Natural Resources
Natural Resources and Energy Paper
SCI/256
March 30, 2013
Professor
Natural Resources and Energy Paper
Tropical rainforests like so many other natural places are a scarce resource in the 21st century. They are unique and unlike any other ecosystem. They are in fact crucial to the global ecosystem and vital to human existence. Beyond compare as it relates to their biological diversity, tropical rainforests are a natural reservoir of genetic diversity which offers a rich source of medicinal plants, high-yield foods, and a myriad of other useful forest products. Rainforest are a significant environment for animals that move seasonally and sustain as much as 50 percent of the species on Earth, in addition to a number of varied and unique indigenous cultures. Tropical rainforests also play key roles in regulating climate change as well as maintaining regular rainfall, while buffering against floods, droughts, and erosion. They store vast quantities of carbon, while producing a significant amount of the world 's oxygen (Butler, Rhett, 2012).
Agricultural use of some rainforest land proves to be a failure because of the nutrient-deficient, acidic soils of these forests. Impacts on the rainforest associated with agriculture are the practice of slash and burn. Slash and burn is a form of farming that requires an area of the forest to be cleared. Instead of being hauled away the biomass is burned and the fire releases minerals and nutrients contained in the biomass. Commonly with slash and burn farming an area that has been cleared is farmed for approximately seven years, then the area is abandoned for at least 20 years to allow the rainforest to reclaim the area, and natural selection to take its course. Normally the area needs approximately 100 years to fully recover.
One major nonrenewable source of energy is the nuclear power. This source has great benefits to both the human lives and the economic growth and development of a country. This is
SCI/256
March 30, 2013
Professor
Natural Resources and Energy Paper
Tropical rainforests like so many other natural places are a scarce resource in the 21st century. They are unique and unlike any other ecosystem. They are in fact crucial to the global ecosystem and vital to human existence. Beyond compare as it relates to their biological diversity, tropical rainforests are a natural reservoir of genetic diversity which offers a rich source of medicinal plants, high-yield foods, and a myriad of other useful forest products. Rainforest are a significant environment for animals that move seasonally and sustain as much as 50 percent of the species on Earth, in addition to a number of varied and unique indigenous cultures. Tropical rainforests also play key roles in regulating climate change as well as maintaining regular rainfall, while buffering against floods, droughts, and erosion. They store vast quantities of carbon, while producing a significant amount of the world 's oxygen (Butler, Rhett, 2012).
Agricultural use of some rainforest land proves to be a failure because of the nutrient-deficient, acidic soils of these forests. Impacts on the rainforest associated with agriculture are the practice of slash and burn. Slash and burn is a form of farming that requires an area of the forest to be cleared. Instead of being hauled away the biomass is burned and the fire releases minerals and nutrients contained in the biomass. Commonly with slash and burn farming an area that has been cleared is farmed for approximately seven years, then the area is abandoned for at least 20 years to allow the rainforest to reclaim the area, and natural selection to take its course. Normally the area needs approximately 100 years to fully recover.
One major nonrenewable source of energy is the nuclear power. This source has great benefits to both the human lives and the economic growth and development of a country. This is
References: ENS. (2010, August 17). Lake Tahoe Summit Gets It: Healthy Ecosystem Equals Healthy Economy. Retrieved June 5, 2012, from Ens-newswire.com: http://www.ens- newswire.com/ens/aug2010/2010-08-17-091.html http://faculty.washington.edu/krumme/readings/resources.html http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0811.htm http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/ www.conservation.org www.sustainable.org/environment