You may have heard of the term deforestation before, which means cutting down trees. But what makes it so bad?
There are many reasons why people cut down trees; however, the impacts are huge, and if we don’t stop soon, we will have to pay the price.
People often cut down trees to make products like paper and wood. Trees are also cut down to create space for farming or to raise cattle. When trees are used to make products, they are cut up and processed. When trees are cleared for farmland, they are often cut down and burned, which is referred to as the slash-and-burn method.
The first of many impacts is linked to climate change and the heating of the Earth. Trees store CO₂, so when they are cut down, that CO₂ is released into the atmosphere. If large quantities of trees are removed, this has a significant impact.
Another major impact affects animals that live in these areas, often rainforests. When the trees are taken away, animals lose their homes and no longer have a safe space, leaving them vulnerable. This can lead to certain species becoming endangered or even extinct.
Deforestation also disrupts the water cycle, as trees play a huge role in it. When trees are chopped down, the water they pump into the atmosphere through transpiration is lost. This leads to less cloud formation and rainfall, eventually causing droughts.
Following on from this, droughts cause the land to dry out and become hard to farm. Since farmers rely on their land, when it dries out it not only affects their income but also how much food we can produce and eat.
To help, you can reduce the number of products you use that are made from wood or paper, which can encourage companies to change materials. It is also important to avoid foods containing palm oil, as palm oil is often grown on deforested land.
It’s important to be aware of what’s happening, and it’s not too late to help if we start now.
Thank you for reading!