Deforestation Teacher:Chatzicharalampous Th. Subject:English Language School Year:2018-2019 B class of 2nd Junior High School Of Melissia George Labrinakos Definition Deforestation, clearance, clearcutting or clearing is the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land which is then converted to a non- forest use. Facts Forests currently cover about 30% of the world’s landmass, according to National Geographic. About half of the world's tropical forests have been cleared Location Deforestation occurs around the world, though tropical rainforests are particularly targeted. If current deforestation levels proceed, the world's rainforests may completely vanish in as little as 100 years! Countries with significant deforestation in 2016 included Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, Congo and parts of Eastern Europe. The country with the most deforestation is Indonesia. Riau Province, Indonesia, 2014 Cause There are many causes of deforestation. Half of the trees illegally removed from forests are used as fuel. Some other reasons are To make more land available for housing and urbanization To harvest timber to create commercial items such as paper, furniture and homes To create ingredients that are highly prized items, such as palm oil. To create room for cattle ranching Effects Loss of species: When people cut off trees they destroy the animal’s habitats. As a result, animals can not be adapted into a different environment, and can’t survive. Water cycle: Trees are important to the water cycle. They absorb rain fall and produce water vapor which is released to the atmosphere. Trees also lessen the pollution in water. Disturbance of native people: Many native tribes live in the rainforests of the world, and the deforestation leads to the destruction of these peoples' homes and way of life. What we can do Eliminate clear-cutting Plant new trees in areas where old ones are cut down Create protected areas Support environmental organizations to create a better future for the Earth, such as the WWF. Help raise awareness about the problem of deforestation through social media and education. Learn about green technology and how it fights climate change one step at a time. Thank you for your time!! Sources https://www.livescience.com/27692-deforestation.html https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation-and-forest-degradation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global- warming/deforestation/ https://www.conservation.org/stories/Pages/11-deforestation-facts-you- need-to-know.aspx .