| Lush green rainforests may be something you've | | | | Western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest |
| pictured only briefly when dreaming about a tropical | | | | ingredients! Many more could be developed as only |
| vacation but did you know that the health of the | | | | about 1% of tropical trees and plants have been |
| world's rainforests has a huge influence on the quality | | | | tested by scientists. |
| of your daily life? | | | | 6. Most rainforests are cleared by chainsaws, |
| The rainforest is often described as the "Lungs of | | | | bulldozers and fires for timber and then are followed |
| our Planet". The Amazon rainforest alone is | | | | by farming and ranching operations. In Indonesia, the |
| responsible for producing more than 20 percent of | | | | current rate of logging could totally wipe out native |
| the oxygen we breath! As an added bonus, by taking | | | | forests within only 10 years. The forest has already |
| in carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen for us to | | | | been totally wiped out in countries like Haiti and Ivory |
| breath, the rainforest actually reduces green house | | | | Coast where barely a tree can be found anymore. |
| gases and fights global warming. | | | | Even worse is the fact that rainforests do not |
| But sadly, we are losing the earth's rainforests to | | | | regenerate as our temperate forests in Vermont do. |
| feed the world's ravenous appetite for cheap lumber | | | | Once gone, they are gone forever and along with |
| and agriculture. Check out these statistics. You're not | | | | them the wonderful diversity of plants and wildlife |
| going to believe them but they're true! | | | | that inhabit them. |
| | | | So now that you know why rainforests are a big |
| 1. 54 of the world's 193 countries have already lost | | | | deal, you're probably asking yourself, "What on earth |
| 90 percent or more of their forest cover. Rainforests | | | | can I do about it?" Well, this is where green |
| that once covered 14% of the earth's land surface | | | | consumerism comes in. Everyday when you're |
| now cover a mere 6% and experts estimate that | | | | shopping you make choices that effect the health of |
| the last remaining rainforests could be gone in less | | | | the rainforest. It's true. Do you buy products made |
| than 40 years. | | | | of soy, beef or wood for example? If so, chances |
| 2. 1.5 acres of rainforest are lost every second (that | | | | are very good that they are originating in the |
| equates to 50 million acres a year: an area roughly | | | | rainforest and are being produced illegally in violation |
| the size of Oregon) | | | | of local conservation laws. |
| 3. Nearly half of the world's species of plants and | | | | You can do you part for the environment by |
| animals will be destroyed or severely threatened | | | | purchasing products that are certified by the Forest |
| over the next 25 years due to rainforest | | | | Stewardship Council (FSC) as being green and |
| deforestation. | | | | originating from sustainably managed forests. Ask the |
| 4. We are losing approximately 137 plant and animal | | | | salespeople in your favorite stores if their products |
| species every single day due to rainforest | | | | are certified? Ask where they came from. You may |
| deforestation. That equates to 50,000 species a year! | | | | get a few blank stares at first, but eventually you'll |
| 5. As the rainforest species disappear, so do many | | | | be making a difference. Store owners are going to |
| possible cures for life-threatening diseases. Currently, | | | | realize more and more that sustainability is important |
| 121 prescription drugs sold worldwide come from | | | | to their customers. If they are to stay in business, |
| plant-derived sources. Twenty-five percent of | | | | they are going to have to Go Green. |