Forests

Nature's Respiration Cycle

When plants die or are burnt, or when animals and people breathe, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is released into the atmosphere. CO₂ is poisonous to people and animals. Enormous amounts of CO₂ pollution are also created by cars and factories, and by the burning of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas to produce energy. Trees and other green plants act as filters, cleaning out air by absorbing CO₂ and releasing oxygen which people and animals need to live.

Without enough trees to clean out air and to produce oxygen, there is too much CO₂ in the atmosphere. When we cut or burn down forests, more CO₂ is added to the air AND there are less trees to absorb the increased amount of CO₂. There is 28% more CO₂ in the Earth's atmosphere today than there was 100 years ago.