Earth Day: a day of reflection ????

Today April 22nd is Earth Day, and on this occasion we wanted to talk to you about a problem that affects us all: deforestation.

Deforestation is one of the human practices causing an increase in undesired greenhouse gas emissions, directly impacting natural forests, which occupy 30% of the planet’s surface.

It should not be forgotten that forests are true oxygen-producing factories and a perfect carbon dioxide (CO2) sink, indispensable for life on Earth.
However, these sanctuaries of life are increasingly being destroyed by human action. The high use of resources such as wood and other raw materials has caused these places to be increasingly damaged.

For example, deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, one of the most important plant lungs in the entire world, reached alarming percentages in 2017 alone, estimated at a 79 %The company’s operations have been affected by bad practices in agricultural and livestock production activities, as well as the proliferation of illegal mining. Agriculture also contributes another 11% of the world’s total unwanted emissions.

These emissions, along with the many others caused by bad practices, are dangerously overheating the planet. Another discouraging record affecting the Amazon region and impacting the entire world… Deforestation has resulted in an overall increase of 24% in global carbon emissions. We have to do something about it!

In recent years, statistics have not been encouraging for the native or indigenous population of the Amazon, where 17% have been displaced as a result of these actions.

But that’s not all…

Some 75% of all terrestrial ecosystems have suffered the impact of this type of activities, with a result that should alarm us, since 30% of biodiversity has been lost and this has harmed around 3 billion people.

Another terrible example of the effects of these bad practices throughout the planet is the erosion of soils, which are no longer productive. In Latin American countries, such as Honduras and Chile, this activity has exceeded the permitted figures.

Humans and other living beings on this planet depend on forests and natural spaces to survive. These provide drinking water, 70% of the availability of which is lost, as well as nutrients and food.

Fishing activity, which is vital in many regions of the world, has declined by 2.8 to 5.3 %, but the figure could reach 25 % in the next 50 years, according to FAO studies (year 2018).
And in lotic and lentic ecosystems, fish populations have declined by an alarming 60%.

Caring for the planet is everyone’s job, with small gestures and changing our daily habits we can make a big impact.

Join the change and go natural!