Deforestation

Deforestation - trees are cut down for timber, waiting to be transported and sold

Forests have been razed to make space for agriculture and animal grazing, and to obtain wood for fuel, manufacturing, and construction

Why is it bad?

Deforestation can result in more carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. When trees are burned the carbon that was stored in the tree returns back to the atmosphere. With fewer trees around to take in the carbon dioxide, this greenhouse gas accumulates in the atmosphere and accelerates global warming.

Where is it happening?

The greatest amount of deforestation is occurring in tropical rainforests. An example is slash-and-burn agriculture which is a bad contributor. With this agricultural method, farmers burn large swaths of forest, allowing the ash to fertilize the land for crops

Impacts

Deforestation also threatens the world’s biodiversity. When forests are logged or burned, it can drive many species of plants and animals into extinction.