Game:

Planet Zoo (2019)

Duration: 1:58

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Here's some educational content provided by the game Planet Zoo on Deforestation, which can be found on the information of its Conservation Education Boards.

Deforestation is when large amounts of trees are cleared for lumber – or to provide space for farming, mining, and urban development. It is estimated that 18 million acres of forest are chopped down every year and, at this point, 50% of the world’s tropical forests have been destroyed.

Although deforestation is a problem all over the world, tropical rainforests are especially at risk. Our rainforests are a unique environment with a high level of biodiversity, providing a habitat for a huge number of animals; as this habitat is destroyed, many of these species are in turn becoming endangered. Large amounts in Asia have been cleared to make more space for palm oil plantations, which are in increasing demand due to the use of palm oil in so many food and cosmetic products. In Malaysia, this is specifically responsible for the endangerment of orangutans; much of their habitat has been destroyed and it is now far more difficult for them to find food and mates.

In South America too, the Amazon rainforest is being cut down – in this instance to create space to farm cattle or to plant soybeans, oil palms, and other crops that can grow on the low-nutrient soil that is left behind after deforestation. Mining is a problem to a slightly lesser degree, with space being created to mine the many mineral deposits in the ground of the Amazon basin, including copper, tin, manganese, iron ore, and gold. Additionally, deforestation is also a compounding factor of climate change; decreasing forest area means less carbon dioxide is taken from the atmosphere in the process of photosynthesis.

People can work against deforestation by boycotting products that do not contain sustainable palm oil, and by buying recycled paper and card products.

Videos used:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic-J6hcSKa8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um2Q9aUecy0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCslpAaQDT8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTTAfJmglSc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5Fwl4P4EW8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2nGUKP1Hpk

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