DEFORESTATION started about 12,000 years ago when we began to farm.
Over thousands of years it has dramatically altered the Earth.
In Europe only 34 per cent of forests remain. We have lost a third of the world’s forests over time and half in the last century.
About 10million hectares are lost every year.
This means nearly 5billion tons of Co2 being released, close to 10 per cent of human emissions.
Brazil has the highest rate of deforestation, followed by DR Congo, Bolivia and Indonesia.
Nearly half of this is caused by beef production. Palm oil and soy account for most of the rest – 80 per cent of this soy is used for livestock feed.
Apart from the consequences we all know of, like loss of carbon sinks increasing climate change, we are destroying many species’ habitats, a major cause of extinction.
Tropical forests house around half of all life. Deforestation removes sources of shelter, food and water and causes soil erosion, further changing the landscape.
It puts wildlife at higher risk of predation and conflict with humans and devastates the livelihoods of indigenous people.
Orangutans, and many other iconic species are seriously endangered. Orangs could be extinct within 10 years if action is not taken to stop deforestation in Indonesia. (IUCN)
It seems an impossible task but we all need to do something.
Changing to a mostly plant-based diet is probably the most important and relatively easy to do gradually – comparatively cheaper and healthier.
Boycotting companies linked to deforestation is another. The banks are a good place to start, along with huge companies shipping millions of tonnes of soy from newly-cleared rainforest for animal feed.
Beef exporters in Brazil are involved in massive deforestation.
This is just scratching the surface.
About five per cent of land in England is in public and residential gardens. This is a lot and we can do a lot with it.
Planting a tree if we have the space is really important This may seem insignificant but if we all do this it will help insects, birds and other wildlife, and lower the temperature around it by up to 19 degrees, as well as absorbing pollution and capturing carbon.
We can and should also protest and demand our MPs and councillors take action about this, and join groups which are doing their best to change things that matter to us all.
We will be at our stall in the park on carnival day. Do come and talk to us.
Brought to you by Bromsgrove Climate Action
