H is for Habitat Destruction

    "Destroying rainforest for economic gain is like burning a Renaissance painting to cook a meal."
                                       -E.O. Wilson

      I'm sure at one point or another, we have all experienced the loss of a "special tree." Whether it was one we used to sit underneath to get away from the world for a little while or to climb for fun or to simply admire for its beauty, that tree held a special place in our hearts. There is nothing worse than being caught off guard one day to find that your special tree has been cut down, lost forever at the expense of a chainsaw.
     Okay maybe you have no idea what I am talking about and think I am a legitimate tree-hugger. If so, thank you- I take it as compliment.
     The point I am trying to get at here is that a serious environmental problem of today is deforestation. All over the world, thousands of trees are carelessly uprooted for paper, construction, or simply because they have been deemed a "nuisance" to society. The problem with this careless act is that trees do more than we realize in our daily lives; actually, they are responsible for every second of our lives. Each breath we take is because of a tree, for the product of photosynthesis (the method by which plants convert light into sugar for energy) is oxygen, a.k.a. the very air we breathe. Not to mention the fact that trees add beauty and color to even the most depressing cities or plots of lands.
     If you are not upset by deforestation yet, it gets worse. Trees do not just provide oxygen for living organisms, they serve as a home, shelter, and food for countless forms of wildlife. This leads me into discussing the first part of the environmental acronym called HIPPO. The "H" stands for Habitat Destruction, and this directly involves deforestation.
     So why should we preserve forests? Why are the trees worth keeping? Do organisms really depend on trees that much? Why is deforestation such a bad thing? We need trees too, after all.
     These questions may be running through your head right now, and I will try to answer them to the best of my ability.
     First of all, let's tackle specifically how dependent organisms are on trees (aside from the fact that they need them for oxygen). Picture in your mind a tree. It will be easiest if you imagine an oak tree because that is what I am picturing right now. See those green blotches? That's lichen- it is a combination of algae and fungi living symbiotically together to survive. The tree serves as a substrate, or some thing that the lichen can attach to. Let's zoom out a little bit. Now you can see tiny insects ranging from ants to beetles to spiders crawling all throughout the crevices of the tree. Insects need the tree for food and housing. If you look up, you can see a bird nest with birds on the branches searching for food (the little insects) and hiding from predators below. You may also see a squirrel or a chipmunk flitting about the branches in search of acorns.    
     While countless other organisms are using that tree, I think this gives you a good idea of how useful one tree is, let alone an entire forest. When large amounts of trees are completely leveled in area, this act is harming all of those organisms we just pictured. They will either be killed in the process of the trees being cut down, or they will be forced to move and search for new food or a new home. This is the very reason so many animals are endangered today. Deforestation forces them to leave, but they usually fail to find another place to live. Remember that without these organisms, several links of nature go missing, throwing off the entire ecosystem.
     It is important to note that I am not saying it is completely wrong to cut down trees. However, I think that when trees are cut down, they need to be replaced with new trees. The problem is that loggers will completely wipe out an area and then leave it like that, never replacing the trees. I also feel that we need to be more cautious as to where we are cutting down trees. Sensitive biomes, such as tropical rainforests, need to be avoided because they hold such rare and diverse species that are native to those forests. Not to mention several of them are critically endangered (like the tiger- not to reference to a previous blog or anything).
     So what can you do to minimize deforestation and preserve forests, protecting organisms in the process? One of the easiest things to do is to simply be aware of how much paper or wood products you are using. If you mess up printing a 500 page report, recycle the paper instead of just throwing it all away in the garbage. This way the paper can be broken down and reused again. I can almost guarantee that any store you walk in to will have recycled paper products that usually look cooler than normal paper products anyway (in my opinion). Buying these types of products is a great way to reduce the consumption of paper products. Planting trees is yet another way to help contribute to the environment. You get more oxygen, and animals will get food and a home- it couldn't get any better than that! Want some more ideas? This website has some simple yet effective ideas on how to prevent deforestation. If you have been moved to directly stop habitat destruction, Volunteer Guide has some great opportunities for you to get out and make a difference!
     To close, just remember that we have the power to directly affect the environment; we can destroy it, but we can also help it to grow and flourish. Be on the lookout for chances to leave behind a positive footprint on the earth. Save the Tigers. Save the Trees. Save the Earth.