Summary

Humans have impacted the environment in so many ways over the last 100 years. As green house gases have increase in the world we have no come to believe that the world is getting warmer, global warming. A green house gas frequently discussed is carbon dioxide. Trees act as carbon sinks. A carbon sink is something that absorbs carbon dioxide out of the air. An example of a carbon sink in Canada is the Boreal/Taiga forest. Environments in places such as Brazil are proof that the lack of carbon sinks, or trees in general is greatly effecting the endearment of the world. Brazil has lost over 600,000 km of trees and statistics show that the carbon dioxide emissions in the air is rising. Deforestation in the tropics accounts for nearly 20% of the total greenhouse emissions because of human activities. Some specific scientists from science daily that support this theory are Raymond E. Gullison, Peter C. Frumhoff, Josep G. Canadell, Christopher B. Field, Daniel C. Nepstad, Katharine Hayhoe, Roni Avissar, Lisa M. Curran, Pierre Friedlingstein, Chris D. Jones, and Carlos Nobre. The UN has also headed on board to discussing deforestation in a new global warming treaty. Though consumption of fossil fuels seems to be a reason for the world to have the greenhouse effect, the global warming did not start appearing until about the 20th century, but the Industrial Revolution began in 1760, a decade or so before. True deforestation did not commence until the early 20th century. Seeing the relationship? So, at the end of this investigation it is still believed that deforestation is the main cause of global carbon dioxide increases. Another fact to prove this is 186 billion tons of carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere every year, only 6 billion are from human activity. The other 180 billion tons is from ocean activity, and biologic activity on human earth. The earth itself is releasing more carbon than humans every year, so why are humans noticing global warming now? It is believed because the carbon sinks of the world are being destroyed everyday, therefore leaving carbon in the atmosphere. By observing patterns in Brazil, a not so industrialized country, the conclusion can also be drawn that deofrestation is causing carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere to rise.

In conclusion, it is still believed that deforestation is the main reason carbon dioxide levels are on the rise.