1Recognizing the month of May 2014 as "Rainforest Awareness
2Month" in Pennsylvania and urging Commonwealth residents to
3become aware of the disappearing rainforests worldwide and to
4make choices that can lead to protection of those remaining
5areas.

6WHEREAS, Rainforests originally covered 12% of the earth's
7surface, and now cover just 6%, yet are home to more than one
8half of the planet's species; and

9WHEREAS, Fifty million indigenous peoples call the
10rainforests home and have lived there sustainably for thousands
11of years; and

12WHEREAS, More than 25% of the medicines in general use today
13originated in the rainforests; and

14WHEREAS, Although they cover only a small portion of the
15earth's surface, rainforests affect climate and weather
16worldwide; and

17WHEREAS, Tropical rainforests replenish 20% of the oxygen in
18the atmosphere through photosynthesis, but more importantly

1perhaps, they store vast amounts of carbon in their biomass
2which is, in large part, the carbon released by the burning of
3fossil fuels for cars, electricity and industry; and

4WHEREAS, When forests are destroyed, often by burning, huge
5amounts of CO2 are released, exacerbating the greenhouse effect
6and global warming; and

7WHEREAS, Rainforests play a key role in controlling flooding,
8erosion and siltation in many parts of the world, as they absorb
9huge amounts of rainfall and then slowly release it as a
10constant supply of clean H2O; and

11WHEREAS, Global weather patterns are impacted by the dark,
12warm and humid rainforests due to the slowly released water
13vapor that rises to the atmosphere and forms clouds, which
14travel great distances and bring essential rain all over the
15world; and

16WHEREAS, Rainforests are also responsible for maintaining the
17hydrological cycle and rainfall patterns, and one tree can
18release as much as 75 gallons of water per day; and

19WHEREAS, According to the Rainforest Foundation US,
20rainforest acreage equal to the size of a football field is
21destroyed every second; and

22WHEREAS, Approximately 32 million acres of rainforest are
23lost each year around the globe; therefore be it

24RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives join with the
25Rainforest Foundation US in designating May 2014 as "Rainforest
26Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and urge all Commonwealth
27residents to make small, everyday choices which can have a far-
28reaching positive impact on rainforest protection by choosing
29products that include sustainably harvested rainforest resources
30that do not compromise the well-being of rainforest communities

1and species; and be it further

2RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all
3Commonwealth residents to become more conscious of the benefits
4of the world's rainforests, for schools to hold discussions
5about the effects that the disappearance of rainforests may have
6on the world and that all residents speak out to the President
7and Congress of the United States, corporate officials and
8others about any concerns they may have about the need to
9protect the world's rainforests; and be it further

10RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
11the Rainforest Foundation US and to the presiding officers of
12each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from
13Pennsylvania.