Deforestation
The planet Earth is being scarred. Everyday the people of the planet earth are polluting the planet's air, water and land. These are all natural resources that are necessary for our survival on this planet. Yet, we continue to abuse our planet. Our world population is growing out of control. The simple lesson of supply and demand tells us that we will need more resources in order to support the booming population. One of the most important factors in survival is food supply. With out enough food, we will not survive. Unfortunately, our forest ecosystems are paying the price for the food demand. Deforestation is a major problem on our planet. It is something that must be carefully monitored and regulated.
Deforestation is a practice that has been taking place for thousands of years. Human beings have found it necessary to clear out the forests for settlement and cropland. Although there is no evidence as to how much of the planet's forests has been cut down, it is obvious that this valuable ecosystem is declining. Studies estimate that, "original forest cover has been reduced by nearly 50 percent." (WRI, p.90)
The forest ecosystem provides a number of services both directly and indirectly to humans. For example, the Carbon and Nitrogen cycles are two of the cycles that are necessary for survival on our planet. Carbon is a key element on our planet. Carbon is found in the atmosphere, in plants and animals and in the ocean. "About 33 percent of the carbon that has accumulated in the atmosphere over the past 150 years has come from deforestation and changes in land use." (WRI, p.50) When the carbon is in plants, it is released back into the atmosphere in a process called cellular respiration. If the trees and plants are cut down, the carbon cycle is not completed. The carbon will not be effectively removed from the air. "Fifteen tons of carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) occur in the air column above each hectare (2.5... [continues]
The planet Earth is being scarred. Everyday the people of the planet earth are polluting the planet's air, water and land. These are all natural resources that are necessary for our survival on this planet. Yet, we continue to abuse our planet. Our world population is growing out of control. The simple lesson of supply and demand tells us that we will need more resources in order to support the booming population. One of the most important factors in survival is food supply. With out enough food, we will not survive. Unfortunately, our forest ecosystems are paying the price for the food demand. Deforestation is a major problem on our planet. It is something that must be carefully monitored and regulated.
Deforestation is a practice that has been taking place for thousands of years. Human beings have found it necessary to clear out the forests for settlement and cropland. Although there is no evidence as to how much of the planet's forests has been cut down, it is obvious that this valuable ecosystem is declining. Studies estimate that, "original forest cover has been reduced by nearly 50 percent." (WRI, p.90)
The forest ecosystem provides a number of services both directly and indirectly to humans. For example, the Carbon and Nitrogen cycles are two of the cycles that are necessary for survival on our planet. Carbon is a key element on our planet. Carbon is found in the atmosphere, in plants and animals and in the ocean. "About 33 percent of the carbon that has accumulated in the atmosphere over the past 150 years has come from deforestation and changes in land use." (WRI, p.50) When the carbon is in plants, it is released back into the atmosphere in a process called cellular respiration. If the trees and plants are cut down, the carbon cycle is not completed. The carbon will not be effectively removed from the air. "Fifteen tons of carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) occur in the air column above each hectare (2.5... [continues]
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