The Effects of Road Construction Through a Rainforest

Destruction of Habitat

• As forests are cut away, the flora, or plant life, and fauna, or animal life, of the forests are affected in that particular region. Tree removal could lead to different wind patterns that could increase the likelihood of tree falls and further removal of the forest, which in turn affect the plants and animals that live there, potentially decreasing the amount of diversity. According to Rain-tree.com, about half the world's plants and animal species could be threatened if deforestation in the rainforest continues as it does.

Deforestation

• The loss of trees has an impact on more than just animal habitats. Trees also play a factor in climate temperatures and can help offset the effects of global warming. For instance, trees play a large role in absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) from greenhouse gases and converting it to oxygen. Fewer trees contributes to more CO2 in Earth's atmosphere, which then accelerates climate change. Trees also prevent sunlight from drying up important soils and are important with the water cycle in that they return water vapors back to the atmosphere.

Danger to Animals/Drivers

• Aside from destruction of habitat, rainforest animals could be effected in other ways if roads were to be built through rainforests: They could be exposed to vehicle collisions. Animals living in rainforest habitats are tucked away from civilization. However, if a road is built in their natural habitat, they may be curious about the cars that they see driving on it, or they may have to occasionally cross the road to find food. This could danger both the animals and the drivers of the road in the event of an accident.

Political Pressure

• A road project to link Amazon outputs in Brazil to Pacific Ocean ports in Peru slices through a diverse portion of South American rainforests. When a road is built through a rainforest for one specific purpose, it gives corporate interest groups, like loggers and agricultural firms, more bargaining leverage to pressure political leaders into building another road for their specific interests. The construction of one road through the rainforest could eventually lead to several more.