Do you know, rainforests generate more than forty percent of oxygen which supports our existence on earth? Rainforest is a haven for endangered animals like gorilla, jaguar and many other animals. In addition, such forest consists of many useful plants from which many types of medicines are formulated to save lives. Illegal cut down of unsustainable trees and unorganized tourism habits are major causes of rainforest devastation.
As per recent study, approximately two thirds of the world’s rainforest exist as fragmented remnants. Other threats like resource extraction, industrial agrobusiness, poor governance, global warming and failure to recognize the rights of forest people are acting as catalysts for rainforest destruction. Continents like the Europe and North America are responsible for large part of consumer demand which results in rainforest extinction. As a well-wisher for saving mother planet, you can take following steps for the conservation of rainforest.
Step 1 – Start Gathering Facts About Rainforests
The most important step for protecting rainforests is developing interest towards them. Try gathering number of facts regarding rainforests like their contribution towards supporting of lives, climate control etc.
If you face any difficulty in gathering information, you can contact your local zoo authority and figure out if they can provide any idea or suggestion to you for protecting forest animals and plants. Equally, you should spread an awareness of rainforest conservation among your close associates, which include the importance of such ecosystem.
Step 2 – Use Safe Paper Derived From Rainforest
Pulp extracted from trees of rainforest is converted into books, photocopy paper, toilet and tissue paper which are sold all over the world. Now, things are changing as major US publishers are expressing their deep concerns for the preservation of rainforests.
You should become an active member and support their cause. You should also reduce consumption of paper at home or your workplace. Less consumption means, lesser falling down of tress. Try to use alternatives for paper. For example, situations arrive at your office, when you need to draft a letter. If possible, take help of internet to compose and send the letter. While you are out for a trip like picnic, use napkins made of tree free paper. Also, try to reuse and recycle plastic or glass bottles as much you can.
Step 3 – Minimize Usage Of Palm Oil
You will be surprised to learn that more than fifty percent of all consumer goods like cooking oil, candy bars, toilet soaps, lipsticks etc. contain palm oil. Cultivation of palm tress is the major cause of deforestation. Therefore, you should use products that are produced without palm oil, in order to restore ecological balance on Earth.
As per reliable sources, companies like Nestle, Unilever and General Mills have already taken stern steps for the minimum usage of palm oil and they are spending cores of dollars in research and development for finding the best eco-friendly alternatives to run their business.
Step 4 – Donate For The Welfare Of Forest People
Raising funds for protecting forests and forest people is an important step for conserving the ecological balance. You can convince your friends, relatives and others to support the cause. There are many NGOs, which are working for the rights of rainforest tribes to protect their traditional lands and natural resources.
You should become an active member for such NGO and drive the awareness campaign by organizing road show or talent hunt program to raise fund from ticket sales and sponsorships. Thus, organizing such event fetch better results to conduct welfare drive of forest people and saving forests from unwanted devastation.
Step 5 – Minimize Usage Of Fossil Fuels
Most of our daily activities like transportation, depends on fossil fuels. With the growing sales of automobiles, oil extraction has increased by leaps and bounds, thus, becoming a major cause for deforestation.
According to a recent study report, mining and burning of coal for production of electricity is adding further woes, resulting in climatic imbalance. So, you can change your lifestyle and adopt eco- friendly ways like travelling in battery-powered vehicles to protect climate as well as rainforests.
Step 6 – Stop Usage Of Unsustainable Wood
As per a study report, rainforest researchers have found that high demand for wood products like furniture pieces and building construction materials like wooden floors have resulted in massive destruction of large parts of rainforests all over the world.
According to an activists group of the US, importation of woods from rainforests should be reduced by ninety percent in order to prevent deforestation. You should stop using products made of non-renewable woods. However, to create a remarkable difference, renewable wood sources should be found and improved logging methods must be implemented for conserving rainforests.
Step 7 – Altering Destructive Cycle Of Agricultural Production
Scientists in the past, have found that clearing areas of rainforest by small farms for growing food crops did not have negative impact on forest area.
However, when large parts of rainforest are burned in order to make room for ranches and large farms, it causes massive deterioration of land. Such farming land is productive for few years, but the effect on rainforest is irreparable. As a smart move, planting deforested areas for creating new habitats can help in preserving rainforest.
Step 8 – Use Products Certified By Rainforest Alliance
Rainforest Alliance puts check on factors responsible for deforestation like agricultural expansion, cattle ranching, illegal cutting of trees and unorganized tourism. Such alliance ensures that farms, forests, properties and hotels should work in sustainable and ecologically friendly manner. The services or products manufactured at these places bear the logo of the Rainforest Alliance.
Step 9 – Avoid Mass Consumption Of Red Meat
Rainforest land is a grazing ground for many animals like pig or cow. If they are butchered at large scale, it will gradually lead to ecological imbalance and will also create crisis for milk products required for feeding newly born children.
Whenever, you visit a restaurant or a gathering, insist your family members or friends to have vegetarian recipes as they are good for health and also by taking such measure, it will help in conserving rainforest.
Step 10 – Follow Rules Of Visiting Rainforest
You should strict follow the rules of visiting rainforest. If you are planning to take a guided tour, you should do some research. Select a tour operator who can conduct ecologically friendly tour. In the forest, if there is path or trail, then follow the route. Wandering here and there off the path will lead to trampling of delicate seedlings. During the tour, you should not pluck flowers or pick things lying in the forest. With the passage of time, such things decompose and provide valuable nutrients to forest plants.
According to a recent study, large covers of rainforest die due to growth of fungus. It is not confirmed yet, whether such fungus is native or it has been introduced in the forest. As a protective move towards conservation of rainforest, you should wash your shoes between trips for minimizing chances of transporting spores of fungus.
When tour is in ongoing process, do not feed animals as it leads to poor nutrition and creates adverse effects on health. You should not organize bonfire in forest during night halt. It may spread fire and cause threat to the survival of animals and plants.
During rainy season, avoid four-wheel drive on wet roads. Due to traffic movement, mud stirred up on roads clogs streams and this leads to demise of costal reefs lying offshore at many places. Experiencing wildlife during night is very exciting. While using spotlight or flashlight, keep your observation time down to approximately two minutes or less. Shining bright light on nocturnal animals for longer time can create discomfort for them.
These are the ways by which you can conserve rainforest. Preserving rainforest can restore climate and natural resources that are helpful for sustainability of life on Earth. Also, it will open new avenues for the tourism industry.
