Deforestation is a major contributor to global warming. Why? This is because trees from forests change atmospheric carbon from CO2 into organic woody biomass through a process known as photosynthesis. The trees can then store the carbon until the woody biomass is destroyed. The process of storing carbon is called carbon sequestration.
When trees are cut down, the photosynthesis process and storage of carbon stops.
If the tree is burned or rots, the stored carbon is released into the atmosphere where it combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide. Overall, forest ecosystems store between 20 and 100 times more carbon per unit area than farms.
(Animation sources: Sue Hill, Michigan Technological University.)
