Who is cutting down the trees

The timber industry currently cuts down 15 billion a year, so at current rates it would take at least years to fell them all — probably much longer because a lot of virgin forest is hard to reach. If you gave everyone aged 15 to 65 a chainsaw, they would have to cut down trees each, which might be manageable in a year. But collecting and processing that timber would take much longer and 99 per cent of the trees would just lie on the forest floor, rotting and releasing 35 billion tonnes of CO2.

The Congo forest basin is the second-largest rainforest in the world. More than half of it lies within the Democratic Republic of Congo. Environmental campaign group Greenpeace says illegal logging - by both large and small companies - is leading to deforestation. Although the US and EU have banned importing illegal timber, it still gets smuggled outside the country.

Other threats include small-scale subsistence agriculture , clearing for charcoal and fuel, urban expansion and mining. In the past five years, the annual loss of primary forest has been nearly half a million hectares, according to Global Forest Watch. President Felix Tshisekedi last month ordered an audit of some of the leases allocated to harvest public forests - including one for more than 1.

The move was welcomed by campaigners. But earlier this year, the government also announced a plan to lift a ban dating back to on new logging operations - although it has not yet been implemented. Indonesia has been among the world's top five countries for forest loss for the past two decades. According to data from Global Forest Watch, the country lost 9.

President Joko Widodo pledged in to crack down on deforestation by tackling the main contributor - clearing land for oil palm plantations. In , a record , hectares of forest disappeared, but there's been a steady decrease in the rate of deforestation since then. In , President Widodo issued a three-year moratorium on new forest clearance, covering about 66 million hectares of primary forest and peatland. Find out the causes, effects, and solutions.

See all of National Geographic's videos on deforestation here. Share Tweet Email. Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants. This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city.

Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city Caracals have learned to hunt around the urban edges of Cape Town, though the predator faces many threats, such as getting hit by cars. India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big. Environment Planet Possible India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big Grassroots efforts are bringing solar panels to rural villages without electricity, while massive solar arrays are being built across the country.

Go Further. Animals Climate change is shrinking many Amazonian birds. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals This frog mysteriously re-evolved a full set of teeth. Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. Animals Wild Cities Morocco has 3 million stray dogs. Meet the people trying to help. Environment COP26 nears conclusion with mixed signals and frustration. Environment Planet Possible India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big.

Environment As the EU targets emissions cuts, this country has a coal problem. Paid Content How Hong Kong protects its sea sanctuaries. History Magazine These 3,year-old giants watched over the cemeteries of Sardinia. Science Coronavirus Coverage What families can do now that kids are getting the vaccine. Magazine How one image captures 21 hours of a volcanic eruption. Science Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants.