Deforestation.

Deforestation.

1. Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses. An estimated 18 million acres (7.3 million hectares) of forest, which is roughly the size of the country of Panama, are lost each year, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization

   • Predictions
     • Forests are complex ecosystems that affect almost every species on the planet. When they are degraded, it can set off a devastating chain of events both locally and around the world.
       • future consequences of deforestation
         • *Loss of species *Soil erosion *The disturbance of native people:
   • Solutions
     • Many believe that to counter deforestation, people simply need to plant more trees. Though a massive replanting effort would help to alleviate the problems deforestation caused, it would not solve them all.
       • Reforestation would facilitate:
         • *Restoring the ecosystem services provided by forests including carbon storage, water cycling and wildlife habitat *Reducing the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere *Rebuilding wildlife habitats