11: Tropical Forest Conservation

Global patterns of deforestation

Far north regions show increased forest growth since the 1990s, while the tropics, including Southeast Asia and the Amazon perimeter, experience significant forest loss.

2006 soy consortium agreement

A group of soy customers agreed to stop purchasing soy from deforested land, effectively limiting deforestation in Brazil.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use sunlight, CO2, and water to produce glucose and oxygen.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which organisms break down glucose using oxygen to release energy, producing CO2 and water.

Combustion

The process of burning carbon-based materials, which releases stored carbon as CO2 along with water and heat.

Decomposition

The breakdown of dead organic matter by microorganisms, which releases carbon back into the atmosphere or soil.

Covalent Bonds

Strong connections formed by carbon atoms with hydrogen, oxygen, and other carbon atoms, storing chemical energy in compounds like glucose. The breaking of these bonds releases energy which powers life or produces heat

Carbon Cycle

The cycle through which carbon moves from the atmosphere to plants, animals, decomposers, and fossil fuels.

• Atmosphere: CO2 in the air

• Plants: take in Co2 via photosynthesis and produce sugars

• Animals: eat plants, use carbon in respiration, and exhale CO2

• Decomposers: break down dead matter and return CO2 to atmosphere

• Fossil Fuels: store carbon and burned to release CO2

Path of a carbon atom from coal to a squirrel

Burning coal in fire releases CO2, which is absorbed by an oak tree via photosynthesis; the tree converts the CO2 to glucose, a leaf falls from a tree, and its nutrients are consumed by a squirrel, which later releases CO2 through cellular respiration.

Greenhouse Gas Effect of CO2

Carbon dioxide traps infrared radiation in the earth's atmosphere, leading to increased surface temperatures as levels rise.

Carbon emission reductions

Strategies such as using renewable energy and improving energy efficiency that help reduce the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere.

Mitigation of climate change by preventing deforestation

Protecting forests keeps carbon locked in biomass and maintains ecosystem services, helping to stabilize the carbon budget.

REDD+

A program that pays tropical countries to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation by protecting forests instead.