Save the Trees!

What is the one thing that we take for granted every second? Oxygen. We breathe 17,000 – 30,000 times in one day. Each time we breathe we don’t realize that this privilege that is giving us life, may be taken away. Every 48 hours, a forest the size of New York CIty is crumbled to ground by deforestation. We need to save these trees because we are only adding to the ‘greenhouse effect’ and that trees are the homes of thousands of species of animals. Luckily some have taken this problem into their own hands.

The greenhouse effect is when sunlight is reflected into space. But some of this sunlight energy is trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere before it can escape, causing the Earth to warm. The energy that is trapped in Earth is called greenhouse gases. Some greenhouse gases are good, so that the Earth is warm enough to be habitable. But people have been adding to the amount of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere, causing spikes in average climate. According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, “The global average temperature increased by more than 1.4°F over the last century.” Cutting down trees only adds more to this effect. Naturally, trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Carbon dioxide buildup is what is causing these climate spikes. Without our carbon dioxide absorbers, this carbon dioxide will build even more. This eventually will cause the climate to raise even higher.

Greenhouse Effect diagram

Everyone loves cute animals and would hate to see them be hurt. But we are the ones hurting these animals. Trees and forests are the homes of millions of animals. Even though we are not seeing these cute animals being hurt, we are the ones causing it. Deforestation is making animals lose not only their home but their habitat. Some animals can try and look to relocate but some species will not survive. According to SFT (Stand For Trees), “forest habitat loss is the number one cause of species extinction.” Animals will not only have to look for new homes, but first survive the deforestation process. Orangutans, a large primate have suffered a great loss. Each year, around 5,000 orangutans die due to deforestation. We can not let this murder go on.

Fortunately for the human and animal population, some organizations have taken this matter into their own hands. A company called Tentree which is a clothing store, plants 10 trees every time an item is sold. So far they have planted 8,194,650 trees. That number increases every minute. Another organization called ACTrees, is taking a more personal approach to saving the trees. They advise people to take the matter of tree removal into their own hands with a step-by-step process on how to save a tree. They suggest that if they find out that a tree near them is being removed, that they follow the process to save it. Companies and organizations like these are what is going to save the trees.

Thanks to these life-bearing and living organisms, we can survive. Trees can’t defend themselves. It’s up to you and the rest of the world to stand up for them. Trees need to be saved for on-going reasons but most importantly because they can protect against climate change and they allow animals to live. The human race needs to take notes from organizations and companies like Tentree and ACTrees. Remember to always save the trees.

~Meghan