Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use. Deforestation can include the conversion of land for farms, ranches, or urban use and it occurs when trees need to be used for building or sold as fuel and the land is needed as pasture for livestock and plantation.

Forests cover 31% of the land area on our planet. They produce vital oxygen and provide homes for people and wildlife. Many of the world’s most threatened and endangered animals live in forests, and 1.6 billion people rely on benefits forests offer, including food, fresh water, clothing, traditional medicine and shelter.

There are several problems that have occurred and increased throughout the decades due to deforestation. 

Problem. Forests around the world are under threat from deforestation, jeopardizing the benefits I mentioned earlier. Deforestation comes in many forms, including fires, clear-cutting for agriculture, ranching and development, unsustainable logging for timber, and degradation due to climate change. This impacts people’s livelihoods and threatens a wide range of plant and animal species. We’re losing almost 20 million acres of forests annually, this is equivalent to 27 soccer fields every minute.

Species-rich wild forests are being destroyed, especially in the tropics, often to make way for cattle ranching, soybean or palm oil plantations, or other agricultural monocultures. The amount of the planet’s land covered by forests is about half as much as before agriculture got started around 11,000 years ago.

Forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change because they act as a carbon sink, soaking up carbon dioxide that would otherwise be free in the atmosphere and contribute to ongoing changes in climate patterns. Deforestation undermines this important carbon sink function. It is estimated that 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are the result of deforestation.

Deforestation is a particular concern in tropical rainforests because these forests are home to much of the world’s biodiversity. For example, in the Amazon around 17% of the forest has been lost in the last 50 years, mostly due to forest conversion for cattle ranching. Deforestation in this region is particularly rampant near more populated areas, roads and rivers, but even remote areas have been encroached upon when valuable mahogany, gold and oil are discovered.

There are many reasons that we cut down forests all over the world.

Causes. 

Wood and Timber. While this reason is an issue, it is considered permissible because we use the timber to build houses and other essential things that help us live our daily lives. What is not permissible is the illegal logging that is done everyday, stealing thousands of acres of land that for the most part will never get replaced.

Palm Oil. Palm oil that is not responsibly sourced has often come from a vast expanse of forest that has been cut down and not replaced with other trees or plants. Palm oil, as well as other consumer items, are harvested from huge areas of forest all over the globe and as the demand for these sorts of products grow so does the number of trees that are cut down.

Mining. Oil and mining companies require large amounts of land to build plants. These plants come at a cost of chopping thousands of plants and trees. Apart from that, roads and highways have to be built to connect cities and that requires trees to be cut down that come in the way.

Paper. Until we start making a huge effort to start recycling paper and go paperless, we are going to continue cutting down forests all around the world at an alarming rate. Paper is still common, even in today’s world packed with technology and paperless machines. We still demand books, toilet paper, paper towels and other products that require us to cut down trees.

While there are many causes that lead to deforestation, there are solutions that could at least partially fix the constant killing of plants and trees.

Solution. Ending deforestation is our best chance to conserve wildlife and defend the rights of forest communities. On top of that, it’s one of the quickest and most cost effective ways to curb global warming.

Deforestation and degradation are complex problems. We can put an end to deforestation ourselves by promoting sustainable choices and acting on them of course. We can use less stuff, eat sustainable food, and choose recycled or certified sustainable wood products. Some more solutions are:

• Make sure that the forest-derived products you buy are made from 100% post-consumer content materials.
• Make informed food choices. Eat plant-based diet or simply reduce the amount of meat you eat.
• Buy from companies that have a commitment to reducing deforestation through forest-friendly policies.
• Educate your friends, family, and community about how our everyday actions can impact forests around the world.

Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” In other words, we’re literally killing ourselves and the generations to come. Deforestation can be reduced, and it all starts with you. 

Solutions to Deforestation

How Deforestation Affects Climate Change

Overview of Deforestation