What is Deforestation?
Deforestation is the permanent destruction of indigenous (native) forests. It is the loss of forest cover to be replaced by other land uses. It is a major global problem and has serious consequences.

How bad is it?
Forests once covered 6 billion hectares of the Earth but now only 4 billion hectares are left. Trees are important to our survival because, like other green plants, they produce oxygen. Without oxygen, animals, including humans, cannot survive!

Approximately 200,000 square km of forests are depleted each year. By now, approximately half of forests once occupied the earth’s surface has been deforested.

Deforestation has resulted in the reduction of indigenous (native) forests to four-fifths of their pre-agricultural area. Indigenous forests now cover 21% of the earth's land surface.

What causes deforestation?
Deforestation occurs for several reasons which include:

Timber harvesting (commercial logging)

Clearance for agricultural purposes

Clearance for settlement

Other reasons that may contribute to deforestation include the construction of towns or the building of dams which flood large areas.

Why do we need the forest?
Forests are important as they serve many different functions and purposes:

It regulates temperature (it is a carbon -sink) -In a process called photosynthesis, trees and other plants use water, sunlight and carbon dioxide (emitted by cars, animals and the burning fossil fuels) to grow; as a by-product, they return life-supporting oxygen to the atmosphere . This basic process has new significance as concerns about global warming intensify. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is linked to the amount of heat trapped in the earth’s atmosphere. By “fixing” the carbon dioxide within their leaves and woody matter, trees can play a major role in reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and keeping the Earth’s average temperature in balance.

It is a habitat for biodiversity- it is home to many animals and a variety of plant species can be found here. Many of the plants in the forest have medicinal value and can be used for cures for ailments. The forest also contains the genes for various desirable characteristics that will have future importance.

It is a source of food - in many parts of the world; people depend on forest animals as a source of food and medication. Foods such as wild berries and the heart of the ite? palm are also obtained from the forest.

It helps to maintain the water table- Forests help to prevent both erosion and flooding by binding the soil surface and allowing rain to sink into the soil where it raises the water table and is released to streams and springs slowly, rather than running off quickly. This keeps our streams and aquifers charged with water.

The forest also provides Forest products and Non-Timber Forest produces such as paper, building materials, recreation, etc.

What are the consequences deforestation?
Loss of biodiversity, particularly in tropical forests that are home too much of the world’s biodiversity.

The silting of lakes and rivers resulting from soil erosion.

Regional and global climate imbalances.

Excessive carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that may lead to global warming.

Loss of culture and knowledge of many forest peoples.

Desertification (formation of deserts) as an ultimate(end) result of deforestation.

Guyana’s Forests
A large percentage of Guyana’s land mass is luscious rainforests and supports many exotic species of flora and fauna from which tremendous benefits can be derived.

The forests are a source of income and provides employment for many people. The forests also is major attraction for ecotourism and thus the industry in Guyana relies heavily on this resource.

Our indigenous peoples also depend on this resource as a main source of livelihood and the forests form the basis of their culture.

How can we help?
Governments have made rules and regulations about deforestation. However, this has proved insufficient. We can do many things to stop deforestation. For example:

Recycle your paper.

Use paper only as needed.

Start planting trees.

replant clear-cut areas

make more National parks/Reserves

use alternatives to wood products

buy certified products i.e. products produced from sustainably managed forests

Therefore it is important that we strive to maintain our forests and prevent deforestation from occurring.