Reference no: EM133497767

Case: The list of services that trees provide to Earth is endless. Trees support our food systems, contribute to carbon storage, and even soil conservation. Yet, humans are continuing to execute large-scale deforestation as if they are indefinitely replaceable. What King Charles III was essentially expressing in this lecture is that "trees are worth more alive than dead". Not only are forests hotspots for biodiversity, but they also play a major role in the fight against climate change (Visser, 2019). It is about coming to the realization that our well-being heavily depends on the stability and integrity of the biosphere.

Deforestation is too big of an environmental concern to just go unnoticed. Large-scale industries and corporations solely think about the short-term gains they will receive such as materials for manufacturing and cultivation of cash crops. These big name corporations, which are often run by people in developed countries, are driven by the thought of how much money they are going to make. King Charles points out that those causing all this damage come primarily from developed countries, not those who are native to the land or indigenous groups. Rather than reflecting on our actions and thinking about how these actions will negatively impact the forests' biomes. When we clear acres of forests, we disrupt the natural flow of energy in the ecosystem.

Regions throughout the world where the ecosystem is highly productive are extremely important--these biomes include tropical coniferous forests, tropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical moist broadleaf forests (Crash Course, 2021). Trees are the primary producers in a forest's energy cycle. And when they are cut down, the flow of energy and nutrients is disrupted because the trees are no longer there to support consumers like animals and other organisms such as decomposers (Crash Course, 2021). It so happens that profit is most fruitful in these regions where biomass is the richest.

Instead of completely stripping the Earth's supply of natural forests to the point of no return, an international environmental cooperation needs to be put into effect in order to protect and preserve the integrity of the biosphere. We as humans should be aware of the serious consequences of deforestation on a global scale. Global leaders need to come together to prioritize and invest in nature-based climate solutions as well as mobilize sustainable development (Patrick, 2022). This week's learning topic reminded me that making a mindset shift is key to strengthening and restoring the balance between humanity and nature.