The importance of forests cannot be underestimated. We depend on forests for our survival, from the air we breathe to the wood we use. They are the lungs of the planet. In addition to providing habitat for animals and livelihoods for humans, forests also offer protection to the catchment, prevent soil erosion and mitigate climate change. And yet, despite our dependence on forests, we still allow them to disappear.
How do forests affect your life on a daily basis?
Do you have breakfast? Do you travel to work by bus or car? Sitting on a chair? Do you make a shopping list? Do you have a parking ticket? Do you use handkerchiefs? Forest products are a vital part of our daily lives in more ways than we can imagine…
After the oceans, forests are the largest carbon stores in the world. They help the ecosystem and are crucial to the survival of humanity. Trees absorb harmful greenhouse gases that lead to climate change. In tropical forests alone, a quarter of a trillion tons of carbon is stored in above-ground and underground biomass. They provide us with clean water for drinking, bathing and other household needs. They protect the catchments and reduce or slow down the amount of erosion and chemicals that enter the reservoirs. The forest provides us with food and medicine. It serves as a buffer for natural disasters such as floods and rainfall. It provides habitat for more than half of the world’s terrestrial species.
Source: test
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