Stop the destruction of the rainforests

Rainforests are still being destroyed at an alarming rate in response to worldwide demand for cheap farming and cheap timber.

Losing the rainforests would be catastrophic, not only do trees play a critical role in absorbing the greenhouse gases that fuel global warming, forests also provide habitats to about two-thirds of all species on earth. The FAO (UN Food & Agriculture Organisation) estimates that deforestation of tropical rainforests accounts for the loss of as many as 100 species a day.

If we do not change our course of action, there may not be any rainforests remaining in 50 years time — that’s in your lifetime!

The current rate of clearing is equivalent to losing an average of 20 football pitches every minute. This means that in the last 10 years an area approximately the size of Spain has disappeared!!!

The destruction of the rainforests is also a major factor in global warming. Emissions from deforestation in developing countries represent about 20% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions, or about 6 billion tonnes of CO2 per year. In the next 24 hours, deforestation will release as much CO2 into the atmosphere as 8 million people flying from London to New York. Stopping the loggers is the fastest and cheapest solution to climate change.

No new technology is needed to save the rainforests, says the GCP(Global Carbon Project) just the political will and a system of enforcement and incentives that makes the trees worth more to governments and individuals when they are standing than they are when destroyed. Richer nations already recognise the value of uncultivated land. The EU offers €200 (£135) per hectare subsidies for "environmental services" to its farmers to leave their land unused.

This petition has been written by the year 7 students of Cambridge House Community College, Valencia http://www.cambridgehouse.es - they deserve a future. Act now to protect our planet by signing this petition, this will then be sent to the governments of the world.