Lesson 1: Threats to the Forest

In this day and age, the world's forests are threatened by:

• growing consumer demand for wood and paper products

• demand for cleared land for agriculture, industry, and housing

• oil and gas exploration

• surface-mining operations that do not reclaim the land for forestry use

• air pollution and acid rain

• slash and burn techniques used by subsistence farmers in developing nations

• careless use of fire

• environmentally harmful recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles and ATVs.
  

• irresponsible forestry practices in many countries of the world

  
  

In the following section, you will contemplate some of the personal choices and actions that you can take to ease the pressure on the forest.