On World Forest Day, These 12 Powerful Images Show How Deforestation Is Affecting The World

Today, March 21, is celebrated as World Forest Day. This day is celebrated across the world for a clean and green earth. Forests cover over 30 per cent of the planet's land mass but the numbers are going down rapidly owing to heavy deforestation. The pace of climate change is increasing quickly thanks to deforestation affecting us all a great deal. People are sacrificing the long-term benefits of climate change for short-term gains.

Here are some countries across the world is affected by deforestation:

1. Russia

Deforestation in Russia is occurring at approximately 2 million hectares per year due to the clearing of land for agriculture and logging. Foreign investment, demand for resources.

Reuters

2. Brazil

Brazil once had the highest deforestation rate in the world and in 2005 still had the largest area of forest removed annually.

AFP

3. China

Deforestation is blamed for low rainfall and dry season, in the Xishuangbanna area of Yunnan, where 50 percent of local forest have been deforested.

AFP

4. United States

Deforestation in the United States is an ongoing environmental issue that attracts protests from environmentalists.

AFP

5. Canada

Canada's deforestation rate is among the lowest in the world.?

AFP

6. Australia

The impact of deforestation on the environment and ecosystems includes loss of biodiversity, climate change and decline in soil fertility.

AFP

7. Congo

Deforestation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a significant transnational issue. In the DRC, forests are cleared for agricultural purposes by utilizing slash and burn techniques.

AFP

8. Indonesia

Deforestation in Indonesia involves the long-term loss of forests and foliage across much of the country; it has had massive environmental and social impacts.?

AFP

9. Peru

Peru has the fourth largest area of rainforest in the world, Deforestation in Peru is largely a result of subsistence farming from migrant farmers.

AFP

10. India

Deforestation in India is the widespread destruction of major forests in India. In 2009, India ranked 10th worldwide in the amount of forest loss.

AFP

11. Sri Lanka

Deforestation is one of the most serious environmental issues in Sri Lanka.

AFP

12. Colombia

Deforestation in Colombia is mainly targeted at primary rainforest which covers more than 80% of Colombia.

AFP