DEFORESTATION
Deforestation is a big word, but what does it mean? Deforestation is the cutting down of forests or groups of trees, which is then often converted into farms and ranches for people to grow crops or animals to graze. Deforestation can also occur when people want to clear an area to build new housing or business developments. The trees are also used for their wood for burning and to make things such as buildings, furniture and even paper. This process doesn’t occur naturally because of disasters like fires or hurricanes but rather humans themselves. But that sounds good, you think? It shows the world is growing!
This process doesn’t occur naturally because of disasters like fires or hurricanes but rather humans themselves. But that sounds good, you think? It shows the world is growing! While it’s true that people have been cutting down trees for thousands and thousands of years, the sad reality, though, is it’s happening so often that it’s having a terrible impact on the environment and affects climate change too. Mother Nature must not be very happy with us right about now – and we can’t even blame her!
Some experts have done some math and estimated that about 1.3 million square kilometres of land are destroyed every ten years. Wow! We can’t even comprehend that size, can we? Did you know half of that number is primary forest? Primary forest means it’s a forest that’s brand new and never been cut down before by humans. An enormous amount of deforestation happens in tropical areas where rainforests are cut down. The con? Most of the time, deforestation is permanent, meaning the forest never recovers again, but it sometimes takes many years. All those poor animals losing their homes has made #MiniGeo a little sad.
What sort of damage, you wonder? Well, we’re here to tell you!
Damage of Deforestation
As we all know, trees and other green plants are fantastic because they produce oxygen. In case you haven’t noticed, that’s what we need to breathe to live. Haha! When trees are cut down, we lose this valuable gas. Trees also capture carbon dioxide. This is a gas that contributes to an even bigger problem known as global warming. Did you know when trees are burned, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere? Oopsie! That’s not good.
MINIMEBA MYTHBUSTING FACT:
DID YOU KNOW?
Myth: Trees produce most of the oxygen on earth?
Fact: While trees do add oxygen to our earth, oceans produce three times more oxygen than all the trees in the world combined. Woah! Stay tuned for a future blog on this.
Deforestation can also cause erosion if it’s done on a steep mountain hillside. The land wears away because the trees aren’t there to hold all the soil together with their roots. Heavy rainfall in these areas wash this land down the slopes and cause devastating landslides that can destroy small villages, farms, homes and human lives. Scary stuff!
Many forests are tranquil, peaceful, places where people can rest or even play. When trees are cut down, this recreational use of forests is lost forever. Forests are also home to a massive array of living organisms. When trees are cut away, many precious plants and beautiful animals are killed or lose their habitats. Some animals have even been known to go extinct due to deforestation. So it’s not good.
Sometimes life just sucks and isn’t all that fair. But now that you have all the facts, you can make positive changes in the world. We can change the world if we all stand together to make a difference, but the first step starts with you. So what can you do to save the forests of our planet?
Now comes the good stuff:
How you can help stop deforestation
- Plant a Tree. Even get your school involved and plant trees at school?
- Go paperless at home where you can.
- Try only to buy recycled products and then recycle them again
- Only support companies that are committed to being forest friendly. It forces companies to change their standards if we remain focused on environmentally friendly products.
- Talk about deforestation with everyone you know. If you raise awareness in your circle and your community, it’s even better. The more people that know, the better!
- Buy only what you will use.
- Don’t buy products with Palm Oil.
The power is in your hands as the consumer. Just like any business, if there’s no demand for a product, the supply is less. Thankfully the world is full of forest-friendly businesses so do your research and get your parents to do their research before buying anything for you or the home.
Let us know if you can think of any other ways we can save our forests.
MINIMEBA FACT!
DID YOU KNOW?
Ghana planted 5 million trees in a single day to combat deforestation?
The new yearly event they’ve called “Green Ghana Day” called on citizens to planet seedlings to help bring the forests of Ghana back. Ghana hopes to plant 100 million trees every Green Ghana Day by the year 2024.
See if you set your mind to something. Anything is possible? GO GHANA GO!
https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/deforestation/443116
https://www.intelligenthanddryers.com/blog/deforestation-facts-for-kids
Deforestation
Respect the Trees
Deforestation is a big word, but what does it mean?
Deforestation is the cutting down of forests or groups of trees, which is then often converted into farms and ranches for people to grow crops or animals to graze.
Deforestation can also occur when people want to clear an area to build new housing or business developments.
The trees are also used for their wood for burning and to make things such as buildings, furniture and even paper.
This process doesn’t occur naturally because of disasters like fires or hurricanes but rather humans themselves.
While it’s true that people have been cutting down trees for thousands and thousands of years, the sad reality is it’s happening so often that it’s having a terrible impact on the environment and affects climate change too.
Mother Nature must not be very happy with us right about now – and we can’t even blame her!
Some experts have done some math and estimated that about 1.3 million square kilometres of land are destroyed every ten years.
Wow!
We can’t even comprehend that size, can we?
Did you know half of that number is primary forest?
Primary forest means it’s a forest that’s brand new and has never been cut down before by humans.
An enormous amount of deforestation happens in tropical areas where rainforests are cut down.
The major problem:
Most of the time, deforestation is permanent, meaning the forest never recovers again, but it sometimes takes many years.
All those poor animals losing their homes has made #MiniGeo very sad.
What sort of damage, you wonder?
Well, we’re here to tell you!
As we all know, trees and other green plants are fantastic because they produce oxygen.
In case you haven’t noticed, that’s what we need to breathe to live.
Haha!
When trees are cut down, we lose this valuable gas.
Trees also capture carbon dioxide.
This is a gas that contributes to an even bigger problem known as global warming.
Did you know when trees are burned, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?
Oopsie!
That’s not good.
Deforestation can also cause erosion if it’s done on a steep mountain hillside.
The land wears away because the trees aren’t there to hold all the soil together with their roots.
Heavy rainfall in these areas wash this land down the slopes and cause devastating landslides that can destroy small villages, farms, homes and human lives.
Scary stuff!
Many forests are tranquil, peaceful, places where people can rest or even play.
When trees are cut down, this recreational use of forests is lost forever.
Forests are also home to a massive array of living organisms.
When trees are cut away, many precious plants and beautiful animals are killed or lose their habitats.
Some animals have even been known to go extinct due to deforestation.
So again, it’s not good.
Sometimes life just sucks and isn’t all that fair.
But, now that you have all the facts, you can make positive changes in the world.
We can change the world if we all stand together to make a difference, but the first step starts with you.
So what can you do to save the forests of our planet?
Now comes the good stuff:
Plant a Tree.
You could even ask your school to host a “plant-a-tree” day!
Go paperless at home where you can.
Try only to buy recycled products and then recycle them again.
Only support companies that are committed to being forest friendly.
It forces companies to change their standards if we remain focused on environmentally friendly products.
Talk about deforestation with everyone you know.
If you raise awareness in your circle and your community, it’s even better.
The more people that know, the better!
Buy only what you will use.
Don’t buy products manufactured using Palm Oil.
The power is in your hands as the consumer.
Just like any business, if there’s no demand for a product, the supply is less.
Thankfully the world is full of forest-friendly businesses so do your research and get your parents to do their research before buying anything for you or the home.
Let us know if you can think of any other ways we can save our forests.
See if you set your mind to something.
Anything is possible?
GO GHANA GO!
Take the quiz & earn your Eekahs!
Respect the Trees
Deforestation is a big word, but what does it mean?
Deforestation is the cutting down of forests or groups of trees, which is then often converted into farms and ranches for people to grow crops or animals to graze.
Deforestation can also occur when people want to clear an area to build new housing or business developments.
The trees are also used for their wood for burning and to make things such as buildings, furniture and even paper.
This process doesn’t occur naturally because of disasters like fires or hurricanes but rather humans themselves.
While it’s true that people have been cutting down trees for thousands and thousands of years, the sad reality is it’s happening so often that it’s having a terrible impact on the environment and affects climate change too.
Mother Nature must not be very happy with us right about now – and we can’t even blame her!
Some experts have done some math and estimated that about 1.3 million square kilometres of land are destroyed every ten years.
Wow!
We can’t even comprehend that size, can we?
Did you know half of that number is primary forest?
Primary forest means it’s a forest that’s brand new and has never been cut down before by humans.
An enormous amount of deforestation happens in tropical areas where rainforests are cut down.
The major problem:
Most of the time, deforestation is permanent, meaning the forest never recovers again, but it sometimes takes many years.
All those poor animals losing their homes has made #MiniGeo very sad.
What sort of damage, you wonder?
Well, we’re here to tell you!
As we all know, trees and other green plants are fantastic because they produce oxygen.
In case you haven’t noticed, that’s what we need to breathe to live.
Haha!
When trees are cut down, we lose this valuable gas.
Trees also capture carbon dioxide.
This is a gas that contributes to an even bigger problem known as global warming.
Did you know when trees are burned, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?
Oopsie!
That’s not good.
Deforestation can also cause erosion if it’s done on a steep mountain hillside.
The land wears away because the trees aren’t there to hold all the soil together with their roots.
Heavy rainfall in these areas wash this land down the slopes and cause devastating landslides that can destroy small villages, farms, homes and human lives.
Scary stuff!
Many forests are tranquil, peaceful, places where people can rest or even play.
When trees are cut down, this recreational use of forests is lost forever.
Forests are also home to a massive array of living organisms.
When trees are cut away, many precious plants and beautiful animals are killed or lose their habitats.
Some animals have even been known to go extinct due to deforestation.
So again, it’s not good.
Sometimes life just sucks and isn’t all that fair.
But, now that you have all the facts, you can make positive changes in the world.
We can change the world if we all stand together to make a difference, but the first step starts with you.
So what can you do to save the forests of our planet?
Now comes the good stuff:
Plant a Tree.
You could even ask your school to host a “plant-a-tree” day!
Go paperless at home where you can.
Try only to buy recycled products and then recycle them again.
Only support companies that are committed to being forest friendly.
It forces companies to change their standards if we remain focused on environmentally friendly products.
Talk about deforestation with everyone you know.
If you raise awareness in your circle and your community, it’s even better.
The more people that know, the better!
Buy only what you will use.
Don’t buy products manufactured using Palm Oil.
The power is in your hands as the consumer.
Just like any business, if there’s no demand for a product, the supply is less.
Thankfully the world is full of forest-friendly businesses so do your research and get your parents to do their research before buying anything for you or the home.
Let us know if you can think of any other ways we can save our forests.
See if you set your mind to something.
Anything is possible?
GO GHANA GO!
Take the quiz & earn your Eekahs!
