Deforestation
What is Deforestation ?
Deforestation happens when businesses clear large portions for money or provide for needs of the growing population. Agriculture is the biggest contributor to deforest Farmers cut forests to provide more room for planting crops or livestock. ( The National Geographic)
Causes of Deforestation in Canada 2005
This pie graph shows how deforestation was caused in Canada in 2005
Loggers in Kenya
The cost of deforestation in Kenya far exceeds gains from forestry and logging according to a study conducted by the UN. (UN News Centre)
Deforestation In Brazilian Amazon 1988-2012
This graph shows the rates of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 1988 to 2012
Why should we care?
Deforestation has a huge negative effect on wildlife and plants. Seventy percent of the Earth's plants and animals live in forests, continuing the fast rates of deforestation would drive them to extinction. Deforestation also causes climate change, trees absorb the greenhouse gases that fuel global warming. ( The National Geographic)
Greenpeace: Stopping Amazon Deforestation
Anthropologist Unravels the Effects of Deforestation by Heating Up
Solutions
- Instead of clear cutting( cutting entire forests) many businesses now do selective cutting( cutting only portion of the forest)
- Buy recycled products
- Try to use as less paper as possible
- Became a vegetarian if everyone was a vegetarian then farmers will no longer need to cut down forests to raise livestock
- Plant trees
- Enroll in paperless billing (Mother Nature Network)