Deforestation

=__DEFORESTATION__ = =  =

 What is Deforestation?
====Deforestation is the destruction of forest land. It has developed into a major problem throughout the world because as we continue to destroy this forest land for our growing nations we are creating dangerous consequences. Due to this many habitats of different species of animals are being lost. The rates of deforestation occur particularly high in the tropics.====

 Effects of Deforestation!
====-The roots of trees hold the soil in place and protect the earth from damage by wind, sun and rain. Trees help make sure the desert doesn't spread. **Effect**: without trees to protect the soil in hot climates the wind simply blows it away. The land becomes eroded by wind and sun and becomes useless for growing food, so famine results.==== ====- Trees use energy from the sun to make food in their leaves for insects and animals. They also provide homes for the larger animals that live in forests. Trees are the source of life for millions of living creatures all over the planet. **Effect:** in places where trees are cut down many insects and animals simply die. If there were no trees, life on earth might not be able to survive.==== ====- Trees are our most valuable renewable resource. If we look after our forest properly and make sure we replace the trees we cut down they can provide all the wood we need for buildings, furniture and many other things. **Effect:** the rate at which the world's trees are being destroyed by industrial countries to get timber is very worrying. If the forests continue to be destroyed and no one is replacing the trees we shall run out of wood for furniture, houses etc.====

 Contributions we can make!
====To help prevent and stop deforestation, there are many small things we can do in our own homes. The biggest step is becoming more environmentally aware so that we can make the changes in our lives that will help to stop the destruction of forest land. ====

**Recycling**
====Recycle, Re-use, Re-make. Paper, bags, furniture, and other products made out of trees should be recycled because they can can be made into other essential products that we use therefore this creates less cutting down of trees. It is very easy to recycle as most of our milk cartons, cereal boxes, cans etc, are recyclable. Items that are recyclable carry this symbol:====

====A major item that we need to recycle all the time is PAPER. We humans use paper in our everyday lives. At school, at work, at home etc. We seem to be taking advantage of paper too much. Today, 90% of paper pulp is made of wood. The production of paper is the result of 35% of deforested trees. Recycling of the paper used for newspapers (newsprint) saves approximately 1 tonne of wood whereas recycling 1 tonne of normal white paper saves a little bit more than 2 tonnes of wood. This is a big difference! We cannot relate the tonnes of paper recycled to the number of trees that have not been cut. This is because tree sizes all differ in sizes and this determines how much paper can be made from how many trees. It has been approximated that recycling half the world's paper would avoid the deforestation of 80 000km² of forestland.====

====**Re Plant Trees** If one of the effects of deforestation is the major decrease of trees, why not help by re planting the trees we are losing? It may take hundreds of years to regain what has been lost, but every year we see evidence that the "impossible" is actually quite possible. In Australia, there is National Tree Day to become involved in. It is Australia's biggest community tree planting day, and encourages people to come together and be inspired, educated and feel the need to care for our country and make a difference in benefiting the environment. ====

Loss of Habitat
 ====One of the long-lasting effects of deforestation is extinction. Due to deforestation many animal life lose their habitats which may result in death if they do not have a safe place to live. Without their habitats to keep them safe, larger predators have more chance of capturing their smaller prey who live in and around the trees and eating them.====

//'deforestation in China threatens giant pandas..'//


The extinction rate of today is about 1 000 to 10 000 times the biological normal or extinction rate of 1-10 species extinctions per year. The picture below is an aerial view of slash-and-burn agriculture in the Amazon Location: Southeastern Peru; from Cuzco to Boca Manu This clearly shows the effects of deforestation. The trees have been cut down to provide space for agriculture.

http://www.tqnyc.org/2005/NYC052139//Prevent.htm#FriendsoftheEarthInternational http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Deforestation/ http://www.fscaustralia.org/ http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0908.htm**
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=BY ADRIANA AND BIANCA!=