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How Can People and the Rainforest Co-Exist? printer.gif

Chat with us live from the Amazon! Join us Friday, May 2 from 10 AM to 11 AM CST.
As we paddled today, we heard the sound of a chainsaw off in the distance. We got closer, and then heard a tremendous crash. A massive tree tumbled down, and took a few smaller trees with it. Deforestation is part of life in the Amazon rainforest. Whenever people move into forested areas, trees need to be cleared to build houses and farms. Most of the deforested areas we've come across have been families clearing small areas of land to grow food like yucca, bananas, papaya, corn, and rice. How can people and the rainforest co-exist?

Thank you for your answers for yesterday's daily dilemma about looking for caiman. Many of you hold us we should go out at night in search of them. Some of you also mentioned that caimans live in slow moving water. Tonight, it's raining, but when we have a clear night in the near future, we'll head out in search of the elusive crocodilians. We'll report back our findings.

Comments

You could replace the trees that are cleared and put them in other areas of the rainforest. Plant more trees around the houses so the houses are blended in with the rainforest.

Maybe find a spot where there is water, and that is where they can build homes. Also, you can tell them to cut the tree down to the stem and the tree will grow back.

Maybe say that they need to live in areas that are more near clear land and they could not settle in areas close to the rain forest

Well, it is hard for two different things that both take up a lot of space to live together. I think it would help if you tell the people about the wrong that it does to keep cutting down trees. Then let them know that when they cut down trees they should plant other trees in a different place. this way you still keep the trees growing, but you also have room for crops.

I think that the people and the rain forest because the people can cut down some trees but not all all of them. So you can get your way and they can get theirs. Or You guys can tell them that they should only cut down a section of the rainforest and then they could have theor homes and you could still look and see the beauty of the rain forest hope i helped

All they have to do is before knocking down the trees they should gather all the food or other things they need.that way they won't have a problem with being out of food.

people and the forest can co-exist the people can plant fruits, trees, and vegetables.

people and the forest can co-exist the people can plant fruits, trees, and vegetables.

I think we should pick up the trees and food.

Use trees that have fallen down already.
For every tree that is cut down they should plant a new one in the tree's place.

I think when people move into a place in the forest they shouldn't cut down trees. I know that there has to be space for them too, but maybe they could live in the trees, like in tree houses. This could make everyone happy because you're closer to nature without harming it.

I think you should plant more trees in areas where no one really wants to live so that way, they will not be cut down. You should maybe talk to someone about making a preserved area for house building and farming. I hope the people stop cutting down trees. It is bad for the environment.

From Caitlin

You should either move to some where else or move to some where it is already cleared. Have fun on your adventure!

Tell them to try to use only what they need. Try to talk to the people so they understand what deforestation does. Live where there aren't very many trees. Use only the trees that have already fallen on their own to build with.

you should tell them to STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Build the houses in the trees

This is a tough one. Communal farms would save trees and other resources. Replant when you have to cut things down. Make homes in the trees. Make fair laws to save the rain forest.

First, it was important to come up with reasons why the rainforests are so necessary. Then we'll come up with ways to coexist.
We should not cut down the rainforest because:
1. A lot of plants and animals will die and may become extinct because of loss of habitat!
2. That part of the land may become warmer because the trees that take up CO2 will be gone plus the shade will be gone.
3. The ground will lose moisture and may become more desert-like.
4. We would lose forever the oxygen those trees make.
5. Understory trees will also die out.
6. We would lose sources of fruit.
7. We will be destroying plants that may have a medicine for diseases, and we have explored only a small part of what is in the Amazon.

Ways to coexist:
1. Replant where trees are taken for the selling logs.
2.We could keep pushing to recyled paper and wood products and cut back on beef eating to take away some of the reasons for cutting down the trees. Also, encourage people to use rags rather than paper towels.
3. Somehow, with help of some good archetects,find a way to move houses into the rainforest, at least in sections.
4. Instead of growing plants for money, train people to become plant hunters.
5. We also need to stop using the Amazon animals as pets, and buy animals that are raised by the pet stores.
6. Set aside more important land for parks and preserves and then enforce them.

Our class found out that "saving the Amazon" is easy to say, but hard to do.

Our class has been studying the Native Americans, and they made sure they used natural resources sparingly. Also, maybe they could clear areas where the trees may be dying. Another suggestion is to make sure that the trees that they cut down are not home to any family of animals.

Hi, I think you should tell them to stop cutting down trees! Say "Please stop. Pretty please with a cherry on top."

Sofi

Plant fruit in the area that is where the trees have been cut down. They can also use different materials to build houses, co-exist by finding land that it cleared to share with others , and that has good soil so you can plant the fruit.

Hi guys! My class and I think it would be better if they cut down a tree and then plant a new one in its place.

We also think it would be good if they used only what they need. But they can't use too many or they would run out of trees.

They could make their homes out of recycled plastics.

Good luck!

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