Deforestation By: Sean and Shanice

Definition Deforestation, Clearance or Clearing is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use. More than half of the animal and plant species in the world live in tropical forests

When Did it Begin? Jan Ingenhousz in 1740, discovered that the gas released by plants was oxygen. It was at this point that it was discovered that plants and consumers were co-dependent. In the 1800’s when settlement around the world was beginning, clear cutting became an industry.

Where is this an issue? Brazil Since 1970 to 2012, 3,466,000 hectares has been clear cut. Brazil lost nearly 150,000 square kilometers of forest, an area larger than that of Greece. This is bad because Brazil’s forests acted as a world air conditioner. Greece is 131,940 km²

Indonesia Since 1970, deforestation has accelerated losing 84% of the forest land area. (1,447,800 hectares). 73% percent of the land clearing is known to be illegal; Reasons: - Private Corporations: Motivated by Profit - No Permits - Rural Farmers: Low Education, Low Profit, cut down trees in order to make room to fertilize crops - Indonesian Government: Considered corruptive amongst locals (locals do not agree)

Russia Russia has lost 532,200 hectares of forests due to illegal deforestation Illegal logging is a major issue that constantly occurs in Russia It can be classified in three different ways: - Pure Criminal Deforestation - Mass Public Deforestation - Lack of Law Enforcement

WTK Purchased 313,000 hectares of land from a private landowner, 150,000 hectares of this illegally overlapped with indigenous territory. Advertise selves as amazing company that does land development and only purchases legal permitted timber.

Ten Tree Each item purchased results in 10 trees planted in: - Ethiopia - Burkinafaso - Haiti - India - Madagascar - Philippines - Senegal - Tanzania 608,320 tree were planted by this organization