Environmental Health News, Week 6: Save our Forests
A new study has shown that Earth's forests are important in maintaining our environment. Our forests are not just beautiful places with a multitude of different animals and plants, but they actually play a vital role in our lives. According to the article, Earth's forests play a role in reducing climate change, maintaining water supplies, safeguarding biodiversity, and protecting human health. Unfortunately, the amount of intact forests have been declining and these important ecosystems are being neglected.
As stated in the article, "forests absorb around 25% of the world's human-generated carbon emissions," and thus are important for reducing global warming. As humans move in on the forests, animals are exposed to hunters. As the animals disappear, so do the plants and trees because they depend on the animals to spread their seeds. The soil of these forests are also better at holding water in the soil, which stabilizes slopes and prevents erosion. If those benefits of the forests aren't enough, the research article from Nature also mentions that intact forests present human health benefits such as reduced infectious disease risks and reduced health impacts of wildfires.
More global initiatives are necessary to help reduce the negative impacts on our vital forests. We need to act while we still can, otherwise we will be left without our forests.
References
https://news.mongabay.com/2018/02/huge-gamble-scientists-urge-prioritization-of-intact-forests/?utm_source=EHN&utm_campaign=8c74bc4919-Science_saturday&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8573f35474-8c74bc4919-99470193
The Nature research article mentioned:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-018-0490-x.epdf?referrer_access_token=R_fjpTCl0qOaWYKai3hrstRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0Mi6t3LhQgKb2ydZrZUC5578UKqDD_USaIZTTJPo5Zs5s-44wBlIrS1IVuF80ggUckRwCRpiovdJh3UC2v59gZMQFYNyoaAxYJZGe4xCIYXEpdjQ7zU_o8VltstBaOTKG2wciNHe78_OQTMhzxI2bP-V8hehokY-fqo3l3OjxEtDO7cB-PGx_JfOVh6rAmu_0SzeeJ5w5eVG5DPlmpvWvly-G4OwUt8dGOWPzul1iH0hHDdfvxJYl4xc5sczlzAya6t14clwA5w7rqWqlgEwwELTYK2LBLeCG27i7OY-pOqIKNvzhg2t8K0BMGDVUNkbpelW7S1OXgw_xBFDjO_NLSfhHdfyTWR2MlB9lvTTHTQdaXRF53Ihn9-or0wY_Elu-SbFM1O8IhLLAWcDWf2REOP&tracking_referrer=news.mongabay.com
As stated in the article, "forests absorb around 25% of the world's human-generated carbon emissions," and thus are important for reducing global warming. As humans move in on the forests, animals are exposed to hunters. As the animals disappear, so do the plants and trees because they depend on the animals to spread their seeds. The soil of these forests are also better at holding water in the soil, which stabilizes slopes and prevents erosion. If those benefits of the forests aren't enough, the research article from Nature also mentions that intact forests present human health benefits such as reduced infectious disease risks and reduced health impacts of wildfires.
More global initiatives are necessary to help reduce the negative impacts on our vital forests. We need to act while we still can, otherwise we will be left without our forests.
References
https://news.mongabay.com/2018/02/huge-gamble-scientists-urge-prioritization-of-intact-forests/?utm_source=EHN&utm_campaign=8c74bc4919-Science_saturday&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8573f35474-8c74bc4919-99470193
The Nature research article mentioned:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-018-0490-x.epdf?referrer_access_token=R_fjpTCl0qOaWYKai3hrstRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0Mi6t3LhQgKb2ydZrZUC5578UKqDD_USaIZTTJPo5Zs5s-44wBlIrS1IVuF80ggUckRwCRpiovdJh3UC2v59gZMQFYNyoaAxYJZGe4xCIYXEpdjQ7zU_o8VltstBaOTKG2wciNHe78_OQTMhzxI2bP-V8hehokY-fqo3l3OjxEtDO7cB-PGx_JfOVh6rAmu_0SzeeJ5w5eVG5DPlmpvWvly-G4OwUt8dGOWPzul1iH0hHDdfvxJYl4xc5sczlzAya6t14clwA5w7rqWqlgEwwELTYK2LBLeCG27i7OY-pOqIKNvzhg2t8K0BMGDVUNkbpelW7S1OXgw_xBFDjO_NLSfhHdfyTWR2MlB9lvTTHTQdaXRF53Ihn9-or0wY_Elu-SbFM1O8IhLLAWcDWf2REOP&tracking_referrer=news.mongabay.com
Hi Loren,
ReplyDeleteWe need to make stronger efforts in preserving our forests. They clearly play a vital role in our lives. We have a fragile ecosystem as is and must maintain it. We simply cannot keep destroying land for or short-term personal gain.