Blog Reflection~Deforestation

     For the Earth Interactions Project, I researched and preformed a lab on deforestation.  I read the book Bella Coola: The Rainforest Brought Them Home to help me get some research and background information.  This book helped me get a bigger understanding on deforestation: where it happens, why, and causes and effects of it.  It also gave me an understanding on some peoples views on this topic.  Reading this book was a good way to get into doing this project because it really helped me get background knowledge on deforestation.  For my lab, I measured the amount of carbon dioxide in an environment with grass (forest) and and environment with cut grass (deforestation).  Doing this lab really helped me prove the points I was trying to make in the final project.  It also was easier to understand than an article online.  Seeing the carbon dioxide change on the graph was a more visual way of looking at my information.  Before researching deforestation, I never realized what a great effect it has on the environment.  I already knew it had a big effect on animals because of them losing their homes and not having as many food sources.  I didn't know that 70% of the earth's land animals live in the forests, so there is a great amount of animals that could go extinct.  I learned that deforestation causes global warming because not as many trees are there to absorb CO2.  Also, I learned that there could be droughts, deserts, and less rain because trees play a big role in the water cycle.  They bring water vapor into the air, which causes rain.  I think this project went and is going very well.  Along the way, there were times when I was confused how we were putting all of our information together, but I understand it now. 
     Learning about deforestation hasn't changed me or my family directly, but it makes us more aware of what is going on.  There isn't anything my family can change to end deforestation.  We could maybe try to use less paper, but one family doing that out of the whole world isn't going to make a huge difference.  I feel that this project was good for me.  It made me aware of what is happening in the world and what could happen if deforestation doesn't end.  Not only am I now aware of deforestation, but other environmental problems that other people are researching.  The results other people have found could impact my life and make me live "greener".  Overall, after researching and learning about many different problems in the world that effect our earth, I think I will work harder to be more green.  I will turn off lights and unplug appliances when they are not being used.  Basically, I am more aware than I was before this project started.  I hope that everyone can take this information and try to make our community, maybe even the country or world, a better place.