There are deep layers of greenery all around the world that act as powerful lungs for all of us.
Forests cover one third of the world’s surface. They play a key role in the continued fight against the consequences of climate change. They absorb harmful pollutants, regulate water flow and support habitats for migrating plants and animals.
But they’re in danger. Since 1990, the planet has lost 1.3 million square kilometers of tree cover – an area larger than South Africa – to deforestation for the forestry and paper industries and agriculture, in keeping with the World Bank.
When trees are destroyed, greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. Recent fires have broken out within the Amazon 228 megatons of carbon dioxide. It has been reported that swaths of rainforest are burning in Brazil probably the most August fires since 2010.
Protecting this vital resource and stopping further deforestation could help reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 4 billion tons per 12 months – the equivalent of taking half the world’s cars off the road, says the Tropical Forest Alliance, an initiative led by the World Economic Forum that works with governments and businesses to resolve the issue.
In each of the world’s 10 most tree-covered countries, forests cover an enormous percentage of the land area – from almost three-quarters in Papua New Guinea to over 98% in Suriname in South America.
Source: This is an element of an article originally published on World Economic Forum
