Deforestation: Experts Express Fear Planet Might Have Only 10% Of lts Forests Left By 2030 

Deforestation: Experts Express Fear Planet Might Have Only 10% Of lts Forests Left By 2030

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria

Experts have expressed fear that the way with which deforestation is taking place,, the planet might have only 10% of its forests left by the year 2030.

It said in every minute, forests the size of 20 football fields are cut down and if it

isn’t stopped, they could all be gone in less than 100 years.

According to them, agriculture is one of the biggest environmental problems and the leading cause of deforestation.

While acknowledging the importance of land to raising of livestock, planting of crops, it called for stoppage of cutting down of forests to prevent deforestation.

“Forests help to prevent soil erosion, because the tree roots bind the soil and prevent it from washing away, which also prevents landslides” thus must be preserved .

Deforestation causes can either be direct or indirect. Among direct causes are: Natural causes as hurricanes, fires, parasites and floods. Human activities as agricultural expansion, cattle breeding, timber extraction, mining, oil extraction, dam construction and infrastructure development.

Three countries it stated are experiencing the highest levels of deforestation. These are Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia.

Indonesian however is tackling deforestation, and is now seeing the lowest rates since the beginning of the century. It added.