DEFORESTATION: Imagine a World Without Plants and Trees
If the number of plants and trees are slowly decreasing, the levels of oxygen in the atmosphere will also be limited. The importance of plants and their distribution in the environment is undeniable. When trees get cut down, there is an accumulation of carbon dioxide and not enough plants to take them up. Overtime, the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from deforestation and the carbon emission from fossil fuel combustion will add up, and without photosynthesis to take up the carbon to make glucose, it can ultimately lead to global warming.
LOCALLY, deforestation can lead to flooding and then drought due to water runoff. Soil erosion affects the quality of agriculture. Another impact of deforestation is species loss, since trees provide habitat for hundreds of species. And, of course, deforestation leads to a huge release of carbon, affecting our climate.
What are the possible LONG-TERM IMPACTS of deforestation? The release of so much carbon can lead to climate change and rising sea levels, resulting in the loss of coral reefs and fish, loss of livelihoods and an increase in tropical diseases, resulting in environmental refugees. Conflicts over wildlife and water are possible.
How This Impacts Your Life:
The BIG picture questions:
What can we do as RESPONSIBLE citizens in order to protect our forests from being wiped out for temporary gain? How can we prevent the damaging effects from low rates of oxygen production?
Learn How To Plant a Tree!
First, ask for permission.
This is an important first step. The reason why this step is first is because everything you do might depend on where you are going to plant your tree. For example, if you want to plant a tree in a park, you first need to find out who manages the park (is this a city park, state park, private, etc.) and ask their permission to plant a tree.
Second step is to determine which tree type is best to plant in the area.
You might be able to have a tree donated for your project or you might need to raise funds to purchase a tree. Check with your state or community forester to see if they have any programs where they give away trees for tree planting projects. Also, ask for their advice on the types of trees to plant in the area where you live - different trees are native to different states, and native trees will thrive better after planting.
Use proper tree planting tree procedures!
No matter if you plant the tree by yourself or with your family, friends, club, class or scout members, you will want to use proper tree planting procedures - to make sure the tree has the best chance for a long life.
- Dig the hole as deep as the rootball and twice as wide.
- Check to see if the soil around the hole is too hard - if it is, loosen it up a bit with the shovel.
- Remove the container from the rootball. (The roots are like the tree's blood vessels and they work best if they are not all twisted and knotted up, so you might need to straighten them out if they are circling around after having grown in the container.)
- Place the tree in the hole, making sure the soil is at the same level on the tree as when the tree grew in the garden center. If your tree has burlap around the rootball, place the tree in the hole and then carefully untie the burlap. Leave the burlap lying in the bottom of the hole (this is Okay - the burlap will simply turn into organic matter over a period of time).
- Fill in around the rootball with soil and pack the soil with your hands and feet to make sure that there are no air pockets.
- Make a little dam around the base of the tree as wide as the hole with left over soil or grass clumps to hold in the water.
- Give your new tree a good soaking of water to help settle it into its new home.
- Name your tree, like Tara and her friends named the first tree they planted "Marcie the Marvelous Tree."
- Repeat the "One In A Million" Promise.
- Need more help? Contact your state or community forester listed in your telephone directory or call your local nursery for help and / or advice.