Related Articles
How does the environment create public health issues ?
|
How to reduce the carbon you generate
|
How does tree planting help tackle the climate crisis ?
|
International day of forests
What is the International Day of Forests?
The International Day of Forests was established by the United Nations to combat climate change, protect fragile ecosystems and alleviate poverty, and is in line with their Sustainable Development Goals. Held annually on the 21st March, this is a day for spreading awareness of trees and forests, what they provide for humanity and the ecosystem, and what we can do to protect them.
Why are forests so important for wildlife?
The WWF explains that Forests are home to 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity. This ecosystem consists of animals, fungi and bacteria and all exist here because trees enable the perfect environment for this life to thrive. Trees provide shelter and food for these life-forms and shade the earth below, which in turn allows rainfall to collect for longer without evaporating. As always in nature, the creatures that gain sustenance from the trees also provide food for them, by enriching the soils that trees feed from and acting as a natural pest-control to eat insects that may take over if left unchecked.
Forests also have a vital role in preventing climate change because they absorb carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses which stops them from building up in the atmosphere and locking in the sun’s heat. If we have enough trees on Earth to combat the amount of carbon emissions produced, the trees are able to turn all of this CO2 into oxygen and the atmosphere is kept in check, allowing a temperature suitable for life on Earth to thrive and adapt, in line with natural climate patterns.
What do forests provide us with?
We humans exist in this ecosystem too and trees are also used in the production and interior of our homes. We use wood to produce paper, furniture, and other household items and it can provide a good environmental alternative to plastic when sourced sustainably. Trees also provide people with water by preventing the drying of streams. Rivers have always been a life-source for people, whose settlements rely on fresh water for drinking and cleaning. Forests contribute to 90 percent of the livelihood of those that live in extreme poverty. Selling wood can provide a source of income for people who need it most, however this takes years to grow back, so this needs to be managed sustainably to ensure the wood cut down is replaced at the same rate or a faster rate than it is felled to protect the forests and people reliant on them.
Why do forests need protecting?
Forests are being catastrophically changed by humans. Trees are cut down to convert the land for other uses such as plantations, pasture for livestock, settlements, roads and infrastructure. Other causes of deforestation are forest fires, unsustainable logging, fuel-wood harvesting, mining and climate change.
According to satellite data, tropical forests are being destroyed at a rate of about 8 million hectares (31,000 square miles) a year — an area equivalent in size to the state of South Carolina or the Czech Republic. Trees like mahogany which are sold to make furniture take decades to reach maturity, and they’re being depleted faster than they can grow back. Vast areas once home to thousands of species are now vacant, forcing surviving animals to retreat into more and more compact areas.
An average of 137 species of life forms are driven into extinction every day in the world’s tropical rainforests. This is a gruelling figure that will come as a shock to many. The Rainforest Alliance explains, ‘Many large mammals such as leopards and apes need miles and miles of territory to roam and have a tough time surviving in the smaller and fragmented habitats they are forced into by humans. Other species such as the golden toad, whose entire population lives on one mountain in Costa Rica, could become extinct within seconds from a bulldozer’s crush.’
The International Day of Forests was established by the United Nations to combat climate change, protect fragile ecosystems and alleviate poverty, and is in line with their Sustainable Development Goals. Held annually on the 21st March, this is a day for spreading awareness of trees and forests, what they provide for humanity and the ecosystem, and what we can do to protect them.
Why are forests so important for wildlife?
The WWF explains that Forests are home to 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity. This ecosystem consists of animals, fungi and bacteria and all exist here because trees enable the perfect environment for this life to thrive. Trees provide shelter and food for these life-forms and shade the earth below, which in turn allows rainfall to collect for longer without evaporating. As always in nature, the creatures that gain sustenance from the trees also provide food for them, by enriching the soils that trees feed from and acting as a natural pest-control to eat insects that may take over if left unchecked.
Forests also have a vital role in preventing climate change because they absorb carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses which stops them from building up in the atmosphere and locking in the sun’s heat. If we have enough trees on Earth to combat the amount of carbon emissions produced, the trees are able to turn all of this CO2 into oxygen and the atmosphere is kept in check, allowing a temperature suitable for life on Earth to thrive and adapt, in line with natural climate patterns.
What do forests provide us with?
We humans exist in this ecosystem too and trees are also used in the production and interior of our homes. We use wood to produce paper, furniture, and other household items and it can provide a good environmental alternative to plastic when sourced sustainably. Trees also provide people with water by preventing the drying of streams. Rivers have always been a life-source for people, whose settlements rely on fresh water for drinking and cleaning. Forests contribute to 90 percent of the livelihood of those that live in extreme poverty. Selling wood can provide a source of income for people who need it most, however this takes years to grow back, so this needs to be managed sustainably to ensure the wood cut down is replaced at the same rate or a faster rate than it is felled to protect the forests and people reliant on them.
Why do forests need protecting?
Forests are being catastrophically changed by humans. Trees are cut down to convert the land for other uses such as plantations, pasture for livestock, settlements, roads and infrastructure. Other causes of deforestation are forest fires, unsustainable logging, fuel-wood harvesting, mining and climate change.
According to satellite data, tropical forests are being destroyed at a rate of about 8 million hectares (31,000 square miles) a year — an area equivalent in size to the state of South Carolina or the Czech Republic. Trees like mahogany which are sold to make furniture take decades to reach maturity, and they’re being depleted faster than they can grow back. Vast areas once home to thousands of species are now vacant, forcing surviving animals to retreat into more and more compact areas.
An average of 137 species of life forms are driven into extinction every day in the world’s tropical rainforests. This is a gruelling figure that will come as a shock to many. The Rainforest Alliance explains, ‘Many large mammals such as leopards and apes need miles and miles of territory to roam and have a tough time surviving in the smaller and fragmented habitats they are forced into by humans. Other species such as the golden toad, whose entire population lives on one mountain in Costa Rica, could become extinct within seconds from a bulldozer’s crush.’
Millions of indigenous people live in tropical forests in countries such as Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Gabon, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru, Venezuela, and Zaire. For these people, the forests are their home and vital to their livelihood. The Orang Rimba people of Bolivia use the forests to gather food, eating forest fruits, roots, and hunting for animals there. Deforestation has meant that they have lost access to fresh water sources, which they use to drink and bathe. In some cases, their survival is endangered.
The ecosystem is a delicate balance. Removing one element creates a chain of events which can destroy the natural harmony and change the course of all of these life-forms. Deforestation leads to poor soil quality, floods and disrupted rainfall patterns. Furthermore, forest loss and damage is the cause of around 10% of global warming because clearing forests releases greenhouse gasses, and the trees felled are no longer able to absorb CO2.
Good things happen when we spread awareness and act
People are waking up to the reality of deforestation, and work is being done to save our forests. The Eden project has been working in Madagascar to restore ecologically devastated mangrove estuaries. These estuaries create a barrier between ocean and land and are essential in the role of preventing erosion. The Eden Reforestation Projects aim to reforest and revive natural habitat for endangered and native animal species.
What can I do to help?
If you’re pleased to see people are taking action to prevent deforestation and reverse the desecration of forests, you can help these projects get the funding they need to continue and grow. Become Carbon Negative is working with the Eden Projects and planting trees worldwide where they’re needed the most. These projects rely on donations to fund them. The more funding we receive, the more trees we can plant.
We’ve made supporting forests quick and easy. Simply follow the link below to sign up, and our incredible tree-planting teams will do the rest…
The ecosystem is a delicate balance. Removing one element creates a chain of events which can destroy the natural harmony and change the course of all of these life-forms. Deforestation leads to poor soil quality, floods and disrupted rainfall patterns. Furthermore, forest loss and damage is the cause of around 10% of global warming because clearing forests releases greenhouse gasses, and the trees felled are no longer able to absorb CO2.
Good things happen when we spread awareness and act
People are waking up to the reality of deforestation, and work is being done to save our forests. The Eden project has been working in Madagascar to restore ecologically devastated mangrove estuaries. These estuaries create a barrier between ocean and land and are essential in the role of preventing erosion. The Eden Reforestation Projects aim to reforest and revive natural habitat for endangered and native animal species.
What can I do to help?
If you’re pleased to see people are taking action to prevent deforestation and reverse the desecration of forests, you can help these projects get the funding they need to continue and grow. Become Carbon Negative is working with the Eden Projects and planting trees worldwide where they’re needed the most. These projects rely on donations to fund them. The more funding we receive, the more trees we can plant.
We’ve made supporting forests quick and easy. Simply follow the link below to sign up, and our incredible tree-planting teams will do the rest…
