Forests

Forests, which cover a third of the world's land area, play a crucial role in recycling oxygen and converting sunlight into the energy that maintains organic life. They also help to maintain water catchments, and they store carbon that would otherwise contribute to global warming. Forests are home most of the world's land-based species of plants and animals, and to millions of people who depend on them for their sustenance, fuel and natural medicines.

But forests are rapidly being destroyed and degraded, mainly by logging and clearance for agriculture. The loss is partially offset by plantations, but plantations lack the biodiversity of forests and are better regarded as arborial farms. Rainforests are of particular concern, because they are home to at least half – and possibly as much as 90% – of the planet’s species. The world’s largest continuous rainforest in the Amazon is currently shrinking at over 2.5 million hectares a year – an area the size of Wales. Fire is also taking its toll, as global warming reduces rainfall and forests are fragmented by roading.

The good news is that 12.5% of the world’s forests are protected. The bad news is that 87.5% aren’t. Those figures need to be reversed.

See also Biodiversity.

Find out more about the future of the world's forests

Many sites offer good background information, such as the World Conservation Union, Global Forest Watch and People and the Planet's Forests pages. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations produces an assessment of the world forestry situation in it's State of the World's Forests. Focus on Forests has introductory information which is suitable for school students.
Two sites that provide access to a wealth of forest-related links are EcoEarth and the Forest Conservation Portal. The latter also includes action alerts, a newsfeed, blog and a good Australian links page.
Internationally, many activist groups are fighting to protect our remaining forest reserves - perhaps the best known are: Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace International and the World Wide Fund for Nature. All of these sites provide information resources.
It is the loss of world's rainforests that should be our greatest concern. The World Rainforest Movement, the Rainforest Alliance and the Rainforest Action Network are all helpful sources of background, news and possibilities for taking action. To keep up-to-date with what is happening in the Amazon region, go to the Amazonia site.
To find out about the Australian situation, try the Australian Conservation Foundation, The Wilderness Society, Rainforest Rescue and the Australian Rainforest Conservation Society sites.