Geralis Garcia 

20 November 2019

What can we do about deforestation?

Deforestation is an ongoing issue that is affecting our Earth. Deforestation is the removal of forests from the land. Deforestation can occur due to wildfires, conversion of forest land to different properties, and many other reasons. The sparsity of our forests around the world is dangerously increasing. If we don’t put a stop to it soon then the effects can be harmful and even fatal to not only us but our wildlife as well. People often forget that our oxygen comes from trees. Oxygen is a very vital part of our lives because we need it to survive. Without any trees we won’t be able to survive due to no source of oxygen. Forests are also the habitat of many wildlife. A lot of species are becoming endangered because of the large amounts of forests being cleared and destroyed. It’s important to be educated on it because it can immensely affect us in the near future.  Deforestation obviously isn’t going to go away overnight, but it can be slowed down and even start to be minimized. Deforestation can be resolved by planting more trees, land use planning and coming together as a group to stop it. 

One solution to help reduce deforestation is planting more trees. Probably an obvious solution but it can be effective. There’s no doubt that it’s impossible to replace all the trees we’ve lost but planting just one can make a big difference. This is a direct solution that can be done, however, it’ll take a while for the trees to completely grow out. It’s not an immediate resolution but over time it can make a big difference. In the article, “8 Fantastic Solutions to Deforestation” the author mentions replanting and other solutions to deforestation. “Reforestation is the restoration or replanting of forests that have been reduced by fire or felling. It requires an ongoing process and should not be viewed as a onetime thing.”(Madaan par 9). The author mentions that reforestation is an ongoing process that takes time to accomplish and isn’t just a one time thing. Reforestation is a wonderful solution because we are able to replenish the trees and always keep planting them. This may seem easy but it’s very time consuming and takes a lot of work. Organizations plan events in order to get people to participate in replanting trees. Some people might think it’s not worth it but as long as people try their best, we can take a step forward to minimizing deforestation.

Another solution that can be effective is land use planning. Planning can be effective especially in situations like these. The more planning that’s done results in less forest land that is used. Land use planning specifically focuses on finding better ways to make use of the land and its space. “Land use planning that centers on environmentally friendly development techniques like urban agriculture and lessening urban and suburban sprawl can considerably cut back deforestation.”(par 15).  The article mentions the techniques land use planning focuses on to cut back deforestation. The technique can be very helpful due to their effectiveness it had on reducing deforestation. By calculating the exact amount of space needed it can be a big help to minimize deforestation. Also just planning things out more efficiently helps too, we shouldn’t have to use a large chunk of forest everytime we need to build something. Although agriculture is an important part of our civilization, it should be controlled and regulated better. By being more self aware about the forest land we use, the more we can help not destroy as many trees. Land use planning can also include finding alternatives to not use as much land too. The regulation can help control the size and amount of land used and hopefully reduce the clearing of unnecessary forest land. Any type of planning helps, which is why this method is very effective.

The last but most effective solution is coming together. This last solution is something people might not acknowledge as much. Often times we forget the power we have when we’re able to come together and make an impact. “[..]efforts to share information with people including family, friends, colleagues, and the entire community on deforestation and its effects is an appropriate measure of standing up in unison to combat the clearing of forests.”(par 12). The article mentions big organizations coming together, which is also important, but anyone can take a stand and make an impact just as big. As a civilization we can make other people more aware of the issue, help practice environmentally friendly actions and fight for what we stand for. Educating others is an important part of it as well. The more information people have about deforestation, the better it can be to help reduce it. The more people are aware, the bigger the impact we can have. The issue of our trees being cleared should be discussed more since it has a negative impact on us. Without our trees we won’t have an oxygen source and wildlife wont have their homes anymore. We need to take action now before it’s too late. We might think we’re doing no harm in killing our trees but in reality we’re just doing harm upon ourselves as well.

Slowing down and minimizing deforestation is highly possible. However, It isn’t easy and takes a lot of effort but it’s something everyone should consider taking actions towards. Trees are our source of oxygen as well as habitats for many different animals. Without them we will be in big trouble and it seems that if we don’t take action soon then it can get fatal. That is why it’s important to be educated on it and educate others as well. Spreading awareness can be a big game changer for this on going issue. Planting trees and organizing land usage can also be very effective methods of stopping deforestation.  In the end however, it takes coming together as one to make these solutions impactful. If we can come together then we can reduce the effects of deforestation and help our wildlife and nature in order to insure a better future for us and them.

 

Works Cited

Madaan, Sonia. “8 Fantastic Solutions to Deforestation.” Earth Eclipse, 11 Sept. 2017, www.eartheclipse.com/environment/fantastic-solutions-to-deforestation.html.

 

A New Plan

 

Full and tall trees rise up from the ground

Where the birds and owls sing their songs 

And when night time comes around

They sleep safe and sound

 

They emit the oxygen that makes us thrive

Providing us with the gift of life

And give us the resources we need to survive

But why can’t we keep them alive?

 

The thing is we can 

But we don’t try hard enough

Instead there’s a decrease in their lifespan

So now it’s time for a new game plan 

 

It’s our turn to lend a helping hand

Planting more trees is a start

Then we can plan out how to use the land

But the most effective solution that can be grand

Is coming together to take a stand