Tropical rainforests may contain over one-half the world s total species. Today, however, mankind threatens the forests that provide so much. Since so many are dependent on the world s forests, deforestation will have many social, economic and ecological changes. Deforestation results in many negative consequences. The loss of forestlands is connected to desertification, a widespread phenomenon.
Forests store large amounts of carbon that are released when trees are cut or burned.
People destroy or degrade forests because, for them, the benefits seem to outweigh the costs. Immediate causes are often concerned with a search for land and resources, including both commercial timber and fuelwood. Forest fires Throughout most of the world the worst enemy of the forest is considered to be fire. Forest fires destroy wildlife, damage timber resources, weakens trees, paves the way for attack by insects and diseases, and increases soil deterioration. In 1957 in the USA, there were 1,120,000 forest fires covering more than 46,000,000 acres.