What happened to all of the trees??? Uh, like, they were cut down. Well, yeah...it's called Deforestation . Wanna know more??? Read on... Cutting down large numbers of trees, to use the land for something instead of a forest, is called deforestation. As a result of deforestation, the Earth's forests are disappearing very fast. In the last 15 years, 200 million hectares of forests were lost - an area about the same size as Mexico! Without a doubt, the threat has become a global one.
Forests are cut down by: * poor farmers to grow their food * commercial farmers make plantations * ranchers to make new pastures * loggers to remove valuable timbers * woodcutters to collect firewood * engineers to build dams and mines
Actually, the forests are being cut down by all of us who use the products they produces. It is important to know if the forest products you use come from a sustainably managed forest or not. By sustainable I mean that the forests are carefully managed so that they will keep giving us those same products in the future and that the other plants and animals are not destroyed.
What are the causes of deforestation?
	* rapidly growing population * not enough farming land * expansion of cattle ranching * no other job opportunities * over cutting firewood * bad logging practices * building dams and mines
What are the consequences of deforestation? Although people often have good reasons for cutting down trees, deforestation can have serious effects.
* more soil erosion * continued poverty * loss of valuable forest products * loss of fuelwood * loss of biodiversity * flooding in cut-over watersheds * local and global climate change
Why are forests important?
Forests cover almost one-third of the earth's land surface and play a major role in sustaining life. They are home to most of the world's biodiversity and provide us with many important products - lumber, panels, furniture, paper, poles, food, and medicines. Forests also provide us with many important services.
* stop soil erosion by wind and water * control river and stream flows * refresh the air we breathe * home to most of world's plants and animals * control the local and global climate
What Are We Doing to Save Forests?
In many countries trees are being planted faster than they are being cut down. Foresting companies are working on more efficient methods of replacing and growing forests. In addition, communities and individuals are helping to save forests by recycling paper. In the Pacific Northwest, there is a conflict between logging companies that want to cut down trees for lumber and people who want to preserve the ancient forests. Have you heard of Julia Butterfly Hill? For more information on her struggle to save the redwoods in California, check out her website - The Circle of Life Foundation. This site was created by Kirsten Michel