Do we want to create deserts or forests?

"Sadly, it's much easier to create a desert than a forest"

James Lovelock CBE

Stats on the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest are everywhere, and they make sobering reading.  We're all aware of how important the Rainforest is to us.  From its positive effect on the climate to the untapped potential being lost in terms of medical cures. 

Presently around 50,000 species of plants, animals and insects are being lost every year in the destruction of the Rainforest and less than 1% of tropical plants have been tested by scientists, and yet plants can be a rich source for life-saving drugs.  The Rainforest has already provided a quarter of the medicines we use today and many  Rainforest plants have been found to have anti-cancer properties.

Amazon deforestation started in the 1970's and in the last 40 years nearly 20% of the Amazon Rainforest has been destroyed.   That is 745,289km2, which is more than 3 times the size of the UK.  When the Amazon is described as the lungs of the world this is very worrying.

As well as the immense importance of Rainforests,  ancient woodlands are also important.    In the UK we have been destroying our own woodland for even longer.  Since the 1930's nearly 50% of our ancient woodland has been damaged or destroyed.  This leaves only 13% of the UK covered in woodland whilst Europe as a whole has 44% of its area covered in woodland.   This is important for similar reasons to that of the Rainforest.  Not only does it absorb so much CO2 but it is a rich habitat for biodiversity and home to many threatened species.  In the last 120 years 46 species of broad leaf trees have become extinct and 1 in 6 of our native woodland flowers are under threat.

Not only is it important for us to stem the destruction, but for the health of the planet there is a need to re-establish.  The Woodland Trust do much to encourage the replanting of woodlands in the UK.  They point out that a native woodland can be established  in just 12 years.  This is great news, however to develop into the rich biodiversity and maturity of an ancient woodland it takes 300 to 400 years.  Re-establishment of a Rainforest can be achieved in 65 years, but to develop the biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest it is estimated to have taken more like 4,000 years.

If you’d like to support artisans sourcing their wood from local sustainable woodlands and so helping towards their future, Muddy Carrot has a range of lovely crafts.