Deforestation
Swaths of Forest the Size of Panama Are Cut Down Every Year
The Planet's Trees Are Falling
Troubled Timber Every second, a patch of rainforest the size of a football field is cut down. Every year, 56,000 square miles of forest are lost. In the contiguous U.S., 90% of forests have been cleared since 1600.
Roots of Life Forests regulate oxygen levels, shelter wildlife, prevent erosion, and protect biodiversity. Tropical rainforests, though they cover only 2% of the planet, are home to up to 50% of the world’s plant and animal species.
Reforestation Up to 70% of Amazonian rainforest destruction is due to cattle ranch expansion for beef shipped abroad, but the pen is mightier than the saw—you can encourage lawmakers to write policy that protects forests.
