Deforestation Facts for Kids

What is deforestation?

Deforestation is the cutting down of trees and other plants in order to use the land for other uses.¹ Every minute, an area the size of 30 football pitches of forest is cleared.² What do you think will happen if this continues? Read on to discover more deforestation facts for kids.

Deforestation facts for kids

1. Deforestation causes climate change.³ Trees absorb and store greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide.⁴ When they are cut down, they release these harmful gases again.⁵ Therefore, if we want to save the planet we need to save forests.
2. Forests are home to 80 per cent of all the animals and plants that live on land.⁶ From tiny tree frogs and delicate flowers to lumbering elephants and powerful gorillas, they all call woodlands their home. It shows how important it is to preserve forests. What would happen to the plants and animals if we do nothing?
3. Forests cover more than 31 per cent of the planet’s land area.⁷ This may seem like a lot, but consider that 10,000 years ago, trees covered 45 per cent of the planet.⁸ Most of these trees have been cut down recently, especially in the tropics.⁹
4. Since the 1960s, half of the world’s rainforests have been lost.¹⁰ If humans continue chopping it down, in 78 years all rainforests will be completely gone.¹¹ This would be terrible for us and the creatures we share our planet with. Rainforests are where more than 50 per cent of all animals and plants on Earth live.¹²
5. Agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation.¹³ As much as 80 per cent of deforestation around the globe is a result of agriculture.¹⁴ This is typically because farmers are clearing land to grow food or crops, or to graze cattle.¹⁵
6. Logging, mainly to produce paper and wood for us to use, causes about 14 per cent of deforestation.¹⁶ To minimise deforestation from logging, we need to reduce how much wood and paper we use, reuse things when we can and recycle products as much as possible.¹⁷ Can you find some things at home to recycle?
7. Forests aren’t just home to animals and plants. Nearly 1.6 billion people also rely on forests for their livelihoods.¹⁸ This means one in every four people needs woodland for their job and food.¹⁹ Lots of people in poorer countries depend on wood as a fuel source too.²⁰
8. About 10 per cent of the medicines we use originate in rainforests.²¹ 7,000 different drugs prescribed by Western doctors are derived from plants.²² In fact, 70 per cent of the 3,000 plants identified as helping to cure cancer come from the rainforest.²³ How many more helpful medicines could exist undiscovered in the rainforest?

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2. The Independent. (2019). Enough rainforest to fill 30 football pitches destroyed every minute last year. [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/tropical-rainforest-lost-destroyed-football-pitches-every-minute-a8886911.html [Accessed 3 Feb. 2021].
3. Union of Concerned Scientists (2012). Tropical Deforestation and Global Warming | Union of Concerned Scientists. [online] www.ucsusa.org. Available at: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/tropical-deforestation-and-global-warming#:~:text=When%20trees%20are%20cut%20down.
4. Rainforest Alliance. (2018). What is the Relationship Between Deforestation And Climate Change? [online] Available at: https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/relationship-between-deforestation-climate-change.
5. Union of Concerned Scientists (2012). Tropical Deforestation and Global Warming | Union of Concerned Scientists. [online] www.ucsusa.org. Available at: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/tropical-deforestation-and-global-warming#:~:text=When%20trees%20are%20cut%20down.
6. World Wildlife Fund. (2000). Forest Habitat | Habitats | WWF. [online] Available at: https://www.worldwildlife.org/habitats/forest-habitat.
7. World Wildlife Fund. (2010). Deforestation and Forest Degradation | Threats | WWF. [online] Available at: https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation-and-forest-degradation.
8. www.un.org. (2018). Safeguarding the world’s forests – our best bet for sustainable societies | UN DESA | United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. [online] Available at: https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/forest/international-day-forests-2018.html [Accessed 3 Feb. 2021].
9. International Union for Conservation of Nature (2018). Deforestation and forest degradation. [online] IUCN. Available at: https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/deforestation-and-forest-degradation.
10. International Union for Conservation of Nature (2018). Deforestation and forest degradation. [online] IUCN. Available at: https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/deforestation-and-forest-degradation.
11. www.theworldcounts.com. (n.d.). The World Counts. [online] Available at: https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/planet-earth/forests-and-deserts/rate-of-deforestation/story.
12. Bradford, A. (2018). Facts About Rainforests. [online] Live Science. Available at: https://www.livescience.com/63196-rainforest-facts.html.
13. Youmatter. (n.d.). What Is Deforestation? Definition, Causes, Effects and Solutions to Stop it. [online] Available at: https://youmatter.world/en/definition/definitions-what-is-definition-deforestation-causes-effects/#:~:text=Deforestation%20refers%20to%20the%20decrease.
14. Youmatter. (n.d.). What Is Deforestation? Definition, Causes, Effects and Solutions to Stop it. [online] Available at: https://youmatter.world/en/definition/definitions-what-is-definition-deforestation-causes-effects/#:~:text=Deforestation%20refers%20to%20the%20decrease.
15. Youmatter. (n.d.). What Is Deforestation? Definition, Causes, Effects and Solutions to Stop it. [online] Available at: https://youmatter.world/en/definition/definitions-what-is-definition-deforestation-causes-effects/#:~:text=Deforestation%20refers%20to%20the%20decrease.
16. admin (2016). What Is Deforestation For Kids: Information And Facts. [online] Active Wild. Available at: https://www.activewild.com/what-is-deforestation-for-kids-information-and-facts/.
17. Busch Systems Resource Center. (2017). Ways to Reduce and Reuse Paper Before You Recycle it. [online] Available at: https://www.buschsystems.com/resource-center/page/ways-to-reduce-and-reuse-paper-before-you-recycle-it.
18. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2015). Forests and poverty reduction. [online] Fao.org. Available at: http://www.fao.org/forestry/livelihoods/en/.
19. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2015). Forests and poverty reduction. [online] Fao.org. Available at: http://www.fao.org/forestry/livelihoods/en/.
20. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2015). Forests and poverty reduction. [online] Fao.org. Available at: http://www.fao.org/forestry/livelihoods/en/.
21. Eniscuola. (n.d.). Drugs from the forest. [online] Available at: http://www.eniscuola.net/en/argomento/rain-forest/man-and-rain-forest/drugs-from-the-forest/ [Accessed 3 Feb. 2021].
22. Adventure-life.com. (2000). Rainforest Medicine – Healing Medicines From The Amazon. [online] Available at: https://www.adventure-life.com/amazon/articles/medicinal-treasures-of-the-rainforest.
23. Adventure-life.com. (2000). Rainforest Medicine – Healing Medicines From The Amazon. [online] Available at: https://www.adventure-life.com/amazon/articles/medicinal-treasures-of-the-rainforest.