From the tropical rain forests of Central America, to the temperate rain forests of British Columbia and Tasmania, these Jewels of the earth house some of life's most precious commodities. The majority of earth's animal and plant species call the rain forest home. Destroying their "homes", is thus constitutes a major disaster for all humanity.

Our society today is consumed with greed. We see the rainforest's as a haven to be plundered, all in the interest of increased profits and increased over consumption. The logging industry, for example, hacks away at 11 million acres per year all to supply a burgeoning need for disposable products. The Macdonalds and Burger Kings, rely on extensive cattle grazing - another reason for deforestation - to supply a growing appetite for more and more beef. Next time you buy a burger, think about what it is doing to the rain forests.

We know that deforestation, destroys the source of life saving medicines that have their origins in the rain forest. We also know that irreversible damage is being done to the environment and the survival of animals have been seriously threatened. Extinction is a fact of life. Just as significant, is the devastating effects on our food supply.

Deforestation results in soil erosion which in turn adversely affects crop production, which in turn creates famine. Water availability is severely affected by erosion. Without adequate water supply, we have a dangerous threat to the sustainability of food production.

So while deforestation provides the glutinous masses with more and larger burgers, bigger and better houses, poor countries are already feeling the negative effects of famine, disease and displacement. Unless we take responsibility, it won't be long before the whole world suffers a similar fate.

Learn more about this author, Joan Schroeder.
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