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.
Bayfield County: a steady-state marvel