Natural Resources and Population: Trees

Natural resources and Population: Trees

        Trees, or lumber, is a renewable resource. Trees can always be planted, but there is something that can’t be replaced after deforestation occurs. After a forest is destroyed, the species that are indigenous to that forest will disappear. There are few places where large forests have been left untouched. A few of the places where forests have not been touched significantly are Alaska, Canada, the Northwestern Amazon basin and Russia.

        Trees can be used for many different things including lumber and paper. Trees can also be used as fuel for fires.One of the only ways that people obtain wood for use is by cutting down trees. Cutting down a single tree to use as firewood during the winter wouldn’t have an affect on the entire world, but mass-deforestation would affect the world. Forests are also destroyed in order to make room for cattle farmers.

        Deforestation can lead to things such as desertification and massive amounts of carbon going into the atmosphere. It is estimated that more or less 15% of greenhouse gases are produced by deforestation. Deforestation dislocates hundreds of animals that are native to the forests, thus making them adapt to a new environment, which is very rare. Use of the resource releases ever more carbon into the atmosphere.

        The availability of trees will slowly go down as they start to gradually disappear. One way to make sure that trees don’t become a rarity is by planting more trees. The more the population grows, the more paper or wood-based products will be put on the market. With the increase of population, people will also want furniture like tables and nightstands which are traditionally made with wood.

        There are many ways that people could cut down their usage of paper goods/wood. One of the obvious ways to do it is to recycle and used recycled goods. There is also the possibility of reporting anybody that you can report people illegally logging near your area. Another way to help is by registering to vote and voting on any propositions that can affect the environment.