World’s forests in ‘emergency room’

  1. A study conducted by Global forest watch has revealed that climate change has destroyed about 12 million hectares of tropical forests in 2018. The research was led by US-based World Resources Institute.
  2. Global Forest Watch is an online forest monitoring and alert system. It seeks to empower people globally to better manage forests.
  3. The study has reported that nearly 25% of tropical tree cover loss took place in Brazil alone, while Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia accounted for 10% each. High levels of deforestation was also recorded in Malaysia and Madagascar.
  4. The study has also noted ne deforestation hotspots particularly in Africa, where illegal mining, small-scale forest clearing and the expansion of cocoa farms led to an increase in tree loss. Examples: Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
  5. For the first time, researchers had also calculate the loss of undisturbed natural rainforest using satellite data. The highest loss has been accounted in Brazil followed by DR> Congo, Indonesia, Colombia and Bolivia.
  6. However, on a positive note, the study has highlighted that the primary forest loss in Indonesia has slowed down for the second year in running, dropping by 63% compared to 2017. This is primarily after the government has imposed a prohibition on forest clearing.
  7. The study has highlighted the paramount importance of forest cover- a) help regulate weather patterns, b) prevent flooding and erosion, c) provide food, water and shelter, d) provides oxygen, e) absorbs 30% of global man-made greenhouse gas emissions and f) oceans aside, have the greatest biodiversity on the planet.