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Deforestation Essay

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Is Deforestation Worth It?

One of the most prevalent issues in our world today is the issue of deforestation. Deforestation can be described as “the practice of clearing the natural forests for agriculture, logging, etc.” (Deforestation Statistics). After hearing the definition of deforestation, most people would not find this to be a very significant issue in the world, but after hearing the alarming statistics associated with deforestation, most would change their mind. For example, arguably the most shocking statistic is that deforestation has resulted in 80 percent of Earth’s forest cover being cut down (Deforestation Statistics). Although the lumber harvested from these rainforests across the world serve important purposes, I do not …show more content…

To make matters even more severe than they already are, the Sumatran tiger is “critically-endangered,” and this lumber operation was illegal (Mongabay). Is the wood harvested from that forest worth risking eliminating the last of the 450 Sumatran tigers on earth (Mongabay)?

In addition to the harm deforestation inflicts on animals, deforestation is also harmful to society. Many natives, especially in South America, rely tremendously on the rainforest. These tribes live in the forests, and gather all of their resources from them as well. The lives of these natives are turned upside down when they have no choice but to abandon their home, because the rainforest is being destroyed whether they like it or not (Consequences of Deforestation). Tribes are forced to leave everything they know, and move to more inhabited areas that they are extremely unused to. How can someone who has lived his or her entire life making do with the resources that earth provided suddenly learn to be successful in a city, where he or she is required to speak the language and know certain skills? Deforestation ruins countless lives of people living in or near the Amazon (Consequences of Deforestation). In order to put into perspective just how many people are effected in such a way, an article in the Nature Conservancy website states that “more than 1 billion people living in extreme poverty depend on forests for their water, fuel, or

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