Talk:Deforestation

Semi-protected edit request on 24 May 2025

The citation for the sentence "This led to a weakening of the domestic economy after Columbus' discovery of America, as the economy became dependent on colonial activities (plundering, mining, cattle, plantations, trade, etc.)[citation needed]" is https://oxfordre.com/economics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780190625979.001.0001/acrefore-9780190625979-e-480 Jetsetter84 (talk) 09:19, 24 May 2025 (UTC)

 Not done: While I appreciate your effort at finding a source for that claim, I'm not sure that it supports what you say it does. The previous sentence to the one you quote is relevant; it says: Piracy also contributed to the over harvesting of forests, as in Spain. While that's not the clearest prose, it adds the context that the domestic economy from the next sentence is referring to Spain. I admittedly did not read the entirety of the article you provide here, but based on the summary and a couple of "Ctrl+F"s, it seems to be discussing the early economy of North America following colonialism, not the domestic economy of Spain. If there's something I'm missing by all means re-open this request. DrOrinScrivello (talk) 19:31, 27 May 2025 (UTC)

Junk Mail Section

The junk mail section seems a very dubious. Listing it as if a driving cause of deforestation. Maybe could be turned into a section on paper usage? But even at that, a lot (most?) of paper production happens on separate tree farm specifically for it. Or alternatively should we just remove the section entirely?

Not that there aren't environmental harms from its paper usage. I just think it's very misleading putting that in a section here TB5ivVaO1y55FkAogw1X (talk) 05:54, 28 July 2025 (UTC)

Yes it should be moved somewhere else. It is only about the US anyway and I wonder if the information is just about deforestation or merely about cutting trees (which are regrown in many cases). Zalaraz (talk) 13:22, 30 September 2025 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 30 October 2025

Change More than 80% of deforestation was attributed to agriculture in 2018. to More than 80% of deforestation was attributed to agriculture in 2012. Shady Whereareu1234 (talk) 23:13, 30 October 2025 (UTC)

 Done Yes, the source is from 2012, so I made the change. RudolfRed (talk) 00:07, 31 October 2025 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 18 November 2025

This sentence "Between 15 million to 18 million hectares of forest, an area the size of Bangladesh, are destroyed every year." should have a citation and time-frame. It looks like this statistic is from 1990-2000; more recent deforestation rates have been about 11 million ha (see, e.g., https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/global-deforestation-slows--but-forests-remain-under-pressure--fao-report-shows/en).

Perhaps: "Deforestation rates from 2015-2025 remain high, at nearly 11 million hectares per year." Capriciouscapybara (talk) 20:56, 18 November 2025 (UTC)

Partly done: I opted to remove the sentence in question, as the last paragraph of the lead section already provides more accurate and up-to-date figures for the deforestation rate. Day Creature (talk) 21:53, 18 November 2025 (UTC)

The canopys last call

Deep within the shrinking borders of the Amazon, a towering kapok tree named Katu stood as the guardian of the understory. For over two centuries, Katu’s sprawling branches had sheltered resplendent quetzals, offered sweet sap to foraging monkeys, and pulled millions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. For Katu, the forest wasn't just a collection of flora; it was a breathing, interconnected community where every fallen leaf and blooming flower had a purpose. [1, 2, 3] But the silence of the canopy was abruptly shattered. The distant, mechanical roar of chainsaws and bulldozers had been growing louder by the month. Katu watched as neighboring trees crashed to the earth, replaced by endless, monotonous rows of soy plantations and massive, barren stretches of land cleared for cattle ranching. The ancient symbiotic relationships of the ecosystem—where fungi provided nutrients to roots and leaves shaded the soil—were severed almost overnight. [1, 2, 3, 4] As the clearing drew closer, the forest’s local wildlife scrambled into the narrowing sanctuary of Katu’s branches. Squirrel monkeys, brilliantly colored poison dart frogs, and displaced macaws huddled together, their natural behaviors disrupted by the sudden panic of habitat loss. The clearing of these trees meant more than just the felling of timber; it spelled the collapse of delicate food chains and the loss of biodiversity that took nature thousands of years to build. [1, 2] When the industrial machines finally reached Katu, the towering tree gave way to the blades, and with it fell a vital pillar of the local biosphere. The once-vibrant green expanse transformed into sterile dirt. The topsoil, no longer anchored by deep root systems, quickly washed away into the rivers during the rainy season, destroying aquatic ecosystems and poisoning local drinking water. [1]The Human Ripple Effect The devastating loss of the forest didn't stay confined to the wilderness. As Katu and the surrounding trees were eradicated, the local indigenous communities who relied on the forest for their food, medicine, and livelihoods found their ancestral homes destroyed. Furthermore, the carbon that had been safely locked away inside the wood for generations was released back into the atmosphere, contributing rapidly to the global climate crisis. [1, 2, 3, 4] The disappearance of these trees proved that deforestation is far more than a localized issue; it is a global crisis driven by international demands for products like beef, palm oil, and soy. Every time a tree is felled for unchecked commercial expansion, the Earth loses a vital defender against global warming, pushing countless species closer to the brink of extinction. [1, 2, 3, 4] However, the story does not have to end in ecological ruin. Around the world, indigenous land rights are being recognized to help preserve forests, while stricter "soy moratoriums" have been successfully implemented to prevent further reckless clearing. Individuals can make an impact by demanding more sustainable supply across the globe. [1, 2, 3, 4] For an animated look at how deforestation impacts both animal and human life, and what you can do to help stop it:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNMmbGVzhDw&t=15 Yoonchaelover (talk) 09:07, 20 May 2026 (UTC)