DEFORESTATION

Deforestation is an ongoing global issue, and arguably affects every continent. Although deforestation is evident worldwide, it is most apparant and devastating in the rainforests of South America, Africa, and Indonesia. According to National Geographic, over 20% of the Amazon has been cut down within the last 40 years. This is the most forested area cut down in over 450 years. Deforestation is a result of several human and natural factors. Cattle raising, logging, fires, mining, oil and gas, and agriculture are but a few examples.

Deforestation affects the lives of many people, and many of the world's species of flora and fauna. Many indigenous peoples of the rainforest are losing their land to deforestation, often being threatened by the logging companies to relinquish thier land or suffer dire consequences, including death. According to National Geographic, seventy percent of the world’s land animals and plants live in rainforests. Due to deforestation, biodiversity in rainforests will change, which forces animals to adapt to new conditions. Unfortunately, this rapid change often leads to the extinction of species. Currently, we have an unprecidented rate of speicies loss occurring worldwide, partially due to deforestation of these biodiverse regions. Additionally, many pharmaceutical companies derive medicines from plants found in the rainforest. Research done by the University of Michigan suggests that 25% of pharmaceuticals come from rainforests, and with the current rate of deforestation, our planet is losing a potential resource for an advancement in medical research and medicines. The cure for many diseases, including cancer, may lie somewhere in the rainforest just waiting to be discovered, if we can manage to save the world's last remaining rainforests.

Rainforests help our planet in several ways. National Geographic states that rainforests help regulate the world’s climate by releasing water vapor back into the atmosphere. Without trees, particularly rainforests, water vapor cannot be circulated back into the atmosphere, and existing forests can eventually dry up, leading to what is referred to as desertification. National Geographic states that rainforests help generate rainfall in areas that are prone to droughts and that the destruction of these rainforests can cause long droughts in several countries worldwide, such as Kenya, Nigeria, India, and several other countries. Additionally, the roots of trees also help stabilize soil and prevent the erosion of valuable earth. And of course, there are several recent studies that link deforestation to global warming. This is because trees consume/filter carbon dioxide, which is one of the main greenhouse gasses. When a tree is cut down and/or burned, the tree releases the carbon dioxide that it stored as energy into the atmosphere, further contributing to global warming.