Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
potential pharmaceutical applications, Merck made an agreement with Costa Rica
that a portion of the proceeds from commercial compounds derived from its forests
would go to the Costa Rican government. The Costa Rican government has guar-
anteed that some of the royalties will be set aside for conservation projects. Other
companies have made similar agreements with tropical countries.
Concerns about global climate change and the increasing carbon released into
the atmosphere by industrial nations has brought attention to the possibility of coun-
tries retaining their forests and receiving carbon credits, in the form of payments
from developed countries looking to offset their carbon emissions. Carbon-offset pro-
grams are popular and can provide a way to motivate wealthy countries to pay for
the benefits provided by forest conservation beyond their national borders.
Other steps can be taken to conserve the limited tropical forests that remain.
Expanding protected areas and increasing surveillance of and patrols in protected
areas using local communities can lead to more successful parks and reserves. Cre-
ating research facilities for training local scientists and guides allows the rainforest
country to build its intellectual capital to grow its economy and make the best use
of the country's resources. Establishing programs that promote sustainable use can
increase the standard of living for people living around protected areas and help to
ensure that the forests will remain.
The Tropical Forest Biomes of the world are ancient, unique, and valuable pla-
ces. They contain rich diversity and provide abundant resources and services for
the planet. However, tropical forests are quickly disappearing. As their destruction
was initiated by humans, so must be the solutions to stop their destruction. A con-
certed effort by people in developed and developing nations working together is
necessary to retain and protect these important biomes and the benefits they pro-
vide. Each one of us can help to save these forests by our actions and efforts. By
understanding more about the ecology and biogeography of these biomes, you are
one step closer to being part of the solution.
Further Readings
Topics
Kallen, S. A., ed. 2006.
Rainforests: At Issue
. San Francisco: Thomson Gale.
Miller, K., and Laura Tangley. 1991.
Trees of Life: Saving Tropical Forests and Their Biological
Wealth.
Boston: Beacon Press.
Newman, A. 2002.
Tropical Rainforest
. New York: Checkmark Books.
World Resources International. 2005.
World Resources 2005: The Wealth of the Poor
. Washing-
ton, DC: World Resources Institute.
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