The Supply
Tropical rainforests exist only
in the humid tropics, in a narrow band around the world near the equator.
Every available statistic tells
us that the world's tropical rainforests are being rapidly destroyed. See The Future of the Rainforests.
World Resources Institute
scientists recently determined from high resolution satellite photography that the rate of
destruction of our rainforests is even greater than previously thought. The Institute
scientists reported that nearly 50 million acres of rainforest are being leveled every
year. More than 19 million tropical trees are being felled every day.
More than 40% of the world's
tropical rainforests have been lost since 1940. Many species of tropical hardwood trees
are becoming increasingly rare. Some are nearing extinction.
At the present rate of
destruction, 70% of the earth's tropical rainforests will be lost forever by the end of
this decade.
next page - The
Future of the Rainforests |
