Hi, i need to write a letter to a government official that will be investing 5 million dollars into protecting/restoring an ecosystem. I need to convince him that Tropical Rainforest is the one. this is my first paragraph of the letter:
The tropical rainforest is an ecosystem that is hot, humid, and flourishing dense forest. It usually contain tall broad leaved evergreen trees forming an extended canopy. The tropical rainforest provide wide ranges of services. The forests and grasslands gives food, fuel, and fiber. It also serves for the control of floods and erosion. Sustainable biodiversity and renetic resources are also provided by this ecosystem. The ecological services of the tropical rainforest is by storing hundreds of billions of tons of carbon. The ecosystem is considered as the major source of carbon globally. The trees soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow. Despite the presence of deforestation, this ecosystem is able to hold more carbon than we can emit. the stored carbon is not emitted into the atmosphere. Therefore, there will be less carbon in the atmosphere. It will help reduce the greenhouse gas effect and impacts of climate change. It also stabilize the soils, gives influence to rainfall patterns, and a home for wildlife and indigenous people. It also provide provisioning services since forest goods and services came from the forest ecosystem. It gives benefit to humans things that they can get from nature. The services it provide includes drinking water, timber, wood, fuel, and medicinal benefits. The tropical rainforest provide regulating services such as climate regulation, natural hazard regulation, and water purification management. The people being benefited by this type of ecosystem are thousands of indigenous people that live within the tropical rainforest. They depend on the ecosystem for food, building materials and fuel. If there is ecotourism, there will be a great reduction of deforestation. Provision for alternatives that will benefit the communities economically will be possible.
For the second paragraph I Need this:
Focus on Carbon Storage
Research the following questions. Keep track of your sources.
How does the ecosystem take up and release carbon to the atmosphere (check the C cycle)?
What processes in the carbon cycle are involved (names and short description)?
Where (in what form) is carbon stored in the ecosystem?
Is the ecosystem currently acting as a sink or a source of carbon? How sure are we?
How much carbon is stored in this ecosystem? Find a recent (local or global) estimate from a reliable source. Ensure you use the correct units & specify the geographical area / where the study was carried out. If you are unable to find a reliable source for this, evaluate the information you have been able to find.
Extension: What changes in abiotic factors affect carbon cycling processes in your ecosystem? (for example global climate change)
Extension: How long has the carbon been stored in the ecosystems (e.g. in soils, peat or sediments, limestone)?
