Deforestation and its extreme effects on global warming

According to studies done by The World Carfree Network (WCN), deforestation or the cutting of trees, adds more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere than the sum of cars and trucks. The data collected has revealed that cars and trucks account for about 14 percent of global emissions. While the percentage of deforestation is at times slightly higher at 15 percent. But what is the connection between deforestation  and global warming? Tropical forests take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen during the process of photosynthesis. The opposite process is also true as they emit carbon dioxide in smaller amounts than they take in during photosynthesis. The surplus carbon is stored in trees(plants) and help them grow. As a result trees(plants) help clean the air as they remove some of the carbon emissions being sent to the atmosphere.

Deforestation is causing serious environmental problems now and it will create even greater problems in the future. When trees are cut down and burned or allowed to rot, their stored carbon is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. In the atmosphere it mixes with greenhouse gases from other sources and it contributes to rising temperature around the world. The environmental Defense Fund (EDF) reports that about 32 million acres of tropical rainforest were cut down each year between 2000 and 2009. To add to the problem the pace of deforestation is only increasing as the demand for wood increases due to population growth in many regions. In areas around the world where there are no other sources of energy to keep warm or cook, the only available source of energy is the burning of trees.

In countries such as Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and many African and Asian countries deforestation has been a major problem in the past years. Some measurements are being taken by governments to reduce deforestation, such as brazil and the protection of the Amazon, but plenty of work is still needed. As you read this article forests are being cleared to make room for agricultural practices as well as human activities. The majority of tropical deforestation happening in our modern world are linked to globally traded commodities such as soybeans, beef, palm oil, and
wood products.

As we move on we need to do our part to reduce carbon emissions. One of the easiest way to it is by planting a tree. Our world population is over 7 billion people so if we could plant one tree per person we can have a positive contribution and reduce carbon emissions.