Rainforests, by virtue of their abundant renewable natural resources, have for timeless periods provided the humankind with amenities for survival and well being, including food, clothing, fuel, condiments, products of industrial use, and even remedies for ailments. The loss of rainforests has an intense and overwhelming consequence.

The rainforests house the Earth's richest biological resources. Almost half of the world's biodiversity will be extinct or severely endangered in the next few years if this rainforest deforestation continues. Approximately ten million aboriginal people lived in the rainforests of the Amazon basin five centuries ago. Today the numbered has dwindled to less than 200,000. Along with the loss of the native tribes, their vast knowledge of medicinal uses of the diverse herbs of the rainforests is also gone irrevocably.

Alkaloids are abundant in the rainforest plants. Many such alkaloids have long-established medicinal use. 121 prescription drugs sold all over the world at present are derived from plant-parts. The plants in the rainforests are the sources of about 25% of pharmaceuticals used in the Western countries. But most of these plants are yet to be analyzed by biologists for their active ingredients and potential uses.

It has been found that more species of birds reside in a single biosphere reserve in Peru than the whole United States. Forty three ant species was found on one single tree in Peru. This number approximately equals the number of species of ants in the British Isles. The number of species of fish in the Amazon River surpasses the number found in the total Atlantic Ocean. These figures bear proof to the astounding biodiversity of the Amazonian rainforests. Accordingly, the loss of even one acre of tropical rainforest transpires to the loss of a staggering amount of plant, animal and microorganism species, along with the loss of their possible uses.

It is possible that cutting down the rainforest may result in losing the potential cure for cancer or AIDS that might have been discovered in an untested or unknown plant from the forest. So in every sense, the wealth offered by the intact rainforest exceeds by far the value of the supplies obtained when the trees are felled for industrial purposes.

Save the rain forest!

The amount of interest in Eco friendly travel has soared, as people become more and more aware of environmental issues. Recycling and reducing vehicle emissions. Lowering the use of energy all makes a difference. Now your Eco travel vacation can also make a difference.

There are different things to look for to know if the vacation your are planning is environmentally and socially friendly. Let’s say for an example you went to a resort. You would check if they use environmentally friendly, recycled products? Are they committed to preserving their wild and marine life and the environment? Increase knowledge of local community and benefits socio economically and affordability? Not using wasteful products to make the area more attractive? Do the profits go back into the community? Do they employ local people and pay them fair wages, which is referred to as fair trade? These are all things to consider before deciding on your destination

Government and local communities are starting to work together to conserve their environment while providing much need employment in the area. There are many programs now available to help people in the tourism industry and program directors increase their knowledge of Eco travel, Eco tourism. Consumers that are ethically aware of fair trade have drastically increased sales in the tourism industry by over 50% on any given holiday.

There are now a wide variety of areas in different Countries that offer Eco travel vacations. The industry has grown so much over the past few years that it has become difficult to choose which one. From Costa Rico to Hawaii to Antarctica the choices are endless. Be aware of conservation of our environment and make Eco travel part of your next vacation.

If you have an old fashioned gas or electric fire, you could be burning money AND damaging the environment. It may well pay huge dividends to replace your old heater with a new high efficiency model.

Modern gas fires are among the world’s most efficient home heating appliances. They not only look beautiful, but they provide more warmth and comfort from less fuel consumption than ordinary domestic fires.

Many modern gas fires are room-sealed with glass fronts. High efficiency balanced flue gas fires can be installed with or without a chimney. They draw air from outside the room for combustion and expel waste gases to the outside using a flue that is fitted through an outside wall. This technology combined with superior design means that they can operate at up to 85% efficiency, only wasting 15% of the gas which they consume.

Conventional flue gas fires are also room sealed, but are fitted directly into an existing chimney, heating the air from outside using natural convection. These fires can operate at over 90% efficiency and can all be run on both natural gas and LPG.

If you don’t have gas, why not consider one of the modern high-efficiency electric fires. The best modern electric fires are designed in a unique way to maximise style and comfort, whilst minimising the consumption of electricity. They use LED technology to produce a realistic flame picture that is the closest thing to a gas fire or a solid fuel fire you will ever have seen. They have a heat output of 2000 watts, enough for an average sized living room, and yet they consume considerably less energy than ordinary electric fires.

Whether or not you are thinking of installing a new fire in your home, here are some other ways that you can save money on your home heating:

1. Turn down the thermostat on your central heating by just one degree. This could save you 10% on your heating bill. Over the year, it will also release about 240 kg less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, equivalent to the amount absorbed by about 80 trees!
2. Check your gas and electricity suppliers to see if they’re the cheapest. An average house could save more than £100 per year by switching suppliers.
3. Don’t heat rooms that you don’t use – or heat them at a lower temperature.
4. Only boil a kettle containing as much water as you need.
5. Make sure all draughts are sealed in doors and windows.
6. Fit loft and cavity wall insulation. Some councils give grants for this work.
7. Don’t leave TVs, DVDs, stereos etc on standby. It wastes electricity!
8. Fit energy saving light bulbs and turn off lights when you leave the room.
9. Shower instead of taking a bath, and don’t stand under the shower for longer than you need to.
10. Hang out the washing rather than using the tumble drier.