Currently, widespread deforestation is wreaking havoc on India where almost 34 million acres of trees disappear each and every year. On average, 63 football fields of forest cover are destroyed every single day.

From 1990 to 2005, India lost over 30% of its primary forest cover.

Making matters worse, the rate of deforestation has been increasing each year and has almost tripled in the past decade. Agriculture and logging are two of the leading causes of tree loss in India. As the population continues to rise, so does the rate of tree loss.

There are many negative consequences of the deforestation taking place.

• Food shortages brought on by a decrease in soil quality—as trees die out, the soil and surrounding lands become barren and unfertile
• Soil degradation brought on by increased heat and rain—less forest cover means less protection for topsoil within the tropical rainforest climate
• Flooding caused by soil erosion
• Loss of biodiversity—possibly the most serious result, precious and diverse species are dying out
• Displacement of local inhabitants as they search to find a new source of shelter, food, fuel, and medicine
• Increased deposits of harmful carbon dioxide into the environment that would otherwise be absorbed by forested areas acting as carbon sinks
• As some species die out due to habitat loss, others become more susceptible to harmful insects and pollutants

As habitat loss continues to occur, many species are threatened. India is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life.

• 2,356 species of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles: 18.4% are endemic and 10.8% are threatened
• 18,664 species of plants and flora: 26.8% are endemic

To combat the harmful effects of deforestation that are contributing to climate change, habitat loss, and the extinction of precious species, 8 Billion Trees has partnered with ForestNation to carry out our planting project in India.

Through making a bold decision to plant in India, we can truly begin to enact positive change in the climate and biosphere.