Soledad Corti Otaegui de Chile ha plantado 1 árbol en la Patagonia.
Soledad Corti Otaegui de Chile ha plantado 1 árbol en la Patagonia.
Árboles plantados
Globally, forests have undergone extensive deforestation, ranks as the second-leading cause of climate change. This is because trees, while absorbing the Co2 emissions we produce, also release them back into the atmosphere when cut down. Drivers such as land clearing for agriculture and livestock, urban sprawl, wildfires, and natural resource extraction projects are key causes behind the decline and degradation of forest cover across our planet.
Forests act as “giant sponges.” Part of the water they receive remains available for plant and tree roots, while the rest, which can amount to millions of liters, seeps down into aquifers and water tables. This replenishes groundwater supplies that are essential for freshwater availability across all regions. Furthermore, water evaporated from forests feeds moisture back into the atmosphere to create new rainfall events, driving the natural recycling of this vital resource.
It can take between 1,000 and 10,000 years to form just 30 cm of soil. Yet, erosion can wipe it out completely in a single rainy season.
Forests act as a protective barrier against soil erosion; their roots form intricate networks that anchor the ground, while fallen leaves create an organic blanket that nourishes the soil and boosts its fertility.
In turn, healthy soil regulates vital ecosystem processes—such as nutrient absorption, decomposition, and water availability—functions that directly sustain and benefit plant species.
22% of known wildlife is currently threatened with extinction.
Forests provide a rich variety of habitats—offering both food and shelter—for terrestrial biodiversity. As a forest expands in size and complexity of life forms (trees, shrubs, herbs, vines, etc.), its capacity to harbor a greater number and diversity of flora and fauna species increases.
When a forest is destroyed or degraded, it leads to habitat fragmentation and loss, triggering a significant decline in our planet’s biodiversity.
Forests act as carbon sinks. Through photosynthesis, they absorb Co2, the primary greenhouse gas responsible for global warming and the heating of Earth’s atmosphere. Through their leaves, they release oxygen and water vapor, increasing ambient humidity and buffering air temperatures. Beneath the tree canopy, temperatures drop significantly, shielding the flora, fauna, and soil from excessive solar radiation.
Forests are the planet’s primary providers of oxygen, the very foundation for the survival of all living beings. Through photosynthesis, trees convert water and carbon dioxide from the air into organic matter, releasing oxygen in the process.
Forests provide goods and services that vastly benefit the global population: they serve as a source of food and energy, supply clean water, and trap pollutant particles to purify the air we breathe. Furthermore, 1.6 billion people rely directly on them for their livelihoods, making forests a fundamental part of the diverse cultures and identities that coexist on our planet.