Deforestation: Making the Planet a Warmer Place

When I think of deforestation, I think of the vast
"slash and burn" operations that were carried out in
the 1970’s, and I think about how it affected the
wildlife more than our atmosphere.

The earth has immense forests, which play an important
part in the sustainability of habitation. Trees and
plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen in
the spring and summer; in the fall, they drop their
leaves which give off carbon dioxide. This cycle seems
to keep the CO2 (carbon dioxide) levels in the
atmosphere balanced throughout the year. If only
human’s could have this impact!

Without leaf cover, the albedo (surface reflectivity)
changes; what used to be lush and green (rainforests)
becomes dry and reflects the rays of the sun back up
into the biosphere, trapping heat. Without the forests
creating oxygen, the balance in our atmosphere becomes
tenuous. The balance of the gases in the earth’s sub
stratosphere is delicate, and their stability is of
great importance to anyone who needs air to breathe.

Human activity, like cutting down forests and
overgrazing land, can change the climate, not only
where it is happening, but around the world. Rising
temperatures in the atmosphere have long-term effects
on the ocean and the polar icecaps which have the
potential for wreaking havoc with the climate
worldwide.

It is of utmost importance that the forests worldwide
are protected; by protecting this vast resource, we
protect our planet and our future. Plant trees!