Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

Q: What is the major cause of deforestation?
A: The major cause of deforestation is logging, which is the destruction of trees for forest management or timber. Timber is a very significant material used all over the world for everything we use in everyday life. Though it has its positives, the constant and increasing destruction Is becoming worse and needs to be limited. Along with logging, the conversion of forested lands for agriculture and cattle-raising, and urbanization are other major causes of deforestation.

Q: How does deforestation effect global warming?
A: Trees and plants, as they undergo the process of photosynthesis, absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. When these plants and trees are removed, they not only release the stored carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, but there is even less carbon dioxide being absorbed which increases the carbon emissions in the atmosphere.

Q: Why is deforestation a problem?
A: Deforestation not only eliminates trees from rainforests but contributes to much more than that. It contributes to Global Warming, biodiversity, and indigenous peoples homes. Of course, as a necessity of life, trees serve great for lumber but the problem is the illegal and unmanaged forests. That is why reforestation is a significant role that coincides with deforestation.

Q: How does deforestation affect bio-diversity?
A: Deforestation effects bio-diversity by eliminating the habitats of millions of species. Rainforests are home to around 80% of the world’s animal species and plant species. By eliminating forests, it could potentially be ruining and destroying a specific dependant animal or plant species that live in the rainforest.

Q: How does illegal deforestation affect us?
A: Because of illegal deforestation, America loses $5 billion in revenues annually and globally an additional $10 million annually. Illegal deforestation also is not good because the company may not reforest the deforested area which only increases to the loss of forests annually, which then leads to a decrease of bio-diversity and an increase in Global Warming.

Q: Where does deforestation occur the most?
A: Deforestation occurs in Brazil the most because Brazil is home to one of the largest rainforests in the world. Between May 2000 and August 2006, Brazil lost nearly 150,000 square kilometers of forest. Deforestation happens in Brazil due to land clearing for pastureland by commercial and speculative interests, misguided government policies, inappropriate World Bank projects, and commercial exploitation of forest resources. Also Brazil’s economy is closely linked to the amount of deforestation that occurred that year.

Q: What is currently being done to control or eliminate deforestation?
A: Currently, for example, the Leadership Monterey Peninsula Reforestation Group (LMP), Plant-it 2020, and countless many more groups all contribute to limiting and helping the fight against deforestation. These groups specialize in specific areas that not only raise awareness to the problem, but also do a lot of hands on work with helping to replant trees and plants.

Q: Why does deforestation occur?
A: Deforestation isn’t always a bad thing. It provides lumber, fuel, and commodities that humans benefit greatly from. The problem is when groups and organizations do it illegally and inconsiderable. Some organizations are illegal, which lead to a decrease in money for deforestation companies, which ultimately lead to a decrease in the country’s economy. Also, the indigenous people living in these rainforests are forced to leave by these illegal companies and are told that the government owns the land and are forced to move.

Q: What are the methods of deforestation?
A: Mainly deforestation is being done by logging, which is selecting an area and selectively cutting down certain trees. Two other methods are slash-and-burn, or slash-and-char. Slash-and-burn isn’t bad because it leaves nutrients in the soil after it is cleared. Slash-and-char is different because it creates something called biochar which, if mixed with biomass, creates a rich soil that is great for agriculture. All three of these methods have their positives, but ultimately each method only contributes to the total deforestation in the world.

Q: How can I help?
A: Since no one but the government and logging companies can actually help deforestation, a local solution would have to do with reforestation. Reforestation is the opposite of deforestation. It is planting trees back where deforestation occurred. You could raise awareness with local businesses or neighbors or even plant a tree yourself. Anything you do in life that involves paper or cardboard or anything pertaining to wood, could be done in a way that helps deforestation, whether it be recycled paper, or wood from a lumber company that replants a tree every time one is bought.