Christina Zendzian
Synthesis
Hook: This modern-day plague kills slowly or quickly.
Thesis: Deforestation continues to grow as a global issue because trees play a big part on
sustaining life on Earth.
Transition (The effect on ecosystems): Whenever a tree gets cut down, a group of organisms
loses its home and humans lose another “clean air machine”. Trees play a major role in the
carbon and oxygen cycle which produces most of the clean air organisms breathe. The logging
industry and other industries demand trees for their products, so trees get chopped down. This
has caused 90% of America’s trees to disappear because lumberjacks do no plant new trees when
they chop trees down. Scientist have estimated that the Amazon rain forest will disappear in a
hundred years if the rate of deforestation stays the same which means hundreds of species will
become extinct or endangered.
Transition (Air): Also, trees make the air cleaner and easier to breathe. Without trees to make
clean air for free, industries would spend billions to produce breathable air. Tropical
deforestation is responsible for approximately 20% of world greenhouse gas emissions. In
deforested areas, the land heats up faster and reaches a higher temperature, leading to localized
upward motions that enhance the formation of clouds and ultimately produce more rainfall
Transition (Natural disasters): In addition, trees help prevent natural disasters, like floods. Trees
around areas prone to floods would soak up about 90% of said flood water. If those trees no
longer existed then those areas would be flooded. Those trees would have stopped damaged
property from occurring, and no one would have lost their lives. The top soil in that area would
also become loose, and plants would not grow back because the soil would dry out and lose its
nutrients.
Broad Conclusion: In conclusion, Deforestation does not only cause the demise of humans, but
deforestation also causes the demise of ecosystems around the world. Many creatures call trees
home, and without the trees those animals call home; they will perish. The economy also replies
greatly on trees, so without trees industries will stop. Therefore, without trees the economy will
drop. Trees make up many items that the world needs every day. Without trees, the construction
industry and other industries that reply on trees would cease to exist, and without those industries,
no one would buy wood.
"Deforestation." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 06 June 2014. Web. 08 June 2014.
Deforestation Facts, Deforestation Information, Effects of Deforestation - National
Geographic." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2014.