Recycling is a very important way you can help preserve the world's forests.

While deforestation is a big problem caused by many people, each person can remain part of the problem or become part of the solution, by their own actions. You can make a difference! You can help by the things you do as well and the things you don�t do.

There are many things you can do to help save the forests. First, and most important is to recycle. Remember, paper comes from trees. Every box, magazine, and piece of paper you recycle is that much less wood from a tree in a forest in the future. You can recycle in two ways: by sending paper and other packaging to a recycling factory, and by using these things again in new ways. For example, instead of throwing out a cardboard box, and then buying a new plastic container, use the cardboard box instead. You can even decorate it yourself using paint, markers, and decals. Instead of throwing out paper that is only used on one side, use it as scrap paper and write on the other side. Empty egg cartons make great containers for small things such as jewelry, nuts and bolts, and even coin collections. There are many ways you can reuse paper and wood products. Be creative and see how many ways you can invent!

Just as important as the things you do are the things you don�t do. Air pollution is a major problem, and much it is avoidable. Cars add to air pollution, so don�t ask to be driven in a car to a place you can walk or ride your bike. Batteries, paints, and other household items and materials can contain chemicals dangerous to the environment. Be sure not to throw these away in the regular garbage, but dispose of them properly. If they end up in the garbage, they will go into a landfill and the chemicals will leach out and possibly add to water pollution. Avoid using extra energy in the house. Don�t leave the oven or stove on longe than you need it, and don�t open the oven or refirgerator door frequently. Don�t leave lights on when you don�t need them. Every time you use extra energy, it must come from somewhere, which is usually a power plant burning natural resources.

There are many more ways you can help conserve wood products and energy. It�s up to you!

The earth is our home, an island in space. Let's respect the rain forests, and put an end to deforestation!

Sustainable Ecosystem

Ecosystems, such as forests, are dynamic. They keep changing but within certain limits. Dynamic systems are actually more stable, because since they are changing, they can recover from accidents and weather changes.

In the past, many people thought that our human inventiveness could create a solution for any damage we might do. Now we know that deforestation can cause the extinction of plants and animals, and once extinct, these species are lost forever. We need the forests, and the plants and animals they contain. In a larger sense, there is only one earth, which has a single biosphere, of which we are a part. We need to find ways to live within that biosphere, without changing its basic characteristics such as the climate, the quality of the environment, and the kinds of plants and animals with which we share it.

This means working towards a "no-growth" economy where people have a good quality of living, but don�t use up so many materials. We need to find ways to reduce waste at home and in our industries. On farms we need to grow more crops on the same amount of land. We need to stop expanding our cities and suburbs into the rural areas, taking up more land from the farms and forests. WE also need to limit popluation growth in many areas of the world so we don�t continue to need increasing resources and farmland in those areas. We need to pay attention to the way people lived in times past, when they knew how to live on less with less power. We need to expand awareness among all people about ecology and being responsible for the environment. We need to remember that we live on an island in space calle the Earth, and we have no choice but to be considerate of our Earth, so we and our children can live here into the future.

• What is a rain forest?
• The source of the problems