Reasons To Avoid Deforestation

There are many controversial topics on which many people may never agree on. For example, politics, religion, and war are very controversial topics. A controversial topic is a deforestation. Deforestation is the removal of a forest where the land is thereafter converted to non-forest use. Many of the world’s forests are disappearing at rapid rates due to cattle ranching, oil palm plantations, urban use, and other human-related activities. Since the year 1990 an estimated 1.3 million square kilometers of forests have been lost. There are many organizations that aren’t in favor of deforestation, which brings us to raise the question of should deforestation be put to a halt. Deforestation should be brought to an end because forests help regulate the atmosphere, provide home and shelter to millions of plants, and animals. It also challenges people’s beliefs and human rights

Deforestation should be brought to an end because forests help regulate the atmosphere. The cutting down of trees contributes to the planets alarming global warming crisis. “Trees…pull carbon dioxide out of the air as they grow and lock that carbon dioxide in their wood and soil. When Human cuts down or burn trees the carbon dioxide gets released back into the atmosphere, warming the planet.”(New York Times)

As carbon dioxide is omitted the planets alarming global warming crisis increases. “By some estimates, deforestation accounts for more than 10 percent of humanity’s carbon dioxide emissions each year.”(New York Times) M. Sanjayan, executive vice president and senior scientist at conservation international stated that “Protecting forests can give you 30% of the emissions reduction and carbon capture you need in order to keep the planet from overheating.”(World Vanishing forests) Carbon dioxide emission leads to climate change. As rapid as the climate is changing it is also one of the leading causes of droughts and forest fires. These are major factors in forest losses. “We’re starting to see new normal, where fires, deforestation and climate change are all interacting to make the Amazon more flammable. (New York Times) Global warming isn’t only affecting forest but brings many problems on a worldwide scale. M. Sanjayan also stated that “the most effective way that we could spend to deal with climate change would be to spend on protecting on forests.” (World’s Vanishing Forests If protecting forest can contribute to slowing down global warming deforestation should be brought to an end. We should look to preserve our planet and not waste our resources.

Deforestation doesn’t only affect climate change. Another reason why deforestation should be brought to an end is because forests provide home to many people who depend on the forest for shelter and natural resources and their religious beliefs. “The disappearance of huge swaths of forests over such a short time period has grave implications for the indigenous people of the region and the natural resources they depend on” (NewsRx Health & Science This has angered the indigenous people. “We the indigenous people, are the guardians of the Mesoamerica biospheres who have cared for and protected for thousands of years said Taymond Robins of Nacion Mayangna.” He then continues to say “we will continue to fight against the injustice of invasion of indigenous land territories by colonist.”(NewsRx Health Science This is an injustice and can also be said it’s a robbery of indigenous people human rights. Deforestation isn’t only taking people’s homes but also puts in questions peoples beliefs and religion shaking the basis of their identity. “We have always been Buddhist but also with a strong belief in spirit forests and nature. But these beliefs are weakening. Before no one would cut down a tree…this is no longer true” Claimed Hun Tang. (Christian Science Monitor Hiroyuki Ishibashi a researcher at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature in Japan said “Losing forestland also means losing a place where people can recall and tell stories to others about their ancestors and historical experiences.’’ (Christian Science Monitor this takes away credit from habitants of forest who have endangered their life and have put themselves through a lot of work to make this their home. We should protect the rights of indigenous people who live in forest, because they are often the best stewards of the land.

Another reason deforestation should be brought to an end is that forests provide home to millions of the world of species. The rapid rates of deforestation threaten the survival of many of the earth’s species. “Deforestation in Central America also threatens the survival of iconic species including jaguars, tapirs and scarlet macaws.” (NewsRx Health Science With a fast the continuous deforestation there isn’t a balance of predator to prey ratio. “White Lipped peccaries serve as both an indicator of forest health and connectivity and crucial prey species for jaguars.” ( NewsRx Health Science Soon many animals will become extinct and will no longer sustain and a balanced ecological system. this why forest should be preserved and not destroyed.

Some may argue that overpopulation is a reason to cut down forests in order to expand farmland and cattle ranching. It is estimated that by the year 2050 global population will hit 9 billion people. This is alarming and puts into question how do we feed that many people with the raw resources of only one planet. Well the solution does not depend on deforestation. A change in people’s diets can avoid the conversion of forest land for agricultural use. Dr. Erb stated that “the more diets that move away from meat consumption, the less land would need to convert for agricultural use.” (Christian Science Monitor

Some may also argue that the use of forest land for hydroelectricity projects is economically what’s best for these times of major technological advancements. “It doesn’t only provides electricity but it also brings jobs and an increased access to the outside world.”(Christian Science Monitor These projects are flooding many spirit forests. “Most of that energy comes from hydropower and the burning of biomass… a study published by the Department of Energy concludes, their share of the U.S. energy equation will double over the next 40 years” (Alternative Energy Paying double the price for energy when there are many cheaper alternatives isn’t what is best economically.

Deforestation should be brought to an end because forests help regulate the atmosphere, provide home and shelter to millions of plants, and animals. It also challenges people’s beliefs and human rights. Forest should be left as they are. Let’s appreciate what the greater benefits they contribute to a global scale.