How,when and why did Deforestation start?

Deforestation started because people began living in wooded areas. People cut down forests for houses, farms, and even for wood needed for big cities. Thousands of forests covered the earth many years ago. But, because of these reasons, only a few of the original forests remain to this day.

The earth’s population is increasing every second. Therefore, there is a need for more wood for houses, businesses and also for firewood. People clear the land to make room for new buildings. Deforestation mostly occurred in the 20th century. Today, only 30 % of the Rain Forests remain. Believe it or not, 10,000 years ago half of the world's land mass was covered with Rainforest.

They are cutting down valuable hardwood trees at an alarming rate. The trees provide the wood that the community needs. Also, people are taking the hardwood trees and using it to build buildings and they are wasting the hardwood! They use the valuable hardwoods to build new furniture, for firewood, and homes.

Another very important reason why Deforestation is occurring is that people are using the “slash and burn” agricultural technique to clear all of the land for farming, to make room for homes. “Slash and Burn” happens when the people chop down all of the trees, and then they burn the land to create more space. And last, but not least, after years the soil will eventually get poor. They will have to repeat the process over and over again. This will just keep on diminishing all of the land the forests have to offer, which is currently not much.