Deforestation | Under 2 Minutes
Here are some numbers and facts about deforestation that we all need to know.
Although deforestation has been occurring since humans began practicing agriculture, its pace really accelerated in the last few hundred years. The growing population necessitated an increase in food production which led to the conversion of massive amounts of forest land into agricultural fields. Additionally, the increasing demand for natural resources and rapid urbanization also contributed to deforestation.
Effects of Deforestation
- Biodiversity: Forests are a hub of biodiversity. They are home to many species from mammals to birds, insects, amphibians, or plants.
- The livelihood of Local People: Billions of people around the world obtain their livelihood from the forests. Most of these people are poor and their survival is dependent on the raw materials collected from the forests.
- Soil Erosion: Forest soil is usually more resistant to erosion because the roots of the trees help hold it in place and the sun-blocking tree cover helps the soil to slowly dry out.
- Climate Change: Since trees absorb and store carbon dioxide, forests hold massive amounts of carbon reserves, thereby preventing their release into the atmosphere. Deforestation contributes dramatically to climate change.
Key Statistics
- It is estimated that 420 million hectares of forest have been lost since 1990.
- As of May 2010, estimates of the total number of species on Earth range from 3 million to 100 million.
- Globally forests provide more than 86 million jobs and support the livelihoods of many more.
- Over 90 percent of the people living in extreme poverty are dependent on forests for at least part of their livelihoods.
- At the current rate, up to 420 million acres of forest could be lost between 2010 and 2030 due to deforestation.
- Around 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are due to deforestation and forest degradation.
- 1.25 billion people worldwide rely on forests for water, fuel, livelihoods, shelter, and food security. And about 750 million people live in forests.
Current Scenario
The Bonn Challenge, launched by Germany and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Bonn on 2 September 2011, was a global initiative to restore 150 million hectares of the deforested and degraded land of the world by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030.
Under the Bonn Challenge, 61 countries together pledged to restore 170 million hectares of degraded forest lands. The Challenge reached its target 3 years ahead of schedule and since then more than 70 pledgers from over 60 countries have been working to restore 210 million hectares of deforested and degraded land.
Head to WeNaturalists’ dedicated section on ‘Deforestation’ to learn more.
