Mrs. Muraco's Australia Project
Dr. Ross Alford's Response
Dear Class,
Thank you all for your letters. I apologize for taking so long to reply but I have been very busy working on solutions to save the frogs, and doing my other normal work, which usually takes up all of my time. Your biosphere sounds very interesting, it's good to know there are so many keen people out there. I am unable to reply to all your letters individually, however I have pulled out all the questions and grouped them together and, with the help of a group of students who are studying frogs in the rainforest with me, we have replied to most of them.
Q
How much rainforest is there in Queensland/Australia?
How many acres of trees are being cut down for supplies?
Why do people want to destroy the rainforests?
What specifically is happening in the rainforest?
Did the cutting down happen on purpose or by accident?
How many trees are cut down now?
Do you think they should stop cutting down trees?
What has happened to the animals that have been displaced?
Why isn't there as much rain as usual?
Is it true that fire starts every hour?
How can kids (4th Graders) help save the rainforest?
A
We work in North Queensland's Wet Tropics rainforests. This is the only tropical rainforest in Australia. Before it was given World Heritage status in 1988, which totally protects it, it was managed by the Forestry Department who selectively logged it for its beautiful timbers. Although it has been totally protected since then, most of the very large trees are gone and it will be many years before visitors see it like it once was. Queensland's Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforests cover about 894,500 hectacres (2,145,600 acres) with a boundary of 1800 miles. An are covering just 1% of the total size of Australia!