Ava Lieb

July 7, 2016
Deforestation
Cause of choosing this issue:
I chose to use deforestation as the topic of my interest and report on it
because I am very intrigued by animal species along with some plants and with
deforestation, comes increased risk of extinction of many species. As the
assignment page stated, we are at our sixth highest rate of extinction as of right
now. I personally think this is outrageous and I am interested to find out why we are
losing so many species and what there is to do to help.
As I have learned growing up, even small steps from a single individual can
help in preventing loss from extinction or any other factor of nature. Just one person
can make a huge difference I am intrigued to learn about the new ways that they
are trying to help the animals and plants in harms way. This assignment would be a
fascinating way to learn about it and see if there is anything I personally could do to
help at some point.
Without them, we would not be provided with the oxygen that we need to live
and they would not provide homes for people and wildlife. Several of the worlds
most endangered species are located in forests along with 1.6 billion people that
rely on the forest for survival. Forests proved so many resources to those that live
around them.
Where is it occurring?
Forests cover about 31% of our earth. Brazil is the number 1 country in the
world for deforestation with almost 3.5 million hectares cut. Indonesia comes in
second with nearly 1.5. According to research, there are 180 countries currently
taking part in deforestation. A few other large ones being Russian Federation,
Mexico, Papua New Guinea, and Peru.
Deforestation is main happening in the worlds key emerging economies. We
have already lost nearly 50% of the earths original forest. We lose an average of 13
million hectares of forest each year. That is an equivalent of 36 football fields a
minute which is absolutely unbelievable.
Why is it occurring?
The main reason for deforestation is for the formation of agricultural
plantations. The increase in global demand for commodities, such as palm oil and
soybeans, are driving industrial-scale producers to clear forests at an insane
rate. The largest producer of palm oil was named fastest forest destroyer in the
2008 Guinness Book of World Records.
There are also reports that half the trees that are removed from forests are
illegally used as fuel. Some other main causes are to make room for housing or

urbanization, to harvest timber, to create resources for consumers, and to create

room for ranches. Resources include furniture, homes, oil, etc.
What is being done to handle it?
There ae several associations in different counties that represent the effect
against deforestation. Some companies are trying their best to find alternative ways
to produce commodities like timber, beef, soy, palm oil, and paper in ways that does
not hurt the earth or call for deforestation. Some people are taking smaller steps as
in planting their own resources so that they are not taking away from the
environment by impacting our climate.
Other companies stand to make people and other companies more aware of
the usefulness of recycling wood, pulp, paper, fiber, etc. and maximize their use.
There are several ways that we can help to prevent deforestation, even if its just
making sure to recycle when we can or may attention to which companies you buy
products from to decrease funds to those that are taking away from our forests.
Billions of acres have been lost to deforestation but it is not too late to prevent more
from going.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzK2XITThZM
Reflection:
Before my research, I truly had no idea how severe deforestation really was. I
knew that is was happening rapidly around the world but the thought that nearly
50% of our original forest land is gone already is truly devastating. Over one
hundred species alone are killed off daily because of deforestation.
Learning about this subject really made me think about even the minor
things that I could do to prevent such severe tragedy to our earth and try to make a
difference even if its something as simple as being more persistent on recycling or
planting a tree here and there. It is amazing what a small difference can make and
what kind of effect it can have in the long run.
I hate to imagine what our future is going to look like in several years when
close to 75% of our forests have been taken away from us. I really hope that it
never gets to that point or humanity itself could actually be at risk.
References:
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/forests/solutions-to-deforestation/
http://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/5-big-causes-of-deforestationand-how-you-can-stop-it/
http://www.edenprojects.org/our_work
https://maplecroft.com/about/news/deforestation.html

http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/countries-with-highest-deforestationmap.html
http://www.livescience.com/27692-deforestation.html