Earth, seen from space, is stunning and vibrant. It has majestic mountains, green forests, and blue waters. It is a stunning, inspiring display of all the necessary elements to support billions of life-forms that call this planet home.
The view from the surface tells a completely different story. The industrial revolution and colonialism created an international extraction economy that doesn't care about the natural systems that support all life.
One of the most devastating consequences of our extractive economy is the loss of half of the planet's trees. Only 3 trillion of the 6 trillion trees that once inhabited our planet are still there. The fact that half of this loss occurred in the last 100 years is a small miracle considering how many years it took for Earth to become biodiverse.
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The planet has suffered a terrible loss and yet, forests are being deliberately destroyed at a rate of approximately one acre and a quarter per second. They are permanently leveled in order to make cheap land for large-scale soy, palm oil and beef production. The short-term profit is still more important than the long-term health and well-being of our planet. If this trend continues, we will soon see the small green landscape visible from space as a distant future.
Massive amounts of carbon are released into the atmosphere when forests are burned or bulldozed. A forest that is destroyed, particularly a dense tropical one, loses its ability to absorb carbon pollution.
The willful destruction and destruction of forests has far greater consequences than people realize. The vital role of trees, forests, and all other plant life is crucial in maintaining and balancing the planet's life cycles. They provide food, water and shelter, as well as medical treatments. They produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, which threatens our climate. A staggering 23% of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by deforestation or other land-use disturbances.
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Even worse, record-breaking droughts and high temperatures have drastically increased wildfire severity and extended wildfire seasons across the globe. Recent Siberian wildfires, which have received disgracefully low media coverage, are more than all of the planet's fires combined. They have become so out of control, that governments have abandoned attempts to contain them.
Protecting and restoring forests should be one of the top priorities of the planet, given the record-setting rate of forest loss and the alarmingly fast approaching climate clock. Natural climate solutions, such as the management and restoration of forests, grasslands, and wetlands can achieve up to one third of the emission reductions required by 2030.
Although many people, governments, and organizations are working to combat the economic forces that drive the destruction of the planet, it is simply not enough. The United Nations has launched the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, and supports the Trillion Tree Campaign. This global appeal to arms is to save and restore forests. Trees for Jane is our grassroots initiative to help this cause. We hope to inspire people around the world to fight climate change by providing new funding and momentum for ongoing efforts to end deforestation and to restore forests. To help us and to better appreciate the fragility and beauty of nature, we want people to plant and care for their trees.
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Tree planting and forest restoration are proven solutions. The latest IPCC report paints a grimmer picture of climate crisis than ever. We must act immediately at unprecedented levels.
One trillion trees planted and preserved is a huge number even over a ten year period. We have the chance to make a real difference if everyone contributes. Let's make it possible for everyone to get involved in a global effort to save forests and restore biodiverse ecosystems. Let's work together to reverse the worst effects of climate change. Let's work together to create a sustainable planet that will last for future generations. Get involved today. Let's give hope to the planet.
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