Protecting the earth’s remaining forest cover is now an urgent task.

A forest’s ecosystem is made up of all kinds of living things.  Trees, soil, undergrowth, insects, and animals all play a critical part in helping to maintaining life on earth.  Forests create oxygen and filter out air pollutants which helps us breathe and helps stabilize global climate by absorbing carbon dioxide.  They act like sponges and soak up rainfall which prevents floods and purifies the water we drink.  Forests provide a home for 90% of the plant and animal species that live on land.

Forests are commercially important since they yield valuable resources like wood, rubber and medicinal plants.

Climate change is significantly impacting our lands.  It is imperative that we dutifully manage the lands in our care in order to sustain their diversity and productivity.

Forest certification was launched over a decade ago to help protect forests from destructive logging practices.  Forest certification was developed to act as a seal of approval.  It is a means of informing consumers that a wood or paper product comes from forests managed in accordance with strict environmental and social standards.

Deforestation leads to several community and environmental problems. Looming consequences such as loss of various forms of life that inhabit the planet, destruction of forest-based-societies and climatic disruption are eminent dangers all of us need to acknowledge.

The two largest surviving regions of rain forest are in Brazil and Indonesia. They are being stripped at an alarming rate by logging, fires and land-clearing for agricultural use and cattle-grazing.

According to the World Resources Institute, more than 80 percent of the Earth’s natural forests have already been destroyed and since 1900 up to 90% of West Africa’s coastal rain forests have disappeared.

Soil Erosion

Currently soil erosion is one of the most prevalent environmental problems. Accelerated soil erosion by water or wind may affect agricultural areas as well as natural environments. Soil is lost due to the deficiency of the protective cover of vegetation. This is a direct result of our negligent actions. Logging, overgrazing or improper farming practices are leaving the land unprotected and vulnerable. Trees help prevent erosion and landslides which in turn helps to enrich and nourish the soil.

A solution must be reached

Our actions and the choices we make today have the ability to make or break the future of our planet. Though this generation may not immediately encounter or suffer the effects of deforestation the next generation and their children will likely be the ones who not only bear the burden but suffer the consequences. Take steps to prevent soil erosion by keeping soil healthy. Soil rich in organic matter is less susceptible to getting washed or swept away. Whenever possible, switch to renewable energy sources such as water, wind or solar power. Plant trees to offset the carbon dioxide we are producing. Photosynthesis allows trees to take CO2 out of the air, replacing it with oxygen. Planting trees is the most cost-effective way to take CO2 out of the atmosphere.

Seed Our Future
Give a tree to be planted and become part of a campaign to help reduce the effects of global climate change. Planting trees in honor of or in remembrance of someone is the perfect choice for any occasion. Every Seed Our Future campaign gift can be customized to suit any event or special occasions.

Planting trees by participating in our reforestation campaign enables you to not only help protect the environment you will also be helping to protect and preserve time-honored livelihoods and cultures for future generations.

Immediate and long-term consequences of global deforestation will have ill effects and most certainly jeopardize life on Earth.

Forests are structured to help maintain a delicate balance in nature. With our current industrial practices, ranching, farming and logging we are causing the destruction of forests. These actions are directly jeopardizing the very important and much needed balance forests provide.

It Just Comes Natural

Trees naturally help improve the quality of the air that all living things breathe. Trees trap carbon and particles that are produced by pollution. Trees cool and regulate the earth’s climate. Trees determine rainfall and replenish the atmosphere. Water put back into the atmosphere forms clouds which then provide yet another way to block out heat from the sun.

While all consequences of deforestation pose impending threats, one more serious consequence is that of climate change caused by destruction or loss of trees. Earth’s atmosphere contains a variety of gases. Carbon dioxide is an insulating gas which helps moderate heat loss to outer space. Insulating gases such as this are referred to as “greenhouse” gases. They function like the glass in a greenhouse. They trap and hold solar heat. Greenhouse gases include methane, chlorofluorocarbons, nitrous oxide, and ozone. When there are additional greenhouse gases there will be gradual increases in temperature on the surface of the earth which can lead to changes in weather patterns, sea levels and other cycles in nature that also directly impact life on Earth.

Seed Our Future

Seed Our Future – give a tree to be planted in a reforestation project and become part of a campaign to help reduce the effects of global climate change.