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Deforestation is the clearing or removal of trees from an area of woodland or forest for many
differing reason usually commercial. Deforestation usually doesn't apply to cases where the
trees are replaced, usually as saplings, in the same or alternative location in order to replace
those that were cut down. Also usually refers to large scale clearing of whole areas rather than
limited or selective clearing.




 



Rainforests are the richest and most diverse areas on the planet and are home to the vast
majority of the worlds species, many yet to be seen or classified by science. Any one can wander
into a rainforest and will fairly quickly discover a new species.

This biodiversity took many millions of years to

evolve and can be destroyed with the swipe of a
powerful saw. There is no possibility of getting
back the estimated 50,000 species that go
extinct every year a figure that is increasing.
The chance to explore this forest world is
disappearing fast and won't come again once
it's gone, a chance future generations won't
thank us for denying them.

Not only are countless species being lost but

also the chance to increase or knowledge of the
world, chemicals and medicines unknown to
science are out waiting to be discovered. The
preservation of the rainforest also means the
chance to explore these opportunities and
make new discoveries and advance human
knowledge.
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A combination of deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels releasing much larger amounts of
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than would occur naturally whilst simultaneously disabling
the planets ability to absorb and cope with this influx in green house gases has lead to the
current climate changes and noticeable global warming. The main effects of climate change
have been a rise in temperature throughout the year leading to widespread environmental
change species moving their ranges further north to follow the increase in temperature. Melting
of the polar icecaps leading to a reduction in range for polar species. A consequent rise in sea
levels leading to flooding of low lying land. More violent and extreme weather systems leading
to the devastation of affected areas and causing huge loss of life.

This isn't a prediction of what will happen in the future it's happening now and maybe
irreversible already. So now a immediate damage limitation exercise need to take place to
ensure the climate doesn't get out of control this has to involve the protection and restoration
of the worlds forests.

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The safe keeping of our precious
planet lies with each and every
member of its human population. We
are the ones accountable for our
actions even though it is ourselves we
are accountable too. We have the
power and knowledge to turn this
planet into a green and pleasant place
to live or to completely destroy all
life. Deforestation is one of the major
pressing environmental issues we
face and one we must address the
solutions to and quickly if we are to
restore the damage we have done to
the environment
s deforestation continues unabated the remaining pockets of forest get smaller and smaller and
more widely dispersed. Controlling deforestation is a divisive issue. We can plot the rate of the
rainforests disappearance, but are we simply plotting our own demise. If we are no careful we
may find nature flourishing without us there to witness it. Only now are we waking up to the
fact that we need to do something and fast as it may already be too late.

If we don't act then all life on the planet may be at risk. Forests are the lungs of the planet
keeping the atmosphere supplied with oxygen and taking out carbon dioxide and storing it in
the plant's cells. This finely tuned system is being affected by man as once a tree is burned
carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere and with far fewer trees much less oxygen is
being released. This system is what makes the planet habitable for all life. We should be
thanking and preserving the forests for this life giving service not destroying and abusing it. We
need to restore this natural balance before things get out of control.

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Though distant forests seem miles away from
your life living in the urban or suburban
sprawl the choices you make daily influence
the lives of plants and creatures on every
continent. One example of this is palm oil,
used in a wide variety of products found on
your supermarket shelf. Palm oil comes from
the Indonesian islands such as Borneo, where
rainforest is cut down to supply room for
evermore of this crop. Without the heavy
canopy and root system of the rainforest the
soil quickly erodes and nothing can grow not
even oil palms so more land has to be found.
This trade is quickly driving the orangutan to
extinction in the wild. A simple choice not to
buy products containing palm oil can make a
huge difference. This is just one example
among many but by being aware of where
the things you buy and use daily come from
and how they are produced allows you to
make decisions, which will help save the
planet. The two simple rules are buying local
(less food miles) and buy only sustainable or recyclable products.

Other things you can do include using energy and fuel efficiently and as little as possible by
making our home, work and transport as carbon neutral as possible. Minimizing our carbon
footprint doesn't mean cycling everywhere or sitting in a cold damp house through the winter, it
just means not wasting energy; by not leaving electric items on standby and switching off what
we don't need. Making sure our appliances and cars are as efficient and environmentally
friendly as possible and going for those green energy tariffs.

One thing we can all do is lobby government to make the necessary large-scale changes in
legislation needed to preserve the environment. However there is no need to wait for
government action, you have the power to act now