Speech

Cameron Boone

12-11-11

Mr. Logsdon

AP Language and Composition

Deforestation Speech

Did you know that in one hundred years, at the rate our society is going there will be no rainforest? A major ecosystem, biome, or habitat wiped off the face of the earth. The culprit is Deforestation. Deforestation has a collateral effect that is much greater than losing trees. This monster emits twenty five percent of our carbon dioxide emissions, is responsible for the distinction of animals and puts people and societies in danger.

The act of Deforestation emits twenty five percent of our carbon dioxide emissions depleting the ozone layer, harming humans and animals. When trees are being cut down, or worse slashed and burned, tons of Carbon Dioxide is being released into the air, to be specific hundreds of millions of tons per year *. The effects of this are the fallbacks of the depletion of the ozone layer. The ozone layer is what protects us from the sun, and when it gets less we get hotter and are more exposed to the sun. Therefore indirectly Deforestation is a direct reason for the ice caps melting and the polar bears becoming extinct. All because we have to cut down trees. Not only are animals being affected, but also humans, the sun is shining on us stronger than ever now partly from deforestation. This makes us more subject to skin cancer. All because we have to cut down trees. Do they have to do it? As of right now there’s no other way. Because trees are cut down animals become extinct and humans are put at risk. As of right now it seems inevitable we have to cut down trees. If we don’t do something they keep cutting.

So is it their fault, Yes it is their fault because the deforestation is being done irresponsibly causing animals to become extinct and promoting more deforestation. Although as of right now there is no alternative to deforestation the way that they are going about it is not productive. For example Brazil is whacking down a massive eight thousand square miles of rainforest per year* to plant soybeans and cattle farm. This soil is eroding and proving to be unusable *. When this soil is unusable these farmers hack down more trees and do it all over again. All resulting in the soil eroding and having to kill more trees, and destroy more animals’ habitats. The tiger and the jaguar are the two animals that suffer the most from these trees being cut down and are both on the verge of extinction. All because we have to cut down trees. The irresponsible Brazilian farmers are detrimental to the Amazon rainforest and the animals that live amongst it.

Deforestation in the Amazon has put many indigenous tribes that live there in danger. It’s one thing to be driving animals out of their habitat but when you are forcing tribes who have lived in the Amazon for hundreds of years to move from their homes and relocate, something is wrong. All because we have to cut down trees. The necessity to cut down trees to provide heat, lumber, crops, and livestock is driving us to our own race in danger.

If we don’t find another way they keep cutting. If they keep cutting our rainforest’s will be gone in one hundred years, the tiger, jaguar, and polar will become extinct, and the indigenous people that live in these rainforests will be forced to leave. This generation of students in front of me is whose going to have to find a way. There are people right now saying they’re doing this and that to take baby steps toward prevention. But I will stand here and tell you. We are the ones who are going to find the penultimate solution. WE are going to be the ones that save them.

Works Cited

"Changes in the Wood Growing Stock." Web. 17 Aug. 2011.

National Geographic. "Deforestation." National Geographic. Web. 17 Aug. 2011.

Ritter, Michael E. "Deforestation in the Tropical Forests." University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Michael Ritter. Web. 18 Aug. 2011. .

Tasmania Chainsaw Massacre. Web. 17 Aug. 2011.

"Tiger." Http://www.earthsendangered.com/profile.asp?gr=M&mp=1&sp=454. Web. 18 Aug. 2011. .

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/national-geographic-channel/specials-1/science-technology/ngc-deforestation-planet.html Web. 11.2011