**Is there a connection between global warming and the rainforest?**

We live in an age where rainforest destruction has taken on a new meaning and where global warming is starting to affect us. So is there a connection between global warming and rainforests. Forests are

sometimes called the lungs of the earth. The natural action of plants removes CO2 out of the atmosphere. Which is a good thing as Al Gore keeps saying the rising CO2 levels are behind global warming. So if we are systematically destroying the rainforests, then we are stopping the planet from naturally removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

Now why are the rainforests being cut down?

Well in a nutshell it is to feed the planet. Environmentalists say the Amazon rainforest is being cleared to feed China. Most of the soybeans grown on land reclaimed from the Amazon jungle are for the China market. We are talking thousands of square miles each year. And it is the big agricultural companies that are behind it. It basically means money comes before the planet, but that is the same everywhere where land is being destroyed.

Also with the production of ethanol we are going to see more and more rainforests destroyed to turn plants into gas.

Another more sinister problem that is lurking in the Amazon, is it is drying out. We don’t know if this is a direct result of global warming or the forest being cut down, but it is happening and we don’t know how to stop it. This situation was highlighted in a National Geographic program but I can’t remember the name. So in our lifetimes expect some major changes that will affect the people on the over populated planet.

To have your say check out the Blog then head over to our Global Warming page for more information and resources.