Monday 21 March 2016

Facts about Fantastic Forests



Here are a few interesting facts about forests:

·       Forests cover about one third of the world’s land mass.

·       Forests provide an array of ecological, economic, social and health benefits and are essential for meeting people’s needs.

·       Forests act as natural water filters.

·       Forests are the most biologically-diverse ecosystems on land, home to more than 80% of the terrestrial species of animals, plants, and insects.

·       They provide shelter, jobs, and security for forest-dependent communities. Around 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihood, food, fiber, water, fuel, shelter, and income.

·       It provides clean air and water and regulate the climate. Contributing to the balance of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and humidity in the air.

·       They help to tackle climate change.

·       Deforestation continues at an alarming rate - 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually, an area roughly the size of England.

·       Deforestation accounts for 12 to 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

·       Forested watersheds and wetlands supply 75 percent of the world’s accessible freshwater

·        Healthy forests are critical for building resilience—the ability to bounce back from storms and other natural disasters.

·       Deforestation accounts for 12 to 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.

·       Forests minimize soil erosion on site, reduce sediment in water bodies and trap or filter water pollutants in the forest litter.

 
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