the rainforest use over 2,000.
* Rainforest plants are rich in secondary metabolites, particularly alkaloids. Biochemists believe alkaloids protect plants from disease and insect attacks. Many alkaloids from higher plants have proven to be of medicinal value and benefit.
* Currently, 121 prescription drugs currently sold worldwide come from plant-derived sources. And while 25% of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest ingredients, less than 1% of these tropical trees and plants have been tested by scientists.
* The U.S. National Cancer Institute has identified 3000 plants that are active against cancer cells. 70% of these plants are found in the rainforest. Twenty-five percent of the active ingredients in today’s cancer-fighting drugs come from organisms found only in the rainforest.
* Vincristine, extracted from the rainforest plant, periwinkle, is one of the world’s most powerful anticancer drugs. It has dramatically increased the survival rate for acute childhood leukemia since its discovery.
* In 1983, there were no U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturers involved in research programs to discover new drugs or cures from plants. Today, over 100 pharmaceutical companies and several branches of the US government, including giants like Merck and The National Cancer Institute, are engaged in plant research projects for possible drugs and cures for viruses, infections, cancer, and even AIDS.
Rainforest Action
* Experts agree that by leaving the rainforests intact and harvesting it’s many nuts, fruits, oil-producing plants, and medicinal plants, the rainforest has more economic value than if they were cut down to make grazing land for cattle or for timber.
* The latest statistics show that rainforest land converted to cattle operations yields the land owner $60 per acre and if timber is harvested, the land is worth $400 per acre. However, if these renewable and sustainable resources are harvested, the land will yield the land owner $2,400 per acre.
* If managed properly, the rainforest can provide the world’s need for these natural resources on a perpetual basis.
* Promoting the use of these sustainable and renewable sources could stop the destruction of the rainforests. By creating a new source of income harvesting the medicinal plants, fruits nuts, oil and other sustainable resources, the rainforests will be more valuable alive than cut and burned.
* Sufficient demand of sustainable and ecologically harvested rainforest products is necessary for preservation efforts to succeed. Purchasing sustainable rainforest products can effect positive change by creating a market for these products while supporting the native people’s economy and provides the economic solution and alternative to cutting the forest just for the value of its timber.
Due to the greed of a few, many will suffer. Because those suffering cannot speak for themselves, we must be their voice, and champion their cause. Their home is destroyed, and as they try to flee the wanton destruction, their lives are taken. Will we just stand by while these creatures, and the trees we all need to live and breathe, are facing extinction as so many have before them?
The Peru Free Trade Agreement would sanction the destruction of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest — home to jaguars, long-haired spider monkeys, blue-headed macaws, giant river otters and other endangered species.
The cause of the destruction: rampant, illegal logging of mahogany, an endangered tree species. The tree is considered so valuable that loggers stop at nothing to cut it down — blazing roads into pristine rainforest in remote national parks for just three trees.
And with the logging, comes hunting. Once in the forest, mahogany loggers kill jaguars for their skin and trap monkeys and birds for the pet trade.
Urge your elected officials to oppose legislation that gives Peru a free pass to continue illegal logging that’s destroying crucial habitat for jaguars and other wildlife. “Take Action Now!!”
Forests and Trees
While “General Sherman” may be the world’s biggest tree, the world’s tallest tree is another giant sequoia named “Harry Cole.” Harry measures over 112 meters from base to crown - the height of a 37-story building!
29.6 per cent of the world’s land area is covered by forest. About 10 per cent of that is in Canada. Rain forests generate about 40 per cent of the world’s oxygen. A 30 meter tree with 200,000 leaves can suck up 43,000 litres of water and breathe it into the air in just one growing season. Medicine in aspirins originally came from the bark of a willow tree. One acre of trees can absorb over 2.5 tons of carbon dioxide in a year. Every ton of recycled paper saves approximately 17 trees and saves 4,100 kilowatt hours of electricity - enough energy to heat the average home for six months.
“We cannot win this battle to save the species and environments without forging an emotional bond between ourselves and nature as well — for we will not fight to save what we do not love.”
Due to the greed of a few, many will suffer. Because those suffering cannot speak for themselves, we must be their voice, and champion their cause. Their home is destroyed, and as they try to flee the wanton destruction, their lives are taken. Will we just stand by while these creatures, and the trees we all need to live and breathe, are facing extinction as so many have before them?
