Decades of exploitation have destroyed and degraded much of the Earth’s natural forests. In fact, we’ve already lost half of global forest land. Losing these vital ecosystems is displacing communities, threatening the habitats of rare and endangered species, and spewing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. To avoid further consequences, we urgently need to protect what is left.
The good news is that solutions to deforestation exist. Together, we have the power to save our forests.
Why Fight for Forests?
We fight for forests because life as we know it simply could not continue without them.
Around 1.6 billion people worldwide rely on forests for food and economic means. Deforestation can have devastating impacts for the indigenous peoples and forest-dependent communities that have traditionally stewarded these lands. Beyond the borders of the forest, we all rely on forests for things like clean water, timber, medicines, and products we use every day.
Similarly, forests are home to an incredible diversity of plant and animal life whose habits are under threat from deforestation. For instance, one in ten species on Earth known to humans is only found in the Amazon rainforest.
Finally, the fight for forests is fundamentally tied to another critical global challenge: global warming. In fact, forest loss is actual a double-edged sword when it comes to our changing climate. Deforestation contributes as much as 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions every year, while intact forests can actually absorb carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Fighting for a Deforestation-Free Future
Greenpeace is campaigning for a future that will allow our forests to thrive. We envision a world where our forests sustain local communities and economies, are filled with unique wildlife, and keep our air clean and pollution-free.
Does that sound like a world you want to live in? Great! Learn more about the ways we’re fighting to protect forests around the world and how you can get involved.
