Kobe Triffitt

What is deforestation?

Deforestation is the purposeful clearing of forested land. Throughout history forests have been cut to make space for housing and gain materials for fuel and construction.

Deforestation had greatly altered landscapes around the world. About 2000 years ago 80% of western Europe was forested, Today the figure is 34% we are currently experiencing a mass decline in forests, plans and species, Wildlife are being forced to move and are becoming endangered.

The reason behind this is for our benefits but it has been taken too far and the consequences have caught up to us leading towards the extinction of animals.

Dangers/Extinction of animals 

With millions of trees cut every year species of animals are being forced to move environments and are in risk of danger and quite possibly extinction.

Deforestation is causing habitat destruction, increased risk of predation, reduced food and once their habitat is lost they are on their way of extinction. Everyday we are losing 137 species of plants, animals and insects, a total of 50,000 every year.

If we don’t do anything about it we will have little to no species left, have no food and a dying environment 17% of the amazon forests has already been cut down and many other rain forests are disappearing every year.

Carbon Emissions and Global Warming 

With all the trees disappearing global warming is also becoming a threat as carbon dioxide is being created more and more every year. Trees have the ability to turn carbon into oxygen but because of deforestation the temps are changing and the ice is melting as well as unusual weather patterns.

When vast areas of trees are stripped stored carbon is released into the atmosphere and lose their carbon abilities, worldwide deforestation contributes to 15% of total green house gas emissions and if we don’t slow down things will continue to get worse.

Recently there has been fundraisers to re-plant and save the environment but more trees are being cut down then planted we are desperately in need of a substitute before its too late

Conclusion

With deforestation we need to see the bigger picture other then our own benefits, animals and plants are in danger and we will be in danger ourselves if we don’t make a change today.