Deforestation is a very real, very important issue. At the current rate of deforestation, the world’s rainforests could dissapear in only 100 years (National Geographic.) Rainforests are the lungs of the earth, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, changing a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming in to an element that many life forms depend on for survival. Rainforests are also a safe haven for countless species of animals, if rainforests dissapear all these animals will struggle to survive, some becoming extinct. Another reason why deforestation is so devastating is that trees relase water in to the air as part of the process of photosythesis (creating energy from light). This water goes up in to clouds and can be returned back to earth through precipitation very far away, for example the amazon rainforest in South America affects the weather in Texas (kids.mongabay.com). One final reason why trees are so very important is that they reduce erosion. Tree roots hold the soil together and when the trees are cut down the soil becomes more susceptible to erosion. When extreme, sudden erosion occurs due to deforestation, the water in surrounding rivers and lakes becomes clouded with the soil that has been washed off. This can reduce fish populations because the fish cannot see as well and it is harder for them to extract oxygen from the water. Deforestation is an issue that needs to be solved soon.
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