There is always a reason for doing something. Even though there are sometimes more negative effects to a situation, some people may see the few positive outcomes and do it anyway. I found myself thinking about what the pros and cons of deforestation are. To be able to understand why this is happening, people have to be able to see both sides of the situation.
What are the benefits, or in other words pros to deforestation? The number one reason trees and forests are being destroyed is to create more space to be able to expand businesses and improve road systems. A few other benefits of deforestation are that it produces usable material, such as paper which is made from the sap of the trees and can also be used for agricultural purposes. The clearing of trees for agricultural purposes can be used to produce more food for the world’s growing population (Ayres).
Contrary to what the majority of people think, the cons of deforestation outweigh the benefits. As kids grow up, they are taught about the process of photosynthesis in school. This is the process in which plants use carbon dioxide and release oxygen back into the air. Without trees, more carbon dioxide is in the air instead of oxygen which will harm humans and animals. By removing large amounts of trees, habitats are being lost which is causing extinction of animals. Another reason deforestation needs to be stopped is that it is “hindering the production of future medicine” (Ayres). Many medicines are created using plant life, so with people cutting down large amounts of trees it is very likely that new medicines will not be able to be discovered. Deforestation is happening at such a quick rate that it is predicted that all rain forests will be lost in the matter of 100 years (Ayres).
In conclusion, deforestation is currently a world issue because people are not seeing that the cons of the situation outweigh the pros. Even though there are pros to deforestation, they are short term solutions to long term problems.
Video Link: "7 Pivotal Pros and Cons of Deforestation" *Watch from 0:30 to 1:34
Citations:
Ayres, Crystal. “17 Important Pros and Cons of Deforestation.” GreenGarage, 28 May 2015 https://greengarageblog.org/17-important-pros-and-cons-of-deforestation
“7 Pivotal Pros and Cons of Deforestation” YouTube, uploaded by Levi Jun Miscala, Jul. 22, 2015 https://navajocodetalkers.org/7-pivotal-pros-and-cons-of-deforestation/
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