Ask A Scientist© Environmental Science Archive

Author:     darkwood
Subject:    How long do you think the rain forest will last?

Response #: 1 of 1
Author:     Don Libby
Text:       I think they will probably last 10 billion years (until the end of 
the earth when the goes nova), or maybe as little as 20 years, if humanity 
makes an all-out effort to destroy them all. That probably will not happen, 
because they are too valuable a resource and will probably be preserved (or at 
least some percentage will probably be preserved). They are very large, and 
their preservation is recognized by the members of the United Nations as a 
worthy goal, so I do not think they will disappear anytime soon.