Understanding the Effects of Deforestation

With the permanent loss of nearly 18 million of acres of forest every single year, deforestation has become an increasingly pressing issue. With human populations on the rise, there is no other way to preserve our resources than to curb our consumption.

Deforestation degrades air quality around the globe for multiple reasons. To begin with, there is the method in which deforestation is undertaken in most of the world. In many areas, the slash-and-burn method is still implemented. This not only contributes to severe soil erosion and nutrient depletion, but also results in massive CO2 emissions.

In addition to emitting harmful gases, deforestation takes away the earth’s natural means for removing CO2 gases. That’s because trees—forests in particular—naturally filter the atmosphere of airborne particles, ground level ozone and greenhouse gases. At the same time, trees turn carbon dioxide into oxygen.

The good news is that public consciousness about the issue is on the rise as well, and more and more people are taking steps to combat its effects. Aside from the impact on global air quality, the loss of forests at such an alarming rate will cost future generations valuable resources of their own as well. As the population of earth continues to explode, and the strain on our available resources is under subsequently increased pressure, we need to do all we can for preservation.

Here at Alaska Specialty Woods, we’re doing our part to protect the planet’s forests by practicing sustainable logging practices in pursuit of our 100% salvage sourced old growth tone-woods. Take a look around our site and see what beautiful soundboard products we’ve been able to produce, from responsibly sourced Alaskan Sitka Spruce, western red cedar and Alaska yellow cedar.