It is the largest source of land use emissions of greenhouse gases, and accounts for approximately 18 -20% of global emissions of greenhouse gases.

We know from an earlier article, trees and plants as carbon sinks or carbon dioxide stores, a major greenhouse gas. From carbon stored in the atmosphere by photosynthesis by decades of growth is back in the atmosphere and vegetation such as trees are cleared and burned, or as organic substance unverbrannte dies slowly. This process contributes to the atmospheric CO2 content.

For the Food and Agriculture of the United Nations (FAO), are the main source of information on the status of forests in the world to define forests as a “country of a canopy tree more than 10%, and has an area of over half a hectare. “The organization is defined as deforestation, conversion of forest to another land use or long-term reduction under the tree canopy cover to a minimum threshold of 10%. ”

Country of change and CO2.

Changes in land use are almost exclusively by emissions caused by deforestation, which is heavily concentrated in few countries. Indonesia pays approximately 30% of the surface of the use of CO2 emissions with Brazil, nearly 20%. It is estimated that about 80000 hectares or 32000 hectares are being lost each day. This is the equivalent of about 117000 km2 (45173 sq miles) per year.

Cover the whole world is forest nearly 6 million km2 (2316602 sq miles), which corresponds to about 5% of the earth’s surface land. Only a few thousand years, forests, which account for about 12% of the total national worlds, about 15.5 million km2 (6 million sq. miles). A quick calculation shows that if the forest is lost to the tune of 117000 km2, one year, there will be only in the region of 51 years for the World tropical forests are destroyed! (6,000,000 divided by 117,000).

Destruction at this level would lead to the release of large quantities of CO2 in the atmosphere, more thickening of CO2 emissions “Blanket” that surrounds our planet, and no doubt lead to an increase of global warming.

Between 2000 and 2006, Brazil lost nearly 150000km2, (57915 sq miles) of forest, a territory the size of Greece, and since 1970 on 600000 km2 (231660 sq km) was destroyed.

It is now nearly 20% of the Amazon has been destroyed, which is much more alarming when one realizes that the Amazon forest nearly 50% of tropical forests worlds.

There are different causes of deforestation, and they belong, cattle ranching, the activities of farmers, fire, mines and trade routes and, of course, forest and agriculture.

It is not quite fair to developing countries responsible for all nations, but deforestation. While countries like Brazil and Indonesia are the main culprits now until the early 20th century CO2 emissions by changes in land use from developed countries. It is a natural step for the development of nations, for areas of forest for agriculture and housing. The fact is that developed countries have already many areas entwaldeten for a long time, there is still more pressure on developing countries to preserve what is left. Of course, population growth is another important factor in a later chapter. Another important point is that trees in forests to maintain the current rule, on average, approximately 50% more carbon per hectare than the trees outside the tropics. Therefore, deforestation in these areas creates greater quantities of CO2 must be released into the atmosphere of deforestation outside the tropics.

The future of forests.

It is noted that talk of land use change emissions from countries like the USA, Europe and China in 2000, was net-absorbing CO2 their aforestation (planting new forests) and reforestation (re-establishing areas of ancient forest)-programmes. However, planting a tree without compensation for damage caused by the elimination of another, such as trees absorb CO2 very slowly. It could be 100 years for a tree growth on the whole CO2, if a mature tree down!. For this reason, carbon offset programs that leave Tress planted to offset CO2 production, are quite, because, when they would benefit from this tree to remove CO2 in the atmosphere.

There is some good news, however, as in 2006, the Brazilian government announced a sharp drop in deforestation. The loss for the year 2005 / 6, 13100 km2 (5057 sq. miles) of more than 40% less than the previous year. It is still too early to say whether it is a downward trend or simply a good year for the pervious eight levels, where deforestation has been more than 16000 km2 (6177 sq. miles).

How the world of forests are destroyed, huge quantities of CO2 are back in the atmosphere. The forests, which absorb and store these greenhouse gas powerful, are no longer, deeper concentrations of CO2 on the rise, to contribute to climate warming of our Earth.