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Deforestation Facts

Deforestation Facts
Deforestation is the removal of trees from an area of land that is then used for other purposes, such as farming, ranching, or for the spread of urban uses. Deforestation can occur for the purpose of harvesting timber, creating pasture, and for growing commodities such as soybeans. When deforestation occurs for reasons other than sustainable forestry, damage to the regions biodiversity, habitat and atmosphere occur. Sustainable forestry is a method of harvesting trees while also replanting to replace and regenerate the area. When a region is subjected to deforestation the impact often spreads beyond its immediate area. Deforestation contributes to global warming, endangering species, and destroying a healthy balance in the environment.
Interesting Deforestation Facts:
Common causes of deforestation include agricultural activity, logging, fire, mining and spreading urbanization.
Although forests cover approximately 30% of the world's land it is estimated that in 100 years the rainforests will be gone due to deforestation.
Although it is often assumed that logging is the main reason for deforestation, agriculture is the #1 cause of deforestation.
12 to 17% of the annual greenhouse gas emissions are due to the loss of forests.
It is estimated that the equivalent of 20 football fields of forest are cleared every minute.
The rainforests contain more than 120 known natural remedies that can be used by humans as medicine today. ΒΌ of the known cancer fighting organisms are found in the Amazon Rainforest.
Approximately 20% of our oxygen is produced in the rainforests. It is estimated that they will be gone in 100 years, resulting in an extremely devastating oxygen production loss.
Because of deforestation it is estimated that the earth will lose as many as 28,000 species in the next 25 years. These species depend on the rainforests for their shelter, food, and reproduction.
It is estimated that deforestation has already resulted in the loss of 50% of the earth's tropical rainforests.
Non-industrialized countries use only a fraction of the wood products produced by deforestation than industrialized nations use.
It is estimated that the United States uses 30% of the paper produced worldwide yet they only have 5% of the world's population.
Trees are important to the ecosystem as they absorb carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, and convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.
Effects of deforestation include flooding, soil erosion, species extinction, climate imbalance and global warming.
Trees absorb water from the ground and release it into our atmosphere in a process called transpiration. Deforestation disrupts this process and the result is a drier climate and water table disruption.
Reusing and/or recycling paper and plastic bags can decrease deforestation. Using canvas bags is the best alternative.
Buying products with only eco-friendly packaging can help prevent deforestation.
Many organizations conduct tree planting to help increase the number of trees on the planet and to discourage deforestation.
The soil in forests is moist but when the trees are cleared the soil has no protection from the sun and quickly becomes dried out.
Attempts are made by some companies to replant young trees when logging occurs, but when land is cleared for agricultural purposes this is not an option.
Financial profits are the main reason behind deforestation.


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