Deforestation and Global Warming

Deforestation is the term used to describe the process of cutting down trees. Hundreds of trees are cut down each day from all over the world. Trees benefit our planet in so many different and unique ways. One primary feature that tree's contribute to Earth is to remove the excess carbon dioxide emitted into the air. When deforestation takes place, there are a less amount of tree's alive to remove the carbon dioxide from the air. Since there are less trees alive on our planet, this allows the emission to reach our atmosphere, which increases the rate of Global Warming. With each passing year, more trees are being cut-down, and our carbon dioxide emissions keep increasing. It's not going to help if we keep cutting down these trees.

Deforestation is a result from human actions.

• Almost 20% of all global Carbon Dioxide emissions are caused by deforestation.
• 25% of all emissions reductions called for by 2050 could be achieved by conserving and restoring tropical forests.
• People who are cutting down trees send as much carbon into the atmosphere as do all the activities of the entire U.S.
• At present rates, about 5.25 million acres of forest are being destroyed every year.
• 1.6 billion people in the developing tropics depend on the world’s forests for their income, food and fuel.
• 2 trillion dollars per year is the estimated cost to the global economy of burning and clearing forests.
• Thousands of species of animals are threatened to extinction as deforestation continues.
• As we continue to cut down more and more trees, it becomes harder to fight Global Warming.