|
|
|
|
|
|
by xyzwave
1873 days ago
|
|
|
Lot of comments here suggesting that lack of economic utility is to blame for the Amazon’s deforestation. While maybe true on an immediate basis, this overlooks the fact that 1/4 of all western medicines are derived from rainforest plants. Moreover, of the 3000 plants the US National Cancer Institute has found to be active against cancer cells, almost 3/4 come from tropical rainforests [1]. I don’t even think we can begin to quantify the losses we’re suffering as the Amazon is depleted. But I’m damn near certain the economic utility of logging and cattle ranching pale in comparison to the valuation of the drugs we’ve yet to discover in these forests. 1. http://www.earthtimes.org/encyclopaedia/environmental-issues... |
|
|