Across the globe forests are under threat. They provide homes and livelihoods for millions of people, from fungi to tigers, and they are critical for climate stability. Forests regulate rainfall, water and soil quality, and help to prevent floods, while their canopy of trees absorbs carbon dioxide – a greenhouse gas – which otherwise would reach the atmosphere and speed up global warming.
Deforestation is driven by farming and logging. Large farms for crops like soy and palm oil and cattle need a lot of space, and farmers in tropical areas often use traditional methods such as slash-and-burn to clear land. The cut down trees are used for wood products, paper and fuel. Many of these products are consumed and purchased by people all over the world, so we can all help reduce deforestation.
Forest loss also drives wildlife species to extinction. For example, orangutans rely on trees to find their food and without them populations decline. It is also linked to the extinction of jaguars, pandas and harpy eagles. The loss of habitat disrupts animal migration routes, and leads to competition over food.
Other causes of deforestation include mining and logging. The mining industry slashes and burns forests to clear land for its operations, and it contributes to high levels of air pollution in surrounding environments. It also drives up global carbon emissions by removing a natural CO2 sink and forcing our oceans to take on more of this greenhouse gas, contributing to further ocean acidification.