The need for wood-based resources is the reason that deforestation is so common around the globe. It can be difficult to ask the question why when thinking about this practice. It’s easy to forget about something so common, but did you ever think about the reasons people chop down trees?
For many reasons trees are being cut down, such as to build houses or furniture, open up land for other uses, or create wood-based resources. The process can cause environmental damage, but it can be avoided by taking steps to restore the environment.
Here are some reasons trees need to be cut down and the best ways to do it in a way that does not cause any harm to the environment. It is important to have the right knowledge and skills to acquire these materials sustainably. Let’s get started!
What Are The Positive And Negative Impacts Of Deforestation?
Before we get into the details about the causes and consequences of deforestation, it is important to discuss why this topic is so hot. We hope to give context in this section.
Negative: Deforestation Degrades Soil
Deforestation can have a negative impact on the soil. You may be wondering how?
The soil has less chance to retain a healthy balance of nutrients if there aren’t trees around to support a cycle of growth (seeds fall, animals eat them, insects below them).
Although this is a negative effect of deforestation it can also have other beneficial impacts.
Positive: Deforestation Opens Up Land For Agriculture
The land is also opened up to agricultural uses, regardless of whether it was originally intended.
Sometimes, this is intentional and leads to deforestation. We will discuss it below. Other times, it might just happen.
Deforested land can be used to grow new crops. This can help to restore the soil and ecosystem.
Positive: Deforestation Supports Economic Growth
For whatever reason, many trees are being cut down to make lumber of any kind. The opposite of what was mentioned in the previous section is that an area where trees have been cut to make way for open space will still yield a lot of lumber that can be used in some way.
Another important aspect of sustainability is making sure fallen trees don’t end up in the trash. It is all about finding a balance between the give-and-take that happens when trees are removed, and the potential for new possibilities.
It is definitely worth it to be able to grow crops, raise livestock, construct houses and/or harvest lumber to make more materials.
Deforestation has a positive impact on the economy. This can support people, jobs and their lifestyles.
Negative: Deforestation Destroys Natural Environments
Even if the land can be repurposed, the negative effect of deforestation is that it destroys the natural environment which once existed in the place of the barren landscape.
Nature’s ecosystems are fragile and losing one can cause the destruction of many others.
Positive: Deforestation Creates Materials
The increase in resources provided by the removal of trees is a positive thing that can be achieved, especially when it does not directly affect locals.
Most of the things we use come from trees. Wood is a necessity, regardless of how we view it.
The creation of new materials from deforestation is ultimately a positive thing, but the practice of reusing and refurbishing pre-owned materials such as tables, cabinets and chairs could be more widely used in today’s modern world.
Negative: Deforestation Can Impact The Lifestyle Of People In The Region
Let’s return to the topic of environmental alteration, and the struggle against it. Deforestation has a wider impact than the soil and plants in an area.
Animals and insects will leave the area where trees have been removed. Sometimes communities are affected by these changes. Particularly communities that are smaller or less modern.
Native people who live near forests and jungles, for example, are more likely to be affected by changes in their environment.
6 Reasons Why People Cut Down Trees
We are at the part that you have been waiting for. We can now discuss the reasons people or companies decide to chop down trees.
This applies to anyone, from an individual looking to build a wooden rocking chair to large corporations that need wood to integrate into their new buildings.
Maybe there’s a need to acquire more land for agricultural practices.
Perhaps the purpose of cutting down trees is to make room for more people who are searching for a new home.
We will discuss all these reasons and then explain how deforestation occurs.
The reasons why people chop down trees are obvious!
1. Trees Are Used To Build Furniture
Let’s begin on a small scale.
Consider your house. What is it made of wood? Where can you find this wood?
You can make anything from your kitchen table to your bedframe to the shoe rack at the door from wood that has been cut down specifically for that purpose.
Your side table may not be as heavy as the shoe rack in another room, but the cabinets in the wall or the kitchen dining set use a lot of wood.
Wood products can be found everywhere, but they must come from somewhere.
Companies will often cut large sections of trees in order to make wood suitable for furniture, decor, and other useful pieces that people can use in their daily lives.
2. Trees Are Used In Floors And Trim
Let’s go further. A home is not only made of wood, but also certain aspects of it.
Wood flooring is the only option, unless you are a carpet lover. Wood is used to make trim around doors and baseboards that protect your walls’ bottoms.
A living space is made up of so many things, and a lot of it is made out wood. Trees play an important role in building our everyday living spaces.
3. Trees Are Used In The Structure Of Homes And Buildings
You thought we were done with expansion? You might be wrong.
Wooden furniture can be used to make parts of an interior or exterior of buildings, and sometimes even the building itself.
Although a building may be made of many other materials, wood is almost always an integral part. Consider the space between the steel and the drywall in a high-rise. The beams that make up the walls of a building are likely to be made out of wood, even though they are made from metal. The same applies to ceilings and floors. However, the largest structural piece in this case is the wall.
However, we don’t need to be talking about ultra-modern homes or skyscrapers. You can think of the coffee shop you love, the restaurant with a cool building design, or even the craft shop you used to pass while on your way to work.
These buildings are structurally somewhere between a small family home and an enormous office building. However, they all share one thing in common: they all use wood in some way to create their room layouts, building designs, or aesthetic appearances. It could be all three.
4. Trees Are Cut Down To Make Room For Agricultural Spaces
Let’s change gears.
Sometimes trees need to be cut down because they are too small. Farmers might need to grow more food so they may cut down trees in order to plant more crops.
They might use the space to allow animals to graze, while they are being raised for food, milk or to help the land.
In this situation, deforestation may not have such a severe impact. This land is being repurposed to benefit the people and not being degraded without replenishing resources.
5. Trees Are Used For The Purpose Of Creating Space
On the other hand, corporations may sometimes use trees to make more room for people to build homes, businesses, and other things.
These situations can lead to nature being ignored or at best, brushed aside.
The University of California San Diego explains how deforestation could lead to climate change and disease through industry’s lack of respect for nature and delicate balance it sits upon.
Although deforestation has declined over the past few decades, the pace at which forests and jungles are disappearing is alarming.
Let’s now talk about paper, which is another product that takes up a lot of trees.
6. Trees Are Used To Make Paper
No matter where you are from or what your profession, paper is something almost everyone uses in their daily lives. While the digital age is slowly gaining ground, paper is not going away.
Are you using a journal at the moment? Perhaps it’s a school notebook.
Have you ever read a book online? Have you ever used a dictionary the “old-fashioned way”?
If you think the answer is no, then let us ask:
You have probably ever received a flyer, a receipt from the grocery shop, or a birthday card when you ordered takeout.
You probably use more paper than you think in your daily life.
The majority of paper is made from wood pulp. This simple process began thousands of years ago in China.
The basic process involves turning the raw wood into pulp, which is then dried and pressed until its final form.
To learn more about the process, see How Many Trees are Cut to Make One Piece of Paper
We’ll tell you for now that most paper is made of softwood trees. After going through the process to turn that wood into pulp using chemicals or mechanicals, you can obtain paper in no time. It is best to let it air dry before pressing dry.
There are many options for wood-based papers, but this process is far from complete.
Middle Georgia State University reports that the average American household wastes approximately 13,000 pieces of paper each year. This is quite crazy considering all of the trees that have to be cut down to make these pieces of paper.
It’s difficult to see how much each person has an effect on the environment. Our minds don’t have time to consider what the impact of a paper stack being thrown in the trash or recycled after it has been done by 5, 10, 100, 1000, or more people.
This is not your fault. Paper products are what we use most often, so recycling may not always be an option. We want to stress that many trees are being felled to create products that don’t last and are disposed of in ways that cause problems.
So, Is Deforestation Good Or Bad?
You can see that deforestation can have both positive and negative effects depending on how it is done. However, it can also be a topic that can prove to be very costly if not done properly.
Rebuilding does not necessarily mean planting new trees. It is important to use and maintain deforested land in a way that sustains the local population.
Because of its negative effects on the environment, deforestation is often viewed as a problem. Positive reasons are more human-focused topics such as economics, material, and food.
Deforestation can cause serious damage, even if trees can be planted and land can be converted to agricultural areas.
The complex balance of nature can be severely impacted by the removal of trees that have been around for many centuries. The likelihood of animals moving is high. Insects and other creatures can help spread the seeds to new trees and pollinate smaller but equally important plants.
It is a delicate balance that exists between animals and plants as well as local people and how resources are used.
When people shift the focus from protecting wildlife and plants to helping people, it can often lead to more harm than good.
However, it is possible for local residents to use the space to support an increase in population.
It all depends on who takes what resources and uses them for what purpose. It doesn’t matter if it feels complicated. Just be patient with us as we explain.
Are there any ways to reduce the use of wood products, and/or the negative effects of deforestation?
How Can We Help To Reduce The Negative Impacts Of Deforestation?
We recognize that deforestation will not go away soon, and that it can have positive outcomes. However, it is worth talking about how we can all help to reduce the negative effects.
These are some things you should keep in mind if you want to do good and ensure that the planet continues to produce the beautiful trees we all love.
Plant New Trees, Or Support Companies That Do
Many of our articles will help you care for your trees or plant new ones. Because trees are so valuable, we love them.
Planting new trees is great for the environment. But, you will also get satisfaction watching something you planted mature. It’s almost like being a child, but not.
There are many companies that will plant trees for every product you purchase, to offset the cost of materials used to make that product.
This one is up to you. It all depends on where you shop and what you buy. But it’s a fantastic idea that you should keep an eye on!
Use Less Paper Or Alternative Paper
Although it’s becoming more convenient to use less paper in the digital age, it is still an important decision that must be made.
We have a suggestion for you if you can’t imagine quitting the joy of writing on paper. There are many options, and it is fun to try different paper types.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
This is a classic, but it works. Reduce the amount of waste you produce, reuse what you can, recycle what you can’t.
This is something you have probably done since childhood, but it has become more important for you as an adult. It is easy enough to do, but it is well worth the extra steps.
It’s possible to feel good and not do somuch more work. If you ask us, it’s a win!
That’s All For Now, Folks!
We have this for you. We know that deforestation can be a complicated topic and this will help you to feel like you have begun to understand the complexities.
We appreciate you taking the time to read our piece and staying with us as we help you to save your trees.
We wish you continued success in your tree-related endeavors.
Until next time, friends.