Deforestation
By:Ellie Bryan
Prevention Tips
- Plant more trees
- Switch to a plant based diet so there's less need for land for livestock
- Raise awareness about what's going on
Effects on Health
Did you know that when trees are cut down it can pollute the water? When deforestation occurs the tree's roots are no longer holding the soil down. This allows the soil to be blown into nearby streams or lakes. When we drink the water from that stream we are also drinking the soil which can be hazardous to our health.
According to the EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, biodiversity can help protect people from newer diseases. Having the different trees around you could prevent you from getting new viruses like Lyme disease and West Nile virus.
Environment
CO2 is released into the atmosphere everytime we cut down a tree. This is because all the CO2 that the tree had stored up was released when it died. The 2010 Global Forest Resources Assessment estimates that deforestation releases about a billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere per year.
Issues
Rainforest Alliance president Tensie Whelan thinks that deforestation-free sounds like a great idea. However, it will take a lot of hard work and determination to make it a reality.
Also, scientists at the University of Michigan estimate that only 1% of all the plant species present in rainforests have been screened for potential medical use. So, when we cut down forests we are erasing a hope for a cure for things like cancer.
Advocation
ADM, a manufacturing company, agreed to work with the Forest Trust, a non-profit organization that helps companies reduce their carbon footprint. If big companies can reduce their carbon output couldn't you?