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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 24, 2014 04:23 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Maria P. Donatucci |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Resolution Designating May 2014 as “Rainforest Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce a resolution designating May 2014 as “Rainforest Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania. As you may know, the Rainforest Foundation US (RFUS) annually recognizes May as “Rainforest Awareness Month” as part of its ongoing effort to publicize the critical role this ecosystem plays in the vitality of our planet. According to RFUS, more than 25% of the medicines in general use today had their origins in a rainforest. Rainforests are also home to nearly half of the world’s species. In addition, rainforests are critical to the earth’s future since they play a significant role in the world-wide hydrological cycle and contribute greatly to the absorption of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Regrettably, vast expanses of rainforests are disappearing. While rainforests once covered 12% of the earth’s surface, they now represent only 6% of this land area. RFUS estimates that rainforest land equal to the size of one football field is destroyed every second, which equates to a loss of approximately 32 million acres of rainforests annually. As such, it is important that we continue to recognize and promote the value of rainforests for the current and future well-being of our state, nation, and planet. |
Introduced as HR769