Jennifer Mata

GEOG 1700
11/6/2014
Environmental Degradation Deforestation

Deforestation is the result of cutting or removing all the trees in a certain area. Forests still cover
about 30 percent of the worlds land area, but swaths the size of Panama are lost each and every year
(Deforestation ). I learned that although some deforestation is not done on purpose a lot of it is still
caused by human natural causes like wildfires. Some of the reasons forests are cut down are for things
related to money or for people trying to provide for their families. The leading cause of deforestation is
agriculture. It has increased quickly in the last 50 years but has been practiced since the 1600s.
The most negative impact deforestation has on the world is that it is the home for millions of
different species, which would leave most without a place to live. According to National Geographic,
Seventy percent of Earths lands animals and plants live in forests (Deforestation ). Also, at least 1.6
billion people rely on the forest for benefits like food, fresh water, and traditional medicine. Another thing
I learned about deforestation is that it has a huge effect on climate change; without the trees blocking the
forest soils it is much easier for it to dry out. Forest loss contributes between 12 percent and 17 percent
of annual global greenhouse gas emissions (Szalay).
Something I didnt know was that a lot of the worlds logging operations are done illegally to
build access for roads and other types of things like that. The logging operations that are done legally use
the trees for the worlds wood and different types of paper products.
Nigeria, Indonesia, and Brazil have the worlds highest rates of deforestation. Specifically the key
emerging economies. Mexico is also not far behind. Deforestation is a particular concern in tropical
rainforests because these forests are home to much of the worlds biodiversity (WWF). Over the last 50
years in the Amazon, at least 17% of the forest has been lost because of deforestation. This has been
mostly for agricultural reasons. About 22 percent of the remaining indigenous forest is located in places

like Canada, Alaska, Russia, and the Northwestern Amazon basin. Although, the Amazon is one of the
most targeted places for deforestation.

A cleared forest in Riau province, Sumatra, Indonesia.

Credit: Alain Compost / WWF-Canon

I think telling someone to stop cutting down trees is easier said than done. Although it has many
negative consequences to it, it is a huge impact on the worlds agriculture and is the only way for some
people to survive. Whether it be selling wood to pay the bills or burning it to keep warm during the
winter. There are many operations like World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Greenpeace USA. Greenpeace
investigates, exposes, and confronts environmental abuse by corporations around the world, and takes
action with its supporters (Leonard).
In my opinion, the most logical and fair way to stop/reduce deforestation would be to limit and
monitor very closely when trees are being cut down. I know its impossible to stop it completely because
unfortunately, the world relies on wood. The laws should be stricter on knowing what everything is going
to be used for and how much is being cut down. I also think that its important to plant another tree for
every one that is cut down. We forget about the future and next generations that will be left with the
mistakes from the past and its significant to try and avoid that.

In conclusion, I learned that although deforestation is a serious problem in the world today; there
seems to me like it is something we will one day be able to control and stop taking advantage of if people
became more informed. Wood will always be a necessity for life whether youre living in the smaller
parts of the world or in the big city. What matters is close monitoring and not abusing what was here long
before everyone else was.

References
"Deforestation ." National Geographic (1996-2014).
Leonard, Annie. "Greenpeace USA." n.d.
Szalay, Jessie. livescience. 6 March 2013.
WWF. World Wildlife Fund. 2014.
http://youtu.be/oBIA0lqfcN4 - Amazon Deforestation Time lapse