Look around you. How many things around you come from trees? Do you see anything made of wood? Do you see anything made from paper?
Wood and paper both come from trees. Most of us use wood or paper every day. But trees also give us many other things.
Different types of trees around the world are used to get different things. But one thing is the same for all trees. Once you cut a tree down, it will not grow back.
Deforestation means cutting down all the trees in one area. It is done by logging. It is happening all around the world. It leads to big problems.
Humans cut down forests for pulp and paper. Humans cut down forests because of urbanization. Humans cut down forests to use the trees for timber or firewood.
In Indonesia, many forests are cut down to make palm oil from the palm trees. In Brazil, many forests are cut down to make more space for farmland. In Canada, many forests are cut down to create more wood to use.
Deforestation is bad for the animals that live in the forests. Trees provide homes and food for animals. Without forests, many animals die because they have nowhere to live and nothing to eat. Soon, these animals will disappear forever.
Deforestation is bad for the soil around the forests. Trees provide roots that hold soil together. Without forests, soil is weak and loose because there are no roots to hold it together. Dangerous landslides can happen frequently and damage many homes and lives.
Deforestation is bad for the air. Trees provide oxygen and take in carbon dioxide. Without forests, there is nothing to remove the carbon dioxide from the air. Greenhouse gases build up and cause global warming.
It is important to stop deforestation. It takes only a few minutes to cut down a tree. It takes a lot longer for a new tree to grow back! If we do not slow down deforestation, soon we will have no trees left.
Some people are trying to make a change. The Forest Stewardship Council is a group that looks after the forests. You might see their label on paper or wood products. It certifies that a product was sourced responsibly.
You can make a change too. You can try and live a paperless life.
Some countries are starting to restore their forests. Maybe soon we will see more reforestation than deforestation.