Forest Preservation

Creative Commons: Jason Hollinger

There’s no question that the preservation of our forests is key to the future survival of our planet and to the millions of people who call the forest canopies home. Deforestation is accelerating at an alarming rate, especially in tropical regions, and is now responsible for at least 15% of total global CO2 emissions. But trees don’t just suck up CO2. They also capture water and nutrients, stabilize soil, and regulate micro-climates.

In honor of the UN’s International Year of the Forest, a series of videos was made to explore the importance of our forest ecosystems and what we can do to protect them:

 Map: UNEP/GRID Arendal

Quick Facts:

• Forests cover 31% of total land area. [WWF]
• The livelihoods of 1.6 billion people depend on forests. [WWF]
• Forests provide a home to more than 300 million people worldwide. [WWF]
• The total global trade in forest products was valued at around $379 billion in 2005. [WWF]
• Forests are home to 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. [WWF]

Quick Quotes:

• “Ancient forests are disappearing before our eyes. Not only does forest loss eliminate wildlife habitat and harm biodiversity, but tropical deforestation releases tons of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.” -Greenpeace
• “When we take away the forest, it is not just the trees that go. The entire ecosystem begins to fall apart, with dire consequences for all of us.” -WWF
• “Clearcutting removes forest carbon sinks, leading to global warming.” –NRDC
• “The cheapest and most efficient way of slowing down global warming is to protect and restore the forests, particularly the tropical forests.” –Jane Goodall
• “The world’s forests need to be seen for what they are… giant global utilities, providing essential services to humanity on a vast scale. Rainforests store carbon, which is lost to the atmosphere when they burn, increasing global warming. The life they support cleans the atmosphere of pollutants and feeds it with moisture. They help us regulate the climate and sustain the lives of some of the poorest people on Earth.” –Prince Charles
• “Carbon offsets could create a new market for small forest landowners that would keep working forests working. In these challenging economic times we must innovate ways we can simultaneously fight climate change and protect forestlands from conversion.” –Peter Goldmark
• “Despite ongoing conservation efforts, the Amazon is losing on average 27,000km2 of forest cover each year from continued logging, mining, and land conversion.” -WWF