Trees provide a multitude of jobs. Of course we dont want to cut down a tree unless theres a reason for it but you often hear about all of the reasons why you shouldnt cut down trees but rarely why you should. Forest ecology and management,177(1-3), 593-596. They also ensure that the water cycle (which provides the fresh water we rely on to stay alive) remains in balance. 5 reasons why its good to cut down trees | Forestry England Help us plant 100.000 trees this year! As you can see, trees are not only important to the planet and wildlife, but they are vital to us humans. Oftentimes, companies will cut down a large section of trees to be able to produce wood that is good quality and fit to create furniture, decor and other functional pieces for people to use in their everyday lives. Over the past few years, weve gained significant ground in getting major companies to move toward forest-friendly business models. As a tree grows, it absorbs carbon dioxide from the air through a process called photosynthesis. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. We can do this by contributing to reforestation projects, combating deforestation, sourcing our food, paper, and wooden goods sustainably, and working to reduce our carbon emissions. Many trees are cut down for materials of whatever kind. Careful removal of certain trees promotes diversity and can be the best way to, Trees can suffer many untreatable infestations and diseases. Dont believe us? More and more forest is being parcelized, contributing to millions of forest acres that are far more difficult to manage than larger tracts. So yeah, its still going on. Nature has a peculiar habit of killing forests in dramatic, if sometimes gradual, ways. One impact that deforestation has is that it degrades the soil in the area. Removing one older tree often allows several smaller, younger ones to flourish. Old cells hang around as we age, doing damage to the body. In Tanzania, the residents of Kokota have planted more than 2 million trees on their small island over a decade, aiming to repair previous damage. We risk all of it as we let them decline. 3) It supports the lives of many species. They have a vital role in the future of our planet, which is why its so crucial that we protect them. Tell everybody some of the reasons why trees are awesome, and get involved in our Facebook conversation about how incredible trees really are. Tropical forests are necessary for stabilizing our climate. What is the name of tree in English? If you see the importance of trees, then plant one today! Need of Space for Building 3. Prevents the Spread of Diseases and Infestations. That's the woodpile my Dad and I cut/stack for 10+ years to heat up our family home in Upstate, NY. Maybe its even all three! Forests are also cut as a result of growing urban sprawl as land is developed for homes. May you continue to be successful in your tree journey, and remember that we are always here to help! Yes, climate change is making a big dent, but make no mistake, the direct clearing of forest is still the number one reason we are living in the sixth great extinction. 2022, Top 8 the primary need for safe is to scale the idea of what 2022, Top 9 why does it say no location found on find my friends 2022, What did native American tribes have in common, Reasons for the dropping of the atomic bomb. There are many ways to compost, but the most important factor is keeping the pile moist and airy . The tree is growing too close to something. Not only can the noise pollution caused by humans interfere with an animals sonar and navigation systems, it can disrupt whole ecosystems. Its an additional bonus that they also produce oxygen as a bi-product. Just last year, the rate of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon rose for the first time since 2008. Think of your favorite coffee shop on the corner, the restaurant with the cool building design, or the craft shop that you used to pass on the way to work. Aggressive efforts to rewild and reforest are already showing success. Heres How To TellContinue, You may have heard of whirlybirds, or maybe whirlygigs. While we see that deforestation is not likely to go away anytime soon and can have good outcomes, its worth discussing the ways that we can each help to mitigate some of the bad that does stem from this practice. Tree removal goes by many names, including deadwooding, tree felling, forest clearance, land clearing and timber harvesting. Manoki (Irantxe) indians in the State of Mato Grosso. There are some 250 million people who live in forest and savannah areas and depend on them for subsistence and incomemany of them among the worlds rural poor. We can get plenty of nutrients from trees alone. Getting an Aesthetically Appealing Look 6. From the books we read and paper we write and draw on, to the furniture we sit, eat and sleep on. There are endangered species that urgently need our help. When a stack of paper is tossed into the trash instead of recycled, our minds just dont have the time to ponder what that action might look like after another 5, 10, 100, 1,000, or more people do the same thing. For example, some breeds of nesting birds will not nest in habitats that are undesirable due to noise. There is truth in the saying that the Amazon rainforest is the green lung of our planet. The wood isnt wasted, and can often be left in the forest as deadwood to provide vital habitat for a range of creatures. Find out how a tribe in the Amazon is using old cell phones and machine learning to help save their forest home. This information is for educational purposes only. Surely we dont have to explain the reasons why forests are vital for wildlife too? Good quality soil should contain no more than 2% carbon. Perhaps there is a need for more land in which agricultural practices can be performed. And hey the firewood they provide enables us to prepare food we could otherwise not digest. Bill Cook, Michigan State University Extension - Removing a tree is sometimes necessary for safety. If tropical deforestation were a country, according to the World Resources Institute, it would rank third in carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions, behind China and the U.S. Can Cell Phones Help Save Rain Forests? Climate change is in partcaused by forest loss which is in partcaused by climate change which is in part caused by forest loss. Younger trees also absorb more nitrogen than older trees, which helps clean an ecosystem's air and water. I have a profound interest in trees and their natural beauty. Just to add when you shop using links from Tree Journey, we may earn affiliate commissions if you make a purchase. Kind of like a kid, but you knownot. Branches can also cause physical This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. 9 things to know about Holi, Indias most colorful festival, Anyone can discover a fossil on this beach. Deforestation is not just an environmental issue. (How deforestation is leading to more infectious diseases in humans.). This is called thinning. Did you ever ask yourself why trees are so important? Even where forests are protected on paper, they arent protected in reality. Second, removing the correct trees from a woodland area helps maintain forest health and vigor. We look after something like 133 million trees, and any one of them can be a potential danger to our staff or people enjoying the outdoors. Predictably, bad things followed. Paper products are what we have to use, typically, and recycling might not always be available to you. This rebuilding does not have to mean replanting new trees, though it certainly could. We have been working hard to protect and restore other habitats across England. Organizations and activists are working to fight illegal mining and loggingNational Geographic Explorer Topher White, for example, has come up with a way to use recycled cell phones to monitor for chainsaws. Climate change has accelerated the rate of ice loss across the continent. However, in heavily forested areas it can be as low as 0.05%. 5. A negative that follows, even if the land is repurposed, is that deforestation destroys the natural environment that once stood in place of this newly barren landscape. Standardizing the calculation of the annual rate of deforestation. Trees are absolutely vital in the fight against climate change. Well leave the research to you on that one, based on what you buy and where you shop, but its a great concept that you can easily keep an eye out for! Learn more about proper tree care and how removal is sometimes a necessary step in ensuring a healthy, safe environment for you and the local animals and plants. The Brazilian Amazon is an iconic battleground of these conflicts. For now, well just tell you that most paper is made from softwood trees and, after going through the process of turning that wood into pulp by way of chemicals or mechanics, you can get paper in no time. Trees produce oxygen: We need oxygen to breathe, and without it, we would die in minutes. Can you cut trees on your own? Deforestation is a common practice all over the world and is directly related to the need we have for wood-based resources. The rate at which the forest has been expanding is beginning to slow. But there are still 9 more reasons why trees are so important. And why they matter so much both for our planet and for us humans, too no matter where on Earth you live. It's an everything issue. If you just cannot imagine giving up that feeling of putting pen to paper, we have a thought:Use a type of paper that isnt made of wood. These cycles used to be achieved naturally with wildfires, which would destroy older trees to make way for new growth. Thats why it can be tough to ask the questionwhywhen thinking about this practice. There are 128 species, Read More Do Maple Trees Need Sun Or Shade? So much of what we use comes from trees, and wood is a necessity whether or not we think of it as such. 1. People cut down trees for lots of reasons. As well as it being much easier for dead branches to snap off and hit people, pets, objects etc. There are so many reasons why trees matter, and why they are awesome. For example, native people that live in or near rainforests and jungles tend to struggle when their home environment is quickly and severely altered by deforestation. Something so common is easy to overlook, but have you thought about why people cut down trees? Curators are realizing that returning looted artifacts isnt closing museumsits opening new doors. In these situations, nature tends to be ignored or, at the very least, brushed to the side. Constantly drinking whenever it can, a single tree will typically release around 250-400 gallons of water back into the air every single day. Trees/Vruksh Can you live without The cattle sector in Brazil and the Palm Oil sector in southeast Asia, both major drivers of deforestation, are also major sources of reported incidences of forced labor and social conflict.Deforestation often looks a lot like modern day colonialism. If that feels confusing, try to stick with us while we spell it out a bit. 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Most of the products that come from forests, however, are consumed far away from them, in the industrialized world. Nature, by itself, will seldom work along these restoration pathways. Maybe, the reason for cutting trees down is to make space for more people that are looking for a new place to live. So, the creation of materials that deforestation provides is ultimately positive, though the practice of refurbishing and reusing pre-owned materials like tables, cabinets, and chairs could certainly be utilized more in our modern world. Many small changes by many different people make an even bigger difference. Low Visibility Can Cause This To Be A Troublesome Task. Even if a building is made mostly of other materials, wood is almost always a component. One of the factors affecting global warming and climate change is the levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. They remove the greenhouse gas from the air and only disperse it back into the air if they are burned, or decomposed back into the earth. Tree removal goes by many names, including deadwooding, tree felling, forest clearance, land clearing and timber harvesting. These reasons are mind blowing, dont you think? From a single tree to an extensive project on forested land, well work with you to keep your property safe and your trees thriving. Which travel companies promote harmful wildlife activities? Tree roots perform a vital function in holding the soil together, preventing it from erosion. Smaller trees are often used for the production of charcoal. Photograph by Paul Nicklen, Nat Geo Image Collection. We really could go on and on.For now, heres a fun fact: the Amazon alone is one the vastest carbon stores in the world, containing ten times the annual global emissions of carbon from fossil fuels. The end result is rich in nutrients and can be used as a soil amendment to improve plant growth. 3. Its time to get the cosy jumpers out and kick your way through piles of fallen leaves. As those gases enter the atmosphere, global warming increases, a trend scientists now prefer to call climate change. Todays 5-year-olds will likely live to 100, How to take better care of your aging brain. Without them, the very environments in which we live are at risk of becoming uninhabitable. Jason Schwartz is a media officer for Greenpeace USA based in New York City. Your email address will not be published. 10 minutes ago you mightve felt stressed out, worrying about work and your responsibilities but as soon as you enter the forest, its like entering a different world. They provide vital products that extend from food and shelter to medicines and other important social goods. What is it called when trees are cut down? The top image of this post also depicts logging operations in Para. On the flip side, trees are sometimes cut down just to create more space for people to build houses, businesses, or other things that are driven by corporations focused on economic benefits. The land is being repurposed for the good of the people, as opposed to being stripped clean without the replenishing of resources. Not only is planting new trees great for the environment, but youll get personal satisfaction from watching something that you plant grow into a mature being. While unnecessary. The great forests of the world exist in places where people are not wealthy. But in fact, when done responsibly, it can actually be good for the health of forests. Weve already covered the way that trees remove CO2 from the air. For many small, often rural communities, without trees there would be no way to sustain the local people. In case youre not traveling anywhere, you can plant trees anytime on Click A Tree. Loggers, some of them acting illegally, also build roads to access more and more remote forestswhich leads to further deforestation. WebAnswer (1 of 65): There isnt a need to stop cutting down trees entirely, they have a life cycle and eventually die off and seedling growth becomes mature trees in their place. Whenever we fell trees, more are planted to make sureforests are maintained forfuture generations. Third, a managed forest can greatly enhance the financial value of trees. In terms of climate change, cutting trees both adds carbon dioxide to the air and removes the ability to absorb existing carbon dioxide. Improves Forest Restoration Forests depend on cycles of life and death. To return to the subject of environmental alteration and struggle, deforestation affects more than just the plants and soil in an area. All rights reserved. The Effects of Cutting Down Trees on the EcosystemSignificance. Large scale tree cutting can lead to deforestation, a transformation of an area from forest to terrain with little vegetation.Effects. Cutting trees can result in the loss of habitat for animal species, which can harm ecosystems. Considerations Take the space between the drywall and the steel of a high-rise, for example. Required fields are marked *. By cutting down trees that have potentially been around for centuries, the complex balance of nature is heavily impacted. Substituting wood for other materials, where possible, is nearly always the more eco-friendly choice. Part caused by 10 reasons why we should cut down trees loss which is why its good to cut down for of. Image of this post also depicts logging operations in Para much of that is made mostly of materials. Dont you think a bit soil together, preventing it from erosion they also produce oxygen we! The importance of trees more difficult to manage than larger tracts for cutting trees down to! 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