It’s no secret that more and more trees are being cut down to provide housing and food for the growing world population. Does that mean that there will be no more forests at some point in the future? It would appear so, but there are some things to consider before agreeing or disagreeing.
In the past, tribes of people were much smaller and they each lived on their own small plot of land where they hunted and grew their own food. As the world’s population grows, cities become larger and larger and the need for resources grows right along with it. It might not happen in your lifetime, but it’s entirely likely that the world’s forests will be gone someday.
Each year, there are about 19 million live births in the world. As these babies grow, they will naturally start to need food and will eventually grow up, move onto their own piece of land and start the cycle over again.
The rate of worldwide deaths continues to decrease, especially in developed countries, as better medical care is found and cures for diseases that used to kill people are discovered. While a diminishing mortality rate is a good thing, it does mean that world is populated to a greater degree each year, which calls for more resources. That means forests are needed to space and for building materials.
As the world’s population grows, the forests continue to decrease. One estimate states that deforestation of the Amazon rainforest increases 1000% each year, meaning that it is possible that it will be completely wiped out at some point. It only takes a few hours to clear a few trees, but many, many years to grow new ones.
The forests of our world are needed because they help regulate the climate. Deforestation leads to greenhouse gases and disrupts the fragile ecology of the world. As more and more trees are cleared, the situation gets worse. Removing the homes of the animals that live in these forests is not a good thing either. Without the balance of animals and insects, the world loses a lot.
Estimates indicate that by the year 2025, the world’s population with top 8 billion people. Feeding, clothing and housing all those people becomes an issue. The demand for food causes deforestation in an attempt to create more farmland. Clearing the land is also done to create space for housing as more and more people need a place to live.
Forest loss is happening all over the world, and a total loss is not only inevitable, but is already occurring. This is unavoidable as the need for food and shelter continues to increase as the world’s population gets larger and larger with each passing year. While many countries are attempting to create safe areas where deforestation is not allowed, others are rapidly clearing their forests.
Fortunately, many entities are studying ways to create more sustainable food and housing sources so that forests can be preserved. For example, the Forest Research Institute Malaysia is working to educate people on optimizing their use of forest resources and use technology to preserve the world’s forests.
As things stand right now, a total wipeout of the world’s forests seems inevitable. However, with the intervention of experts, more and more is being discovered about how to use what the forest offers without clearing it completely. If everyone commits to doing their part, perhaps the forests that span the globe can be preserved and protected for many generations to come.
