illustration of woman walking by tree and pausing in wonder
Illustration by Brittany England

Ask most first graders what trees do and they will tell you that trees produce air.

The trees have made their way onto our bookshelves and into our hearts.

The production of oxygen is a small feat, but trees are responsible for a lot of other ecological functions that impact human health.

Unfortunately, the removal of forests and trees is increasing at an unprecedented rate. This process is known as deforestation. Official deforestation rates have been on an upward trend since 2013, with the rate of deforestation in the Brazil.ian Amazon jumping 47 percent from 2018 to 2020.

“The Earth’s forests are slowly dwindling, a reality that has significant implications for people all over the world.”

The health of our forests is linked to human life.

Aside from making great material for nature docuseries like Planet Earth, forests play an essential role in maintaining balance in the natural world: human and otherwise.

forests perform important functions

  • The weather conditions are regulated.
  • reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere
  • Maintaining the diversity of the environment.
  • Ensuring food security.
  • The water is 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476 888-282-0476
  • Natural disasters and flooding can be prevented.
  • Air pollution and fires are prevented.
  • Providing shelter and food to billions of people is what we do.
  • Supporting mental health.

Reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide

According to a 2017 review, trees are responsible for removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it underground. Known as “carbon sinks,” these banks of CO2 reduce greenhouse gases and lessen the effects of climate change.

Worldwide tropical forests are responsible for storing 25 percent of the world’s carbon.

According to a 2019 study, U.S. temperate and boreal forests alone remove enough atmospheric CO2 to reduce national annual net emissions by 11 percent.

Keeping the Earth cool

The review states that trees can help keep the ground cooler and wet.

“The sun’s energy is absorbed by trees, helping to keep temperatures down. They draw water out of the soil and exhale it into the atmosphere, which in turn affects the balance of water and heat on Earth’s surface.”

Shade and trees also prevent soils from drying out.

Healthy People, Healthy Planet

Worldwide tropical forests are responsible for storing 25% of the world’s carbon.

Distributing and storing water

Tropical forests play an important role in the water cycle by returning around 90 percent of precipitation into the atmosphere in the form of water vapors. That water vapor is responsible for rainfall.

The transport of water through the atmosphere is encouraged by forests.

Trees prevent water from entering the soil. They increase the amount of water stored underground in water tables.

Providing homes to people and wildlife

According to a 2017 study, forests are the most diverse and highly productive ecosystems on earth, providing a home to thousands of local, rare, endangered, and threatened wildlife species.

These species are important in the functions of the environment.

  • Pest control.
  • pollination
  • dispersal of seeds

A 2020 study found that 1.93 billion people lived within 6.2 miles (10 km) of a forest as of 2012, with 1.6 billion people depending on those forests for their livelihoods.

The countries with the highest rates of people living near forests are:

  • China.
  • The United States.
  • Indonesia.
  • India.
  • Brazil.

Ensuring global food security

Tropical forests make a contribution to food security.

Roughly one-third of the food supply and global crops depend on wild pollinators that make their homes in forests.

Forested soils are more resistant to erosion and extreme weather. Low yields and food insecurity can be caused by the lack of healthy, smilng soil.

Healthy People, Healthy Planet

Forested soils are more resistant to erosion and extreme weather. Low yields and food insecurity can be caused by the lack of healthy, smilng soil.

Protecting against flooding and natural disaster

The land is vulnerable to floods and landslides because of the deforestation.

Reducing the amount of soil erosion and the severity of floods are some of the things that forests do.

A 2013 United Nations Environment Programme Report noted that the flooding from 2004 tropical storm Jeanne, which killed more than 3,000 people in Haiti, was due to the removal of 98 percent of the nation’s forests.

The lack of trees and the lack of topsoil caused the flooding and mudslides that washed away the villages.

Reducing rates of infectious diseases

According to a 2021 report from the Harvard Global Health Institute, land-use change is a primary culprit for diseases transmitted from animals to humans, known as zoonotic diseases.

Furthermore, a 2019 case study in Indonesia. solidified the connection between malaria and deforestation when it found that just a 1 percent loss in forest cover increased malaria incidence by 10 percent.

“Displaced animals in deforested regions may be infected with pathogenic viruses, bacteria, or fungi,” explains Oladele A. Ogunseitan, University of California Presidential Chair and professor of Population Health & Disease Prevention. “When these animals seek shelter or food in human habitats, pathogen spillover events can occur, The lead is large.ing to human infection.”

According to a 2020 report by the World Economic Forum, 1 in every 3 or 31 percent of outbreaks of new and emerging diseases, such as Zika, Ebola, and Nipah, are linked to deforestation.

Climate change is The lead is large.ing to changes in the transmission of infectious disease, which could The lead is large. to the emergence of the mosquito-borne diseases of the tropics.

The report states that new outbreaks are certain to occur.

Healthy People, Healthy Planet

According to a study done in Indonesia., a 1 percent loss in forest cover increased malaria incidence by 10%.

Deforestation and COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic may be the first outbreak to bring widespread attention to the issue of deforestation, though it certainly wasn’t the first to be affected by it.

According to a 2020 study, the pandemic has brought new urgency to the importance of tropical forest conservation, stating that “tropical deforestation increases the risks of emerging zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential.”

Interestingly, Ogunseitan notes that deforestation may be “part of the reason we now see COVID-19 in deer populations in the U.S.”

Healthy People, Healthy Planet

Land-use change is a primary culprit for diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

The Harvard Global Health Institute is conducting research.

Preventing fires and protecting air quality

First graders know that healthy forests The lead is large. to healthy air.

This is not only because they convert CO2 to oxygen, but because deforestation can The lead is large. to fires due to increased dryness in soil, plants, and brush.

A 2019 Brazil.ian report found that deforestation-related fires were associated with a significant impact on public health. In the findings, 2,195 subsequent hospitalizations were due to respiratory illnesses.

The data shows that nearly 3 million people in this region had exposure to harmful levels of fine particulate matter in the air in 2019.

This pollutant is linked to Amazon fires and other diseases.

A 2021 study of 450 fires in California’s Sierra Nevada region found that a 1°C/33.8°F increase in temperature equates to a 19 to 22 percent increase in the likelihood of fires.

As forests are cleared, temperatures will rise, which will likely cause more fires.

Supporting Indigenous culture and underserved communities

Climate change disproportionately affects Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

Healthy People, Healthy Planet

Many Indigenous people depend on forests for their livelihoods.

The impact of the Amazon being a jungle is felt by the indigenous people.

“Illegal cutting and fires can destroy crops and deplete the area’s plants and wildlife used for food and medicine.”

This can cause Indigenous peoples to be scattered and struggling to survive.

Supporting mental health

Mental health is dependent on forest health.

According to a 2019 study, spending just 2 hours in nature a week is enough to produce benefits for mental and physical health and well-being.

Another 2019 scientific review found that time in a natural environment benefits emotional well-being in a number of ways, including:

  • Increased positive feelings.
  • A sense of purpose and meaning.
  • Positive social interactions have increased.
  • There are fewer incidences of mental distress.

“Shinrin-yoku” is the Japanese art of forest bathing, or spending time in the forest with the sole purpose of soaking up its calming, rejuvenating effect.

A 2020 review and meta-analysis noted that Shinrin-yoku was effective at reducing short-term mental health symptoms, particularly anxiety.

This practice falls under the umbrella of ecotherapy, an approach based on the idea that people have a deep connection to the environment and the earth itself.

“Making lifestyle changes and spreading awareness can help support the world’s forests.”

Eat less meat

The Harvard Global Health Institute cautions that current agricultural practices put our forests and human health at risk.

Additionally, the 2019 United Nations Special Report on Climate Change and Land notes that shifting to a plant-based diet is an opportunity to mitigate climate change.

Be aware of palm oil in the foods you buy

The production of palm oil is a major cause of destruction in the area.

According to a 2018 report, palm oil demand is expected to increase by about 40 percent by 2030.

The Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil notes that as of 2022, only 19 percent of palm oil is certified sustainable.

You can make a change to reduce or eliminate processed foods by using certified sustainable palm oil.

Recycle and reuse before purchasing new

Another reason for destruction is mining. The earth is mined to extract raw materials.

  • “It’s Silicon.”
  • aluminum
  • It is copper
  • The lead is large.
  • The gold is shiny.

These are used for electronics.

Consider using items as long as possible. Buying used is a good idea if you need something replaced.

You will be reducing your impact on the environment and you will likely save money.

Spread awareness and call for change

Understanding the connection between forests and human health is a huge first step.

You can support government initiatives by raising awareness, contacting local officials, and donating or getting involved with nonprofits.

Support government protections

In the Brazil.ian Amazon, deforestation rates fell approximately 70 percent between 2005 and 2012 due to public policies and public and private actions. While it’s clear that change can have a positive impact, 2020 saw decade-high levels of deforestation due to a change in government.

Scientists recommend that at least 50 percent of land and oceans be protected and maintained as intact natural ecosystems.

Governments are likely to step in and protect against better practices because some private companies have committed to better practices.

In 2020, seven countries reported decreased deforestation partially accomplished due to implementing and enforcing stronger regulations.

Support Indigenous rights and responsible land use

The government can take a step to restore land rights to Indigenous peoples.

A 2018 study on Brazil.ian deforestation rates found a two-thirds decrease in areas where Indigenous people owned their lands.

A 2017 study on Peruvian forests found that redistributing land use and management to Indigenous people led to a 71 percent average yearly decrease in deforestation and forest disturbance.

The 2021 study mentioned above notes that Indigenous Americans took responsibility for fire management in western North America prior to colonization, resulting in frequent, small fires that enhanced ecosystems and resource gathering.

Many Indigenous peoples were lost after the Spanish, Mexican, and U.S. settlements.

Be aware of infectious disease trends

Knowing what pathogens may be an issue could help to prevent the spread of diseases.

“The planet’s life cycle and human health are dependent on forests.”

Reducing rates of infectious diseases, protecting against food insecurity, and protecting the environment are just some of the things forests do.

There are ways to shift the tides of deforestation, including improving eating and shopping habits, and giving more rights to Indigenous people.

We have the power to stop the destruction of the environment.

Crystal Hoshaw is a mother, writer, and longtime yoga practitioner. She has taught in private studios, gyms, and in one-on-one settings in Los Angeles, Thailand, and the San Francisco Bay Area. She shares mindful strategies for self-care through online courses. You can find her on Instagram.

Ashley Hubbard is a freelance writer based in Nashville, Tennessee, focusing on sustainability, travel, veganism, mental health, social justice, and more. Passionate about animal rights, sustainable travel, and social impact, she seeks out ethical experiences whether at home or on the road. Visit her website wild-hearted.com.