🌳 International Day of Forests｜10 Facts About Forests
Happy International Day of Forests!
Today, we celebrate forests' vital role in sustaining life on Earth. Forests are not just a collection of trees; they are essential ecosystems that support biodiversity, regulate the climate, and provide countless benefits to humans and wildlife alike.
Forests play a vital role in regulating our environment, which acts as the lungs of our planet, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. They help mitigate climate change by storing carbon and regulating temperatures. Forests also serve as habitats for millions of species, from insects to mammals, providing food, shelter, and breeding grounds. Additionally, forests protect watersheds, prevent soil erosion, and contribute to the water cycle, ensuring clean and abundant water resources for communities around the world.
Let's delve into 10 fascinating facts about forests!
Forests are Home to Over 80% of the World’s Land-Based Species of Animals, Plants and Insects
These animals help to keep the forest healthy. Besides, forests cover 31 percent of the world’s total land area. About 1.6 billion people around the world depend on forests for their livelihoods and daily subsistence needs.
Source: Aerts, R. & Honnay, O. (2011) - "Forest restoration, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning."
Forests are Incredibly Good at Storing Carbon
Tropical forests have been one of Earth's best defenses against rising carbon dioxide levels. They hold more carbon than humanity has emitted over the past thirty years by burning coal, oil, and natural gas.
Source: Elizabeth Pennisi (2020) - "Tropical forests soak up huge amounts of greenhouse gas. Climate change could end that"
We Lose Around 10 Million Hectares of Forest Every Single Year
The world has been chopping down 10 million hectares of trees every year to make space to grow crops and livestock, and to produce materials such as paper. This accounts for about 16% of total tree loss cover. 96% of deforestation takes place in tropical forests.
Source: Hannah Ritchie (2021) - “Deforestation and Forest Loss”
Forests Can Make Rain
Over three-quarters of the world’s accessible freshwater comes from rivers in or around forests. Forests also move so much water from the soil into the atmosphere that they create rain. Parts of the Amazon trigger their rainy season.
Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) - "Forests and woodland systems"
More Than 300 Million Trees are Logged Every Year to Make Textiles
More than 300 million trees are logged every year and turned into cellulosic fabric such as viscose, rayon, lyocell, modal, and cupro. If placed end-to-end those trees would circle the Earth seven times.
Source: CanopyStyle, Canopy Planet https://canopyplanet.org/campaigns/canopystyle/
Beef is Responsible for 41% of Global Deforestation
Beef is the #1 cause of deforestation. The expansion of pasture land to raise cattle was responsible for 41% of tropical deforestation. That’s 2.1 million hectares every year – about half the size of the Netherlands.
Source: Hannah Ritchie (2021) - “Cutting down forests: what are the drivers of deforestation?”
Chocolate and Biscuits are Major Contributors to Deforestation
The palm oil industry contributes significantly to global deforestation, which is ubiquitous in our daily food and household products, from vegetable oil to chocolate and biscuits, as well as soap and shampoo. To meet demand, forests equivalent to 300 football fields are cleared every hour for palm plantations.
Source: WWF - “Palm oil fact sheet”
Brazil and Indonesia Account for Almost Half of Tropical Deforestation
One-third of tropical deforestation happened in Brazil. That was 1.7 million hectares each year. The other single country where large forest areas are lost is Indonesia – which accounted for 14%. This means around half (47%) of tropical deforestation took place in Brazil and Indonesia.
Source: Hannah Ritchie (2021) - “Drivers of Deforestation”
Soy Plays a Big Role in Deforestation
Globally, soy is responsible for about 12% of deforestation. Because soy only offers one yield per life cycle, soy cultivation requires a lot more land use, where the total area of land used to cultivate soy takes up the combined area of the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Germany.
Source: Brack, Glover, and Wellesley (2016) - "Agricultural Commodity Supply Chains, Trade, Consumption and Deforestation"
More Than 100 Countries Have Pledged to End Deforestation by 2030
At Cop 26, over 100 countries pledge to halt and reverse deforestation by the decade's end. These nations, representing 85% of the world's forests, include Brazil, Russia, Colombia, and Indonesia. The pact involves $19.2 billion in private and public funds to restore land, aid indigenous communities, and mitigate wildfire damage.
Source: Euronews (2021) - "COP26 pledge to end deforestation by 2030: Landmark deal or rerun of past failures?"
