Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for
other uses. An estimated 18 million acres (7.3 million hectares) of forest, which is roughly the size of
the country of Panama, are lost each year, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture
Organization
Predictions
Forests are complex ecosystems that affect almost every species on the planet. When they are
degraded, it can set off a devastating chain of events both locally and around the world.
future consequences of deforestation
*Loss of species *Soil erosion *The disturbance of native people:
Solutions
Many believe that to counter deforestation, people simply need to plant more trees. Though a
massive replanting effort would help to alleviate the problems deforestation caused, it would not
solve them all.
Reforestation would facilitate:
*Restoring the
ecosystem services
provided by forests
including carbon
storage, water cycling
and wildlife habitat
*Reducing the buildup
of carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere
*Rebuilding wildlife
habitats