One of the biggest problems in the environment today is deforestation, or the act of cutting down trees. This happens in mass amounts, as there are around 28 million hectares of trees being cut down every year since 2016 (1). If we continue with this rate, it is estimated that there will be no more rain forests in 80 years (1). However, to prevent this from happening, we must first understand why it happens, where it happens, and the effects of this problem.

There are many reasons why deforestation occurs. The main reason is to clear land for farming, to produce four main products: beef, soy, palm oil and wood (4). Since palm oil is used in products from food to shampoo, it gives more reason for people to turn towards deforestation (4). In other words, the palm oil market is supporting this act to make more money; the market is expected to be valued at $92.84 billion in 2021 (4). Forests are also cleared to make space for roads (4), and important environmental trees that are unappealing are cut down to support the paper industry (6). 

Deforestation happens all over the world. However, the country with the highest ratio of the amount of trees cut down to the amount of trees before is Honduras, with 37% of the trees in the country cut down (3). Forests like the Amazon are also at risk; clearly, even the biggest rainforest in the world is susceptible, as 20% of the trees in this forest has already been cut down (2).

There are countless negative effects of deforestation in many parts of the environment. The most obvious one is the loss of habitat; many organisms are losing their homes as trees play a role in providing seventy percent of all of earth's organisms with habitat (5). Another consequence is the increase of greenhouse gases (5). Without trees to perform photosynthesis, there is less oxygen being released to the air and instead, more harmful substances in the atmosphere which the trees would've taken in (5). 

Right now, there isn't really much a normal citizen like you and me can do to stop this extensive problem. However, boycotting products that have palm oil inside them and making sure not to waste any paper can be a start. We can also start to use forest-friendly products instead, and plant trees on our own if possible! :)

1: https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/planet-earth/forests-and-deserts/rate-of-deforestation

2: https://wwf.panda.org/our_work/forests/deforestation_fronts2/deforestation_in_the_amazon/

3: https://www.treehugger.com/corporate-responsibility/10-countries-with-the-highest-deforestation-rates-in-the-world.html

4: https://www.livescience.com/27692-deforestation.html

5: https://www.pachamama.org/effects-of-deforestation

6: http://www.eniscuola.net/en/argomento/rain-forest/deforestation/the-causes-of-deforestation/