Deforestation
Deforestation is the permanent destruction of indigenous forests and woodlands. The term does not include the removal of industrial forests such as plantations of gums or pines. Deforestation has resulted in the reduction of indigenous forests to four-fifths of their pre-agricultural area. Indigenous forests now cover 21% of the earth’s land surface.
The biggest concern is the rate at which deforestation is occurring. Currently, 12 million acres of forests are cleared annually. Almost all of this deforestation occurs in the moist forests and open woodlands of the tropics. At this rate all moist tropical forest could be lost by the year 2050, except for isolated areas in Amazonia, the Zaire basin, as well as a few protected areas within reserves and parks. Some countries such as Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Costa Rica, and Sri Lanka are likely to lose all their tropical forests by the year 2010 if no conservation steps are taken.
Solution? The solution is for all of us to cut down on our use of papers products. We need to stop printing everything. We need to start using recycled paper whenever possible. We need start paying our bills online and receiving statements via email. We need to start bringing our own grocery bags to the store instead of using paper ones. We need to start consuming shade grown coffee only. We need to start building our homes with recycled materials. We need to start planting trees instead of cutting them down. We need to start right now…
THE FACTS
Currently, 12 million acres of forests are cleared annually.