Stop or reduce deforestation
Even though trees help to keep a balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, they are being cut down at an alarming rate.
If trees are cut down at the current rate, the world’s rain forests will vanish within 100 years.
This will affect our global climate and destroy the majority of plant and animal species on the planet, says Harry the Hominid, Maropeng’s spokeshominid.
“On World Forestry Day, 21 March, we celebrate the important role trees play in combating global warming. Even though they help to keep a balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, they are being cut down at an alarming rate. The process is called deforestation.”
He points out that Maropeng, the official visitor centre for the Cradle of Humankind, is doing its bit to preserve the Earth – from careful recycling and consistently making sure the area is waste free, to water conservation.
“They also work hard to protect the plants in the area and use conference notepads and pencils made from recycled materials.”
Harry offers the following tips on what we can do to stop or at least lessen deforestation and the loss of trees:
• Always use both sides of the paper when writing, drawing, photo-copying, faxing, etc
• Recycle paper
• Read the newspaper online
• Buy products such as notebook paper, paper towels, toilet paper and books made from recycled paper
• Use pencils until they are stubs! Think of pencils as gold (you’ll never lose them if you do)
• Buy furniture and wood that is certified – that means that the wood was harvested legally
• If you buy a product and you notice they use wood chips to package it, write to the company and suggest they use another packaging material
• Trees are cut down for the land to be used as grazing for animals. Instead of eating meat, eat other sources of protein such as fish, soy, beans, whole-wheat and nuts
Related article:
• Harry’s fast facts to save water
