Why the global struggle against deforestation matters, and how you can help

This 2005 photograph shows a deforested region of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. The country is targeting an 80 per cent reduction of forest clearing by 2020, and has also begun replanting deforested areas of the Amazon with palm trees. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

What is deforestation?

It is the removal and destruction of trees through logging or burning by subsistence farmers, commercial agriculturalists and loggers.

Usually results in 90 per cent of the forest canopy being depleted.

Why does it happen?

Forests are cleared for agricultural activities like palm oil, pulp and paper production.

Increasing demand for land for urban use.

Forest fires and overgrazing.

Illegal logging.

How bad is it?

Deforestation rates have risen by 8.5 per cent between 2000 and 2005.

Every year, some 13 million ha of forests are cut down or burnt off. While forests expand naturally, the earth still sees a net loss of 5.2 million ha of forests every year.

South America and Africa are suffering the biggest losses of forests.

Where are the most forested areas?

The Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada, the United States and China

Forests in these countries account for over half of the world's total forest area of just over 4 billion ha.

Why is it important to keep forests?

Forests cool the earth and reduce extreme temperature fluctuations, hence reducing climate change.

They are a major component of the water cycle which prevents forests from turning into barren deserts.

Source of wood and non-wood products.

They help conserve soil, water and forest biological diversity.

Perform social and cultural functions, like recreation, tourism, education and heritage.

Source of forestry employment.

What is being done to control deforestation?

Indonesia has announced a two-year moratorium on new concessions that would convert virgin forests and peatlands into plantations.

Brazil plans to reduce forest clearing by 80 per cent by 2020.

Bolivia will plant 10 million trees by April next year.

Australia says it will ban illegal timber imports.

Uganda has started a campaign to plant 33 million trees by May next year.

Nigeria has passed a new law that increases fines for indiscriminate bush burning and felling of trees.

But what about the rich countries?

The US, Australia, France, Japan, Britain, Germany and Norway have agreed to pay US$4 billion (S$5.6 billion) in total to protect rainforests over the next three years.

The private sector is also contributing. Billionaire George Soros and Prince Charles' Rainforest Project plan to reduce deforestation worldwide by 25 per cent by 2015.

What is the rate of progress now?

Brazil has started replanting deforested areas of the Amazon with palm trees. Some 32 million ha of land have been identified for the project.

Large-scale tree planting programmes in China, India, the US and Vietnam, together with natural expansion, have added more than 7 million ha of new forests every year.

Yearly net losses of forests have dropped from 8.3 million ha in the 1990s, to 5.2 million ha between 2000 and 2010.

What can you do?

Use recycled notebooks, toilet paper or even shopping bags.

Print on both sides of the paper.

Do not buy furniture or other wood products made from rainforest trees, like mahogany or teak, unless you are sure it is produced sustainably.

Avoid products that require trees to be cut down unnecessarily, such as palm oil products.