This block investigates the richest storehouse of the world s biological diversity. You will develop an understanding of the environmental science of tropical forests by exploring their role in global carbon and water cycles, and also as a genetic storehouse. While scientists only visit these forests, you will also make contact with indigenous communities who live there trying to secure the future of their forest home. Block 4 will discuss how your own daily choices as a consumer connect to the fate of what has been called the Earth s lungs . Unfortunately due to copyright restrictions the DVD material referred to in this book is not available for sale as a result study of some of the activities is limited.