Unit 3Tropical rainforest destruction
Tropical rainforests are the richest habitats on earth, forming a green belt around the Equator. While they cover only 8% of the Earth’s land area, they contain more than 50% of all species. They also secure the Earth’s most important cycles like the soil, water, air- upon Deforestation has been going on for centuries. Vast areas have been cut down for timber to go to Europe and Japan and also to make way for plantations and mining. Forests are being burned to the ground to make way for cattle ranches to produce cheap beef for US hamburgers.
1,5 million tons of carbon dioxide, which is the most important greenhouse gas, comes from the burning of rainforests trees every year. Today, there are fewer trees. That means more and more CO2.
When forests are destroyed or degraded, natural habitats perish. At present rates, 20% of all species will be gone by 2000.
Deforestation will also mean the wasting of natural resources and the elimination of tribal people.
Vocabulary list
Deforestation – вырубка леса
Clearance – очистка леса под пашню
Timber – древесина
Mining – горная промышленность, разработка месторождений
Species – вид
Endangered Species List – Красная книга
Extinction – вымирание
Rate – скорость, темп
Elimination – уничтожение
Tribe – племя
Investment – капиталовложение
Cut down – рубить (деревья)
To burn – гореть, сжигать
To release - высвобождать
To be gone – быть утраченным, исчезнуть
To lead – вести
To cover – занимать, охватывать территорию
To perish – погибать
Tribal – племенной
Comprehension task
I. Say, whether the following statements are true or false
1. We can compensate for the loss of rainforests very guickly if we plant more forests in other places.
2. If they don’t stop the destruction of rainforests, the Endangered Species List will grow much longer.
3. Animals and birds from the rainforests can find other places to live
in.
4. If they liguidate ranches, the rainforests will grow there again.
5. The degradation and death of the forests of the Earth worsens the
greenhouse effect.
II. Find sentences in the text illustrating the phrases below
1. The Earth's forests are often called «the lungs of the Planet».
2. Many animals of the rainforests are candidates for Endangered Species List.
3. Rainforest destruction means the most serious environmental problem, which is the Greenhouse Effect.
4. Tropical rainforests are the richest botanical and ecological reserves of nature.
III. Translate into Russian
Deforestation, to cut down trees, to make way, to burn trees to the ground, species extinctions, elimination of tribal people, to hamburgerize.
IV. What are the follewing processes called
1. When trees are cut down for growing agricultural products.
2. When all plants or animals of a certain species pensh.
3. When all people of a tribe are gone.
4. When something is done to get future results.
5. When no trees are left where forests stood before.
6. When work is done to get minerals from earth.
V. Fill in the missing words
1. The Greenhouse Effect is the artificial … …
2. … … leads to greater need for food.
3. More people means larger areas of land used for … …
4. Extensive mining in the region of rainforests means … …
5. … … is the action needed to make way for growing agricultural
products.
VI. Write about the endangered dants in your area. Describe how people try to save them