Forests form a third of all land on earth, providing vital organic infrastructure for some of plant’s densest and most diverse collections of life. Forests support countless species as well as 1.6 billion human livelihoods, yet humans are also responsible for 32 million acres of deforestation every year. Forest products affect our daily lives.
Forest products are used in our daily lives. The fruits, paper and wood from trees go into daily manufacturing of goods and other items we use daily. Forest by-products also go into the manufacture of other everyday items like medicines, cosmetics and detergents. Forests are very important in biodiversity and livelihood for humans.
Forests provide habitats to diverse animal species, and they also form the source of livelihood for many different human settlements as well as for governments. Forests offer watershed protection, provide the timber and non-timber products and so many recreational venues.
Forests prevent soil erosion, help in maintaining the water cycle, and check global warming by using carbon dioxide in photosynthesis.
It is unfortunate that a lot of deforestation is going on today.
For over half a century, about half the world’s original forest cover has been lost, the most significant cause for that being humans beings’ unsystematic use of its resources. When deforestation occurs, the trees, shrubs, and the entire ecosystem begins to fall apart, with dire consequences for all of us.
EFFECTS OF DEFORESTATION
- Global Warming
- Climate imbalance
- Soil erosion
- Wild life extinction
- Floods
HOW TO PROTECT THE FOREST AND STOP DEFORESTATION
- Encourage Tree planting – plant a young tree for each old tree that is felled
- Go paperless
- Use recycled products and encourage recycling
- Government should make laws to ban tree cutting and encourage use of gas for cooking instead of firewood
