Planting More Trees Won’t Stop Deforestation
Not that there’s a silver bullet solution, but scattering seeds over barren land won’t work. Not anymore.
Global warming is a serious issue. This, I hope, is no surprise to anybody; the ozone layer is burning, the ice is melting, animals are going extinct… Even the surface temperature of this planet is increasing day by day. To nobody’s surprise, a significant factor of this has been deforestation and degradation- issues that don’t seem to be slowing down any sooner.
I’ve been taught about global warming since I was in the first grade. It’s been nearly twelve years since I sat for that fateful first Geography lesson on how we can do our part to save the world, and yet, no matter what we do, it seems we’re only headed toward extinction much faster than we could’ve ever anticipated. And trust me, I’ve tried everything I can from my end. I made sure to take part in every tree-planting event my school held. I carried paper bags with me instead of plastic ones, and heck, I even drank from paper straws (I still do, don’t worry), but it just isn’t enough.
The damage we’ve done to this planet is irreversible unless we stop right now. Seriously, there’s a reason the recent summers have been hotter than ever before. The consistent destruction of forests around the world should stop. I’m not sure people realize this, but forests recycle carbon dioxide and give us oxygen. One tree in the middle of New York isn’t going to do that on its own, trust me. Millions of websites around the world say that the best way to work towards putting an end to deforestation is to plant more trees, but I’m with Bill Gates on this one; planting several trees in your backyard won’t bring back the one billion, eight-hundred and thirty-six million trees we’ve cut down over the past several thousand years.
I think it’s time for some simple biology, yeah? Imagine a forest. Does a forest only consist of trees? Very good; no, it doesn't. A forest comprises thousands of shrubs, plants, flowers, fungi, and animals. Clearing away the trees takes away a massive chunk of an otherwise natural habitat that has lasted for centuries. Now, do you know how long it takes for a tree to grow? Do you honestly think a few seeds in the soil will reverse time and bring back the trees we’ve lost?
The answer is no, by the way.
Bill Gates mentioned in his interview that the planet isn’t affected by global warming as much as people are, but I strongly disagree. In his words, I quote, “There are effects on humanity, the planet less so.”
If the planet isn’t affected by global warming to the same extent we people are, why did the world heal so much during the pandemic? If you go back a year or two, you’ll find enough and more reports on how the water in Venice cleared up almost immediately after the tourist boats were banned from entering the water. If this doesn’t show how much we’ve damaged the environment, I don’t know what does.
I’m pretty sure at this point you’re thinking, oh, but then how do we actually stop deforestation?
Well, that’s the issue. We can’t boycott any companies involved in deforestation because most parties involved are sketchy and underground. Even though countries with massive forestation grounds, like Brazil, Colombia, and Congo, have strict laws against cutting down trees, that doesn't seem to stop poachers from doing their job. On the bright side, most indigenous communities that live in forests are doing their best to keep their tribal lands intact, and their efforts seem to be paying off. Really great examples of these communities are the Munduruku people of the Amazon and the Waswanipi Cree of Northern Quebec.
Deforestation is not something the general public can control. To be honest, it’s really up to major companies that work heavily with things like timber and paper to hold their suppliers accountable for not leaving the most minimal impact on the environment. Especially as we enter an age where school and work are propelled by digital collaboration and online learning platforms, we should be able to cut down heavily on the usage of traditional materials like paper and pencils.
Aside from using sustainable alternatives, it’s about time we drag ourselves into politics. And yes, global warming has everything to do with politics (at least now, anyway). To say I was extremely disappointed in the Biden administration when it gave the green light for Project Willow was an understatement. Going through with that project just showed the whole world that America cared more about its booming economy than the health and well-being of its people, and quite frankly, it was (and still is) a terrible look for the American government. It’s about time we elected leaders who care more about their people’s lives than their people’s lifestyles.
The protection of nature is now the protection of human rights. Again, planting trees won’t just save us, and it probably never will. Only when the People At The Top realize that they have nothing left to earn will they look back and realize all the damage they’ve done, and by then, it’ll be too late. Before that happens, it’s up to us to make them realize how important it is to save our planet.
Because if we don’t, who will?
