Have
you ever wondered what a world without trees would look like? Close your eyes,
and try to visualise a desolate planet with no one around. There’d be no paper,
and everyone would be looking for alternatives—that is, if anyone was left,
of course. Trees play an important role in our lives, not only because they
produce paper, timber and chewing gum, but because they serve a remarkable role
in our ecosystem. And because of our increasing population of 7.5 billion, that seemingly distant
future is closing in each and every day.

Deforestation
is the permanent destruction of forests in order to utilize the land or trees.
Typically, deforestation is clearing a lot of trees without the intention of
establishing future growth.  In most
United Nation countries, all areas harvested must be replanted either by cultivation
or through natural regeneration.

The deforested land is usually converted into roads, housing
areas, and other city uses. Deforestation is severe in most third world countries,
like Brazil. More than half of the world’s forests have been destroyed over the
last millennium, the majority in just these last 50 years. These immense
changes include large-scale extinction events, desertification, climatic
changes, and more.

Although
there may be a need to cut down trees to some extent, it is our responsibility
to protect our forests. Forests are not just beautiful; they also house around
two billion unique species that could go extinct because of deforestation. Usually
when forests are cleared, the wood from the trees is cleared and burned. The
burning of the wood releases carbon into the atmosphere, which can trap heat
and cause climate change.

Lastly,
deforestation doesn’t only have a negative impact environmentally, but also
economically. It damages our forests and rivers which results to reduction of
the worlds Gross Domestic Product by 7%.

Try to imagine the earth without our trees, not
just because of the things above, but also for the beauty of nature. Almost all
of us have walked down a road with the sun beating ruthlessly down on us and
wished silently that there were some trees along that road.