Deforestation is the permanent removal of trees to make room for commercial or economic use. Deforestation can include clearing land for farming or livestock or using timber for fuel, construction or manufacturing.
WWF reported an interesting fact about deforestation- a forest comprises 30% of the Earth’s surface. These forested areas produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide and are home to an estimated 80% of Earth’s species. Forests are also a source of food, medicine, and fuel for more than a billion. One of the important facts about deforestation is that forest provides 13.4 million people with jobs in the industry, and another 41 million people have jobs related to forestry.
New York Times reported some shocking facts about rainforest deforestation. Today deforestation is occurring in the tropics, where some areas are inaccessible to humans but now that’s not the case anymore. The world has lost about 10% of its tropical forests since 2000, and nearly 47000 square miles were destroyed alone in 2019.
We have sourced the internet and gathered some interesting facts about deforestation worldwide.
Forests are important natural resources, but humans have destroyed substantial forested land. According to National Geographic, one of the other rainforest deforestation facts is that in North America, millions of forests in the eastern continent were destroyed for timber and farming between the 1600s and late 1800s.
1. We Lose About 10 Million Hectares of Trees Every Year
One of the important facts about deforestation is that the world has been chopping down 10 million hectares of trees to make space to grow crops and livestock and to produce materials such as paper. That means 96% of deforestation takes place every year, which is shocking. In short, it means one and a half acres of forest are cut down every second; that’s how fast deforestation occurs.
2. Deforestation contributes about 4.8 Billion Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Per Year.
It is shocking to see some facts deforestation of forests contributes to 5 billion tons of carbon dioxide in the air, which is equal to 10% of annual human emissions. About 3.75 million hectares of primary rainforest were destroyed last year. Deforestation resulted in 2.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to India’s annual fossil fuel emissions and nearly ten soccer pitches per minute. Loss of carbon dioxide is one of the deforestation issues we are facing in the world, which can lead to something serious in the future.
3. Deforestation Has Turned the Amazon Rainforest into a Carbon Source
An obvious deforestation pollution facts in recent years is that Amazon, the world’s most biologically diverse ecosystem and carbon sink, emits more carbon dioxide than it is absorbing due to deforestation, wildfires and climate change. In 2010 and 2018, deforestation in eastern Amazonian has led to warming and moisture stress in the forest, especially during the dry season, creating a wildfire. A forest fire can produce three times more carbon than a forest absorbs, which is negatively impacting the environment.
Related article: Air Quality and Environmental Health
4. Farming is Responsible for 41% of Global Deforestation
Agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation. The farming industry needs to be a clear source of cattle to keep up with the global demand for beef. Unfortunately, we are cutting down trees to feed our livestock and crops are sold for palm oil. It’s one of the shocking facts about rainforest deforestation. An estimated 81,081 square miles of forest are lost annually for meat production, 80% of which occurs in the Amazon.
5. More Than 100 Countries Have Pledged to End Deforestation by 2030
An obvious deforestation pollution facts in recent years is that Amazon, the world’s most biologically diverse ecosystem and carbon sink, emits more carbon dioxide than it is absorbing due to deforestation, wildfires and climate change. In 2010 and 2018, deforestation in eastern Amazonian has led to warming and moisture stress in the forest, especially during the dry season, creating a wildfire. A forest fire can produce three times more carbon than a forest absorbs, which is negatively impacting the environment.
Related article: Air Quality and Environmental Health