Our forests are the greatest treasure we’ve got, and from the boreal ones decorating Canada to the lush rainforests in the Amazon, their beauty is unmatched, which is exactly why preserving them should be one of our top priorities.
However, things aren’t that pretty if you look at the effects the industrial era had on large forested areas, and with timber being so commonly used and even illegally produced, the planet’s oxygen supply is slowly decreasing.
On top of this, naturally occurring and man-made forest fires are still a thing, and they can take out entire ecosystems in a matter of days, something no human could ever do in such a short time.
Thankfully, forest preservation is one cause that you can easily contribute to, and with a small amount of effort too, requiring only minor commitments on your part.
What you can do
Of course, every journey begins with the first step, and the number one thing to keep in mind when it comes to the preservation of nature is actually learning as much as you possibly can about the things you can do.
Once you’ve figured out what can be done, the only thing left to do is put this knowledge to good use and dedicate as much of your free time to repopulating or preserving forest areas around you.
The most common thing people devote themselves to is planting new trees, which is one of the best ways to protect our world’s forests, as it’s effectively creating new ones as the years go by.
That being said, not every sapling grows into a large tree, and you’ll have to plant thousands of trees to make sure your efforts weren’t in vain.
Apart from this, you could do dozens of other things to save the forests, including using tree-free products and being responsible when inside a forest.
Contribute to Rain Forest Alliance
We may not even be aware of it most of the time, but a lot of the products we buy and use in our day-to-day lives impact forests around the world, whether it’s due to how they’re produced or the effects their usage has on the environment.
With the help of the Rain Forest Alliance, you can learn more about which products are sustainable and protect the forests and which ones are being produced and used irresponsibly, without a single care for the main source of fresh air we’ve got left.
If that wasn’t enough, the Rain Forest Alliance makes sure that everyone involved in the production process of the products they vouch for is getting paid fairly and evenly, meaning that their goal of creating a future where everything thrives in harmony is closer than ever before.
Tree-free products
As you already know, there are dozens of alternatives to wood when it comes to building materials, and in recent years, deforestation has become a pressing matter, so much so that companies are actually shifting too much more sustainable materials instead.
Bamboo is the first thing that comes to mind, as it grows at a rate regular trees will never match up to, allowing companies to make use of it for the production of toilet paper, toothbrushes, and even paper towels.
That’s not all though, as the bamboo paper is miles apart from the paper you’re probably used to, mainly due to just how much softer it can be if processed properly, and it’s fully sustainable.
Bamboo stalks begin growing back almost immediately after being harvested, without the need for any additional fertilizer, making them one of the most sustainable materials in this day and age.
Be responsible
Pollution is one of the main issues forests are dealing with lately, and even though venturing into the great outdoors is healthy for you, littering all over a forest is really counterproductive in terms of saving the forests.
The more responsible you are when trekking through one, the cleaner our forests will be, and that will contribute to preservation and the overall health of this very sensitive ecosystem.
Being responsible doesn’t just include picking up after yourself, but also making sure that you haven’t left any embers behind if you’ve lit a campfire, as it could lead to devastating forest fires that can take out thousands of square kilometers of oxygen-producing trees.
Do your part and stay alert at all times, and even if it’s not your trash, there’s nothing stopping you from picking up a few of the bottles and wrappers you find along the way.
Final word
Forests are the one thing keeping us alive, and without them, we’d be forced to breathe highly contaminated air, eventually running out of the oxygen that we need to survive.
The algae in the ocean do contribute a bit to oxygen generation, but not enough to sustain over 7 billion people living on this planet, which is why the most responsible thing you can do is your part in protecting the trees.