One company, Merck, specializing in medicinal drugs, has been duing its part to
help rainforests through biological prospecting. Merck has local technicians collect
samples to possibly uncover a new medicine. If a breakthrough is found, Costa Rica will
share in the profits, also the local people will earn a living by stuying the rain forest instead
of destroying it (Kowalski, 2).
The large number of natural disasters, cyclones, lighting fires, etc., are just a
minimal effect compared to human activity. Logging, road construction, mining, and
cattle farming have led the attack on the forests (Encarta) The method of slash and burn is
commonly used, where small areas of land are used. Many areas were cleared for banana
and coffee growing or pasture. However, due to the lack of nutrients in the soil, its value
depleted and were abandoned. The time it takes for the area to regrow is insane to even
think about, because the soil needs decaying plant matter to support the lush vegetataion.
The destruction of rainforests affects pollination patterns, migration routes, and food chain
links(Kowalski, 32). If human impact is affecting these forest like this now, who knows
what may happen to these brilliant ecosystems.