Tropical and temperate rainforests have been subjected to heavy logging and agricultural

clearance throughout the 20th century and the area covered by rainforests around the world is
shrinking Biologists have estimated that large numbers of species are being driven to extinction
due to the removal of habitat with destruction of the rainforests. Here are some facts about the
World’s Rainforests which shows how important they are to animals and the planet.

Largest rainforests worldwide listed in

descending order (from largest to smallest).
Did you know that
1. Amazon basin of South America 57% of all rainforests
2. Congo river basin of Central Africa remaining are located
3. S.E. Asia in the Neotropics,
4. New Guinea
with 30% located in
5. Madagascar
Madagascar Rainforest
Brazil?

Brazil has the highest annual rate of

deforestation today.

Deforestation refers to the

Central America has lost 50% of its
cutting, clearing, and removal of
rainforests.
South America has lost 70% of its rainforest or related ecosystems
rainforests. into less bio-diverse ecosystems
such as pasture, cropland, or
Philippines Rainforest plantations.

Rates for Rainforest

Soil erosion happens when trees and plants
Destruction:
are removed; the rain water washes the
2.4 acres per second: equivalent
nutrients in the top soil away.
to two U.S. football fields.
El Salvador has lost 70-85% of its rainforest
due to heavy bombing during the civil war Atlantic coast of Brazil has lost
1984-1985. 90-95% of its rainforest.
Brazil’s Rainforest
Ways you can lessen deforestation: An impact of deforestation:
Loss of culture.
 Use pencils until they are stubs!
Indigenous people are people who
 Recycle paper, cans, glass, and plastic.
live in the rainforest. They depend
on the natural environment for
everything.
Only 6% of Central Africa's forests are
Without the rainforest they could
protected by law.
Sumatra’s Rainforest become seriously ill.

Did you know that tropical If the current rate of

rainforests, which cover 6-7% of deforestation continues, the
the earth's surface, contain over world's rain forests will vanish
within 100 years- causing
half of all the plant and animal
unknown effects on global
species in the world? climate and eliminating the
majority of plant and animal
species on the planet.
 Using your fact sheet, answer all the questions on this worksheet, and when you’re done,
you’ll know much more about how special our Rainforests are!

What does deforestation mean? If 2 U.S. football fields are destroyed every
_____________________________________ second, how many football fields are
_____________________________________ destroyed in 5 seconds?
_____________________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Where is the largest rainforest in the world?
(Circle your answer)

a) The Philippines True or False: Rainforests contain over half

of all plant and animal species in the world?
b) The Congo Basin in Central Africa
(Circle your answer)
c) Peru
True
d) The Amazon Basin of South America
False

Fill in the blank.

One environmental consequence of deforestation
is __________. This happens when heavy rains Name two things you can do as a person to
wash nutrients from the soil. try and stop deforestation.
1) ________________________________
What percentage of rainforests remaining are __________________________________
located in the Neotropics?
2)________________________________
__% __________________________________

Fill in the blank.

Indigenous people _______ in the rainforest. Name two consequences of deforestation:
They depend on the forest for their food, clothing,
medicine, cooking and building materials. 1)________________________________
__________________________________

What percentage of the rainforest has South 2)________________________________

America lost? __________________________________

__%

Why did El Salvador lose 70-85% of its rainforest

in 1984-1985?
______________________________________
______________________________________
 Using your worksheet, answer all the questions on this worksheet, and when you’re done,
you’ll know much more about how special our Rainforests are!

What does deforestation mean? If 2 U.S. football fields are destroyed every
Deforestation refers to the cutting, clearing, and second, how many football fields are
removal of rainforest or related ecosystems into less destroyed in 5 seconds?
bio-diverse ecosystems such as pasture, cropland, or Two
plantations.

Where is the largest rainforest in the world?

(Circle your answer)

a) The Philippines True or False: Rainforests contain over half

of all plant and animal species in the world?
b) The Congo Basin in Central Africa
(Circle your answer)
c) Peru
True
d) The Amazon Basin of South America
False

Fill in the blank.

One environmental consequence of deforestation
is erosion. This happens when heavy rains wash Name two things you can do as a person to
nutrients from the soil. try and stop deforestation.
1) Use pencils until they are stubs.
What percentage of rainforests remaining are
located in the Neotropics? 2) Recycle paper, cans, glass, and plastic.

57%

Fill in the blank.

Indigenous people live in the rainforest. They Name two consequences of deforestation:
depend on the forest for their food, clothing,
medicine, cooking and building materials. 1) Extinctions (loss of plants, insects,
animals and indigenous people).

What percentage of the rainforest has South 2) Climate change

America lost?

70%

Why did El Salvador lose 70-85% of its rainforest

in 1984-1985?
Bombings in the civil war.