Q5. Will Rainforests Exist in the Future?

Question 5 – Will rainforests exist in the future?

It seems funny to be thinking that the 894,420 hectares of the Wet Tropics mightn’t exist in the future. Of course, you’re probably thinking that, yeah, maybe in about a billion years the world might have changed – the dinosaurs might even come back! But is it possible that because of the way you and I live our lives right now, that the rainforests will become extinct in our lifetimes?

Is there anything going on in the world right now that might jeopardise this protected part of the world? Is it possible that the rainforest could be destroyed by people who have never even been near it? Now, that sounds ridiculous! What are they doing in their everyday lives that could be causing such a threat? What are you doing in your everyday life that might irreversibly change the way a rainforest functions?

Of course, a rainforest isn’t like a piece of art work – getting older but never changing. And that’s because the rainforest is a living thing. Just like us, plants and animals and insects and reptiles change the way they go about business if the world around them changes. What will the flora and fauna of the Wet Tropics look like if the world changes greatly (or even if it changes minutely)? Will they all survive a changing world?

Focus Questions

What are some of the local threats to the Wet Tropics?
Some of the biggest threats to the rainforest are local in origin. For instance, your pets and your garden provide one of the biggest challenges to WTMA. The first two activities 5.1 and 5.2 will give you the chance to discover the devastating impact that feral species can inflict on the rainforest.

What are some of the global threats to the Wet Tropics?
You’ve probably heard of global warming by now. It’s sometimes called the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect. This phenomenon has the potential to cause devastation to our forests. Activities 5.3 and 5.4 will help you understand how our everyday lifestyles contribute to global warming and how ultimately, this affects the Wet Tropics.

Are you ready to start on the First Learning Activity? (5.1)