Deforestation has, unfortunately, become a growing problem over the past few years. Thirty-one percent of the Earth is covered in forest, and these forests are being torn down, leaving animals homeless. This is occurring all over the planet, even right across the street from Oakdale High School.  In order to have a flourishing environment, something must be done to prevent deforestation.

Deforestations can come in many forms, such as wildfires, clear-cutting for agriculture, ranching and development, logging for timber, and degradation due to climate change. The World Wildlife Funds claims, “This impacts people’s livelihoods and threatens a wide range of plant and animal species. We’re losing 18.7 million acres of forests annually, equivalent to 27 soccer fields every minute.”

Hannah Lindemann, a sophomore, feels strongly on the subject, as “10% of all population could be extinct by 2043 if deforestation keeps increasing.” She isn’t the only one concerned. Many are calling for environmental action, specifically by the current presidential administration.

Farmers and lumberjacks, as well as others in industries relying on natural resources, don’t fully comprehend the dangers they create for the environment and the creatures residing in it.All simply for the production of new houses, rather than using the multitude already available. It would be a better solution to renovate pre-existing buildings.

National Geographic expressed, “The most dramatic impact is a loss of habitat for millions of species. Eighty percent of Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive the deforestation that destroys their homes.”

When deforestation occurs, humans are losing the benefits of photosynthesis. Overall, trees not only help the health of the planet but the health of those on it. We’re destroying our very source of life.

Jacy Duffy, a sophomore from Oakdale, explained: “The more trees there are, the less atmospheric carbon dioxide which leads to the cooling down of our earth because deforestation greatly affects climate change.”

Climate and Weather wrote, “It is estimated that more than 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide are released to the atmosphere due to deforestation, mainly the cutting and burning of forests, every year.”

”It will be cleaner for the animals and if we are going to continue it’s gonna harm us mentally and physically,” Sophomore Kyra Jones agrees.

When the rate of deforestation decreases, the planet will have a healthier environment for everyone, humans, and animals. We will have more carbon dioxide to spare, more Tropical forest emissions, save money, and climate change solutions protect our citizens.No matter what your stance may be, there is an undeniable truth, we affect the state of our world. It is up to us to save the environment before it becomes too late.

Citations

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation/

https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/atmospheric/weather-and-climate-whats-difference.htm

https://www.worldwildlife.org/