How does deforestation affect the Earth?

Deforestation affects the Earth in many ways. It is bad for the environment because trees take in and store Carbon Dioxide , and when people cut them down, they release up to 2,000 pounds of Co2 into the atmosphere. Deforestation is now responsible for about 20% of Co2 emissions each year! It can also lead many plant and animal species into extinction by destroying their food sources and habitats because trees provide shelter and protection for many forest animals. Deforestation can also pollute waterways and erode soil, and more than 20% of the oxygen you breathe is produced by trees just in the Amazon. What is really devastating, is that experts estimate that we are losing about 50,000 species of plants, animals and insects every year. As they dissapear, so do many cures to life-threatening diseases.

Why is clearing forests harmful to us?

Clearing forests and rainforests is extremley harmful to us because when trees are cut down, they release carbon dioxide. But carbon dioxide is one of the major heat-trapping gases, and so the carbon dioxide stays inside of Earth's atmosphere and traps heat from the sun, supposedly causing global climate change. Although, climate change is controversial because we don't yet know for sure if it really exists. It could just be earth going through its normal cycles. Since there is a lot of evidence against and also for climate change, it is up to you to decide whether or not you think it exists. Both sides have many good points and strong evidence. What is also questionable is if humans even have a strong enough effect on the earth to cause climate change. Although we do pollute a lot, the earth is a very big place, and it may seem like we are doing a lot of damage, but we might not be harming earth at all.  Please watch the video below and see how deforestation is affecting the Amazon and it's people.