The logging industry has also taken its toll; much of the logging that has taken place since the late 90s has been illegal in nature. Many companies have forged logging permits, cut commercially valuable trees protected by law, cut more trees than were authorized, cut outside of the specified logging area, and stolen from protected areas. Some lumber is used to produce wood charcoal that is used to power many industries, including the US automobile manufacturing industry.
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5 of 22The jaguar is also in danger of extinction from rainforest clearing. Source: WWF
8 of 22The forest smolders from fire. Source: Wordpress
16 of 22A tractor on a wheat plantation that used to be a virgin rainforest. Source: Reuters
18 of 22Dry roots shouldn’t be a common sight in a rainforest. Source: The Huffington Post
21 of 22If forest fires continue, the “lungs” of the world may give out and transform into a barren desert. Source: Wordpress
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But deforestation doesn’t just affect indigenous people; it affects us all. As one of the world’s largest carbon sinks—meaning, it absorbs carbon dioxide we emit for its own energy and oxygen production—its weakening means less supply of oxygen and more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming and makes life much more expensive for many people.
