elaborate on this piece of evidence of deforestation on a 8th grade level

Question

“Land use change, principally deforestation, contributes 12–20% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Forest degradation (changes that negatively affect a forest’s structure or function but that do not decrease its area), and the destruction of tropical peatlands, also contribute to these emissions. As a result of deforestation and degradation, some tropical forests now emit more carbon than they capture, turning them from a carbon ‘sink’ into a carbon source. For example, the south-eastern part of the Amazon Rainforest is now considered a net carbon source by scientists.”

Answer 1

Sure! Let’s break this down in a simpler way:

1. What is Deforestation? Deforestation means cutting down trees and forests. This happens for various reasons like making space for farms, buildings, or roads.

2. Why Should We Care? Forests are super important because they help keep our planet healthy. They take in carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) from the air, which helps fight climate change. However, when we cut down trees, not only are we losing these forests, but we are also releasing the carbon that was stored in the trees back into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming.

3. What Do the Numbers Mean? Scientists say that deforestation and other changes in land, like damaging forests without removing them completely, are responsible for about 12% to 20% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. This means that a big chunk of the pollution that causes climate change comes from activities related to forests.

4. Forest Degradation vs. Deforestation:

   • Deforestation: This is when trees are completely removed.
   • Degradation: This happens when the forest is still there, but its health is harmed. This can include things like pollution, invasive species, or logging (cutting down some but not all trees) that changes how the forest works.

5. What Are Carbon Sinks and Sources?

   • A carbon sink is something (like a healthy forest) that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it releases.
   • A carbon source is when something releases more carbon dioxide than it absorbs.

6. What’s Happening in the Amazon? In some places like the southeastern part of the Amazon Rainforest, the situation is getting worse. The damage from deforestation has become so serious that these areas are now releasing more carbon dioxide into the air than they are able to capture. This means that instead of helping fight climate change, they are making it worse.

In summary, deforestation is a big problem because it contributes a lot to greenhouse gas emissions, harming our planet’s ability to regulate the climate. When we lose healthy forests, we not only lose a vital part of our ecosystem, but we also make climate change even more serious.