Lesson 55: Consequences of deforestation and its impacts on humans
Species Benefi ts to rainforest Impact of its loss
1. This animal is the largest of the great apes. Their biggest threat is deforestation as humans clear the forest for agriculture. As they are fruit eaters, they spread seeds in their dung and they clear space for seedlings to grow.
2. These large fruit-eating birds spread seeds around Asia’s tropical forests which helps new plants to grow. They also travel over cleared areas of forests spreading seeds. Deforestation causes them to lose their sources of food and nesting sites.
3. This animal is the largest cat in the Americas. It preys on herbivores, which controls their population. Otherwise, the herbivores would destroy the forest. Deforestation has provided easier access to these cats for poachers.
4. These large animals have seen their population fall by over 86%. When they eat vegetation in the forest, they create gaps for new plants to grow. They leave dung full of seeds, which causes new trees, bushes and grasses to grow.
5. This animal, which resembles a large pig, is native to the Amazon Rainforest. Its main threats are deforestation and hunting. They spend more time in degraded forests and because they spread so many seeds in their dung, they are regenerating these areas.