Forest Conservation

Deforestation happens when trees are cut down and not replanted, usually to make room for grazing land, crops, or housing. Deforestation not only eliminates animals’ homes and shelter, it also destroys their food sources. As a result, deforestation is a leading cause of species extinction.

Deforestation has a number of serious environmental consequences. Perhaps the most well-known is the impact on the climate. Forests play a vital role in regulating the Earth’s climate. When trees are cut down and forests disappear, the land surface warms because there are fewer trees to reflect sunlight and intercept heat. This leads to a rise in average global temperatures.

Trees also absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere. When trees are cut down, it releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. The more we remove forests, the worse global warming becomes.

Fortunately, there are things we can do to help reduce deforestation and promote forest conservation, such as supporting sustainable forestry practices and reducing our consumption of wood and paper products.

Why should we care?

Biodiversity: Forests are home to an astonishing diversity of plant and animal species. Conserving them helps to preserve vital ecosystems and maintain biodiversity.

Climate Change: Forests play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in the form of biomass.

Water Cycle: Forests play a critical role in the water cycle, with trees playing a significant part in regulating the water cycle, keeping soils healthy and absorbing rainfall.

Natural Resources: Forests provide a range of valuable resources, including timber, non-timber forest products such as fruits, nuts, and medicinal plants.

Economic Benefits: Forests provide significant economic benefits to communities through tourism, recreation, and job creation.

Cultural Significance: Forests hold significant cultural and spiritual value for many communities, providing a sense of identity, history and a way of life.

Facts and figures

The main cause of deforestation is the clearance of land for agriculture and other human activities. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), an estimated 18 million hectares of forest are cleared each year, the equivalent of around 27 soccer fields every minute.