Editor:

We are fifth-grade students in Summit County, Colo. We are concerned with the rainforest deforestation dilemma. We are writing this letter in hopes of raising awareness of the impact of this devastation on our generation and future generations. Rainforest deforestation is an issue not only for the wildlife inhabiting the rainforest, but for humans across the globe.  Although it’s not a commonly known fact, rainforests provide resources used in everyday life all over the world.

For example, 25 percent of all medicines known to civilization have at least one ingredient that originated in a rainforest. Rainforests are also a source of oxygen. Regions without rainforests have less oxygen, likely because of the lack of trees. The trees also are vital to our clean water supply. When the trees are cut down, we lose valuable filters that provide our earth with clean water. Deforestation likely contributes to water crises around the world.

Many commodities stem from the rainforest, too. Products like lumber, chewing gums, rubber, strings, fuel, paint, and wood finishing are routinely elicited from the rainforest. If the trees are cut down, then we will no longer be able to enjoy these luxuries.

We hope that you will take action and save the rainforest now, because each tree that is cut down in vain is one less minute for your children and grandchildren to live.

This is our website: https://sites.google.com/a/ggl.summit.k12.co.us/save-the-rainforest/home [1]. Some websites where you can take action are: http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/adopt/fundraising [2], http://janzen.sas.upenn.edu/caterpillars/RR/rincon_rainforest.htm [3], and http://www.worldlandtrust-us.org/?page=donate [4].

Thank you for your attention.

Nathan Berry, Elizabeth Browne, Kayla Fulkerson, 
Jasmine Purcell, and Ayleen Soto
Summit Cove Elementary
Dillon, Colo.