From the Paper
"Rainforests are some of the most valuable resources we have, yet they are being destroyed in massive proportions. Many medicines, foods, natural insecticides and oil producing trees are found in the rainforest. The rainforest also holds endless possibilities for useful, undiscovered resources such as cures for disease and new food crops. The rainforest is also a big producer of the world's oxygen supply. When we destroy the rainforest, we are destroying our own oxygen supply. Many organizations have been battling to save the rainforests. If the destruction is to stop, a greater effort must be made to understand the causes behind the destruction of the rainforests. "

Tags:environment, amazon, rainforest, fast, food, ecology, brazil, venezuela

Abstract
The factors responsible for the reef devastation are directly attributed to human actions. This paper looks at the questions surrounding this destruction and offers many examples of why and what is causing the reef's destruction. In the end, the author recommends ways in which the destruction may be halted.

From the Paper
"For the last fifty years marine biologists have chronicled the deterioration and destruction of corals on reef systems worldwide. Coral reefs provide sanctuary for over a fourth of the world's marine fish species and consist of as much biodiversity as tropical rainforests. Unfortunately, both are now disappearing at an astounding rate"

Tags:algae, band, black, bleaching, bloom, coral, disease

Abstract
This paper examines the problem of deforestation and attempts to shows why the problem exists in the Amazon and Alaska. The paper explores several of the consequences of deforestation, and offers some viable solutions that need to be implemented in order to circumvent its repercussions.

From the Paper
"Since the advent of agriculture, farmers have cleared the land to make way for pastures, gardens, and cultivated fields. The result is that millions of acres of forests have been destroyed over the centuries. But deforestation is not just a circumstance that happened in ancient history. At the present time all around the world, the deforestation of woodlands and jungles is occurring at an alarming rate. Deforestation is leading the entire earth into a crisis situation because the loss of millions of acres of forests and woodlands is upsetting the delicate ecobalance of the planet (Garland 127). The basic argument is that if people continue the practice of destroying millions of trees each year, then the earth as a whole will suffer drastic consequences such as global warming, the greenhouse effect, the loss of plant and animal diversity, and a depletion of oxygen and ozone in the atmosphere. To be concise, our current deforestation practices are destroying the environment. The consequence is that human life on our planet is under potential threat. "

Tags:ecology, rainforest, alaska, amazon, japan, South, America, ecobalance, diversity, Peace, Corps

Abstract
This paper examines the affects of global warming by utilizing extensive data to support the argument that global warming is a serious issue. This paper argues that he current global warming trend can be halted, but it will take the collaborative efforts of everyone to gradually phase out fossil fuels and replace them with alternative energy sources.

From the Paper
"Imagine that you own a piece of beachfront property on the beautiful coast of North Carolina. The house has been in your family for years and you plan on passing it down to your children. In fifty years the ocean will have slowly crept more than halfway up the beach. Every high tide, waves pummel the pilings that support the entire weight of the house. Hurricanes have also become much more frequent and far more powerful. You begin to worry that if this continues, eventually the house will succumb to the forces of nature and crash into the sea. The following year, a devastating class Five hurricane wipes out every home on the beach. All that remains of your once beautiful vacation home is a concrete ..."

Tags:air, carbon, dioxide, effect, environment, fossil, fuel, gases, global, greenhouse, pollution, warming

Abstract
This paper looks at the many potential and proven benefits resulting from the usage of genetically modified organisms such as longer lasting and better tasting fruits and vegetables, crops that require less use of pesticides, and improved nutrient content in certain foods. The author also examines specific problems with using such organisms.

From the Paper
"The scientific and social communities are currently engaged in a heated debate about the benefits versus the risks of Genetically Modified foods. The benefits are predicted to aid the agriculture community and humans while the risks are expected to also affect the ecosystem and humans negatively. Two specific examples of GM's soybeans and corn---are currently in the forefront in this controversial and unresolved issue."

Tags:agriculture, consequences, corn, ecosystem, farming, genetic, gmo, soybeans

Abstract
In this paper, the output of a soil nutrient, phosphorus, is examined and it is demonstrated that transpiration plays a role in the phosphorus cycle as transpiration can lead to phosphate output from the soil by initiating soil water extraction by plants. Definitions of key phrases are included within the text of the paper.

From the Paper
"Importantly, phosphorus, as an element, is present in phosphate, a water soluble compound characterized by one phosphorus atom for every four oxygen atoms. The water-soluble characteristic of phosphate is very important from the perspective of plant nutrient intake because, when phosphate is dissolved in soil water, it can enter a plant that draws soil water through its roots. However, in order for a plant to draw in soil water that may be enriched with phosphate, usually transpiration must occur first. For this reason, an analysis of how transpiration leads to the intake of soil water by a plant is necessary in order to understand transpiration's role in instigating the output of phosphorus from soil."

Tags:atmosphere, biogeochemical, cycling

Abstract
Soil is an incredibly important resource and maintaining the fertility of our soils is a pressing issue at the forefront of environmental science as we try to feed an expanding global population. Queensland, Australia is one area of the world where soil is being depleted and degraded at an alarming rate. Through an examination of this specific resource management problem, this essay analyzes the concept of impact assessment to develop fair, efficient and effective solutions to this environmental problem.

From the Paper
?The preservation and conservation of the worlds soil is a serious resource management problem. The sustainable use of our soil will be a major challenge for the human species for many years to come. When assessing the impact of any resource management problem and developing feasible solutions to that problem certain factors must be taken into consideration. Examining the fairness, efficiency and effectiveness of a proposed solution is paramount to its potential success. A solution for soil loss that is completely unfair to farmers or ranchers will be rigorously opposed and impossible to implement.?

Tags:agriculture, argoforestry, arid, crop, degradation, depletion, desert, desertification, farmland, land, management, marginal, resource, salinisation

Abstract
This paper discusses how ecological footprints, effective ecological tools used to help maintain our world, impose many questions in sustaining the earth's life. Charts are included with the paper.

Defining Our Ecological Footprint
Dependency on Nature
Carrying Capacity of Cities and Earth
Comparison between Countries
Natural Capita: Effects on the Earth
Impact of the World Economies
Solutions

From the Paper
"The world economy has a great impact on the ecological footprints of the world. Every country wants to obtain economic growth to produce more money. But in doing this, they have to deplete their natural capital, which in turn, is not helping in sustaining this world. As William Rees states, "there is simply not enough on the planet to sustain present international development trends using prevailing technologies" (Westra and Werhane ed. 1998, 115). So something drastic has to be done. As the ecological footprints of humans are already too large for the earth to handle, how can we accommodate the rising materials and rising in population, while trying to sustain the earth. Most analysts agree that it can happen in two ways: through a reduction in the standard of living or through the increase in material and energy efficiency (Westra and Werhane ed. 1998, 115). These two issues also apply problems, through cultural, economic, and social values. Especially in the more developed countries. To lower the standard of living would be outright rejected in the more developed countries such as Canada and the U. S. So indeed, most people agree that "global sustainability is achievable only through large increases in the consumption of goods and services in both poorer and richer countries" (Westra and Werhane ed. 1998, 115). But still a problem arises. There will still be inequity in the growth of the more and less developed countries. It seems the richer get richer and the poorer get poorer. A consensus seems to be emerging though. They say that the needed consumption will work if there is a reduction in the material energy costs of goods and services. "

Tags:capacity, carrying, footprints, economy, world, natural, capita, sustainability, consumption, food, ecology, countries, cities, earth, nature

Abstract
This paper summarizes the argument against drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on the basis of damage that would be caused to the environment and the wildlife inhabiting the region. The topic is connected to the events of September 11th which nearly allowed the Republicans to push through an emergency Energy Security Bill, allowing for the extraction of oil from the ANWR.

From the Paper
"In the past 10 months many people have claimed that the world as we knew it a year ago has been profoundly and irreversibly transformed with the events of September 11th, 2001. Others have attacked these claims as being yet another example of American ethnocentrism and egocentricity: the world has not changed, the USA simply got a taste of reality. However, whether the United States was living in a sheltered state of denial in which true poverty, destruction and war never found a home on its shores, or whether the world truly has changed entirely, is a subject for a different debate and a different paper."

Tags:11th, alaska, anwr, bush, caribou, crisis, energy, environment, fuel, george, iraq, national, oil, politics, pollution, porcupine, september, herd

Abstract
This essay contains the history of the pesticide DDT and it's uses within the environment. DTT is a harmful pesticide which has been detrimental to the environment, and has caused a decline in a variety of species. The author focuses specifically on the effects of the pesticide on the environment.

From the Paper
" As earth's population grows so does the demand for food, and the use of pesticides has become essential in meeting this demand. The first important synthetic organic pesticide was a chlorinated hydrocarbon, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane or DDT. DDT was discovered in 1939 by Swiss chemist Paul Meller. In its early days, DDT was a popular pesticide because it was toxic to a wide range of insect pests, yet it appeared to have low toxicity to mammals. DDT was also persistent, which meant the pesticide didn't break down rapidly in the environment and therefore did not need to be reapplied often and since DDT was insoluble it did not wash off by rain or other weather conditions. Although gradually throughout time it was discovered that many insects had developed resistance to DDT, and it was discovered that DDT did in fact pose to be harmful to the ecosystem. This discovery created wide public interest and made people aware that chemicals were polluting the environment. As a result DDT was banned for use in North America and other countries in the early 1970's. Though pesticides, such as DDT, may decrease the number of insects, throughout history it has been proven that there is a detrimental effect upon the environment, animals and humans as a result."

Tags:ecology, ecosystem, damage