NEWS

The Devastation of Deforestation

by Sofia Conklin

An Earth without forests may seem far-fetched. Perhaps it looks like a desert or a boundless stretch of factories and farmland. Maybe the atmosphere is full of smog so thick that not even the sun can hope to penetrate it. Or maybe it looks more like a disturbing post-apocalyptic dystopia, like the ones we see in movies. Unfortunately, this unthinkable scenario may become a reality if we continue to destroy acres of forests at our current rate.

  According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, an estimated 10 million hectares (24,710,538 acres) of land are lost around the globe annually. For perspective, one tree absorbs about 40 pounds of carbon each year, which is re-released into the atmosphere when the tree is destroyed. But if trees are critical in slowing the warming of our planet, then why are we destroying acres upon millions of acres of forest? The answer: agriculture. Agriculture makes up three-quarters of the 10 million hectares of forest lost yearly. As the demand for land to produce meat and other products increases, more trees are being cut and burned down to clear room for industrial agriculture (like raising cattle or growing crops). But in a world where there’s more economic benefit from cutting down trees for land than leaving them alone, how can we solve the problem of deforestation?

Understanding deforestation is not enough to solve the problem. The real solution lies in smart reforestation, which involves re-planting trees to make up for lost ones. In the United States, when a large fire or cutting destroys trees, the Forest Service sends a team to plant new trees in their place. But it’s not as simple as planting a tree in place of another. The process is time-consuming and expensive. There is also a lot of research involved, regarding the climate of the area being reforested and consequences that could ensue. In particular, Chinese researchers have found that in some areas, the species of trees they planted are absorbing all the groundwater, which could create a water crisis in the future. In response, the Forest Service has developed a technique they call Individual, Clumps, and Openings, or ICO. By planting different types of trees with uneven spacing between them, the open space allows for the new growth of shrubs and diverse plant species. This will promote biodiversity and help our forests re-establish their ecosystems.

Although reforestation cannot solve the problem of climate change, it can play a role in getting to 0 emissions. For this to happen, scientists, politicians, economists, and companies across the nations must work together to ensure the preservation of the forests and trees within them. How does the Earth look now? Perhaps the desolate, dystopian image you once had for the future is gone. Maybe it's been replaced with a flourishing Earth, booming with nature and life. Instead of accepting the mistreatment of our forests, we must fight against deforestation and work to conserve the beauty we have now.