Deforestation in Africa

Deforestation has been a gigantic problem throughout the world for years now. Africa contains 30% of the world's tropical forests, and their numbers are going down significantly each year from deforestation. One big reason why they are losing their forested areas in Malawi, a small country in Africa, is because of the "slash and burn" agriculture method. They are cutting down trees in these forested areas to make more room for farming. Especially since this small country is growing, and doubles every 25 years, they have to make more room for farming every 2 to 3 years. More than 80% of the population in Malawi are farmers. They cut down trees for other reasons too. They need wood for a fire and cooking food. Wood is also used to build houses, although they don't actually use wood on their houses. The wood is to start a fire to make bricks out of clay soil.

Click here to learn about more reasons why they are cutting down their forests.

Whenever you hear about deforestation, you immediately think it is a terrible thing. Well, it is. As humans we need oxygen to survive and we get our oxygen from these trees. Without the trees, we could suffocate and die. However, Africans do not have the resources we do like an oven or a thermostat in our houses. They need this wood from these trees to live. They have cause to cut down trees around them. They need wood for fires, their own ovens, and to make bricks for their houses. They also need to cut them down for more ground to farm. These aren't selfish reasons, these are their priorities in life. I do not agree with deforestation without a reason, but they have reason and a priority for life.