Mother Earth is crying. Our biosphere is under attack. The transformation of a divine, lush, and green forest to a silent area with only stumps left, without any vitality or life, highlighting the diminuendo of syllables, striking the lowest note to the earth. Regardless of whether you notice or not, this is one of the most hazardous disasters happening in New Zealand, and within the entire world right now, you should start to take a look at it.
Deforestation is the purposeful clearing of forested lands, often for anthropocentric factors such as farming, ranching, and urbanisation. We know that our paper towels, textbooks, and houses could be made from one primary source; trees. However, the most important thing we should realise is the alarming statistics. In New Zealand, we've lost 1.42 million hectares of tree cover, an area equivalent to the entire Hawke’s Bay: home to communities like Wairoa, Napier, and Hastings. This loss feels like a wound to the heart of our land. Meanwhile, the consistent deforestation rate of 6.58 thousand hectares per year between 2015 and 2020 underscores the urgency of this crisis.

The issue is not only in New Zealand but also seen on a global scale. Globally, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates we deforest around ten million hectares of forest every year, compared to 10.6 billion hectares of Earth’s land surface 10000 years ago. To make the data more visible, we are losing forests at a rate equivalent to 27 soccer fields per minute. It wasn’t just statistics that caught the attention, but also the following consequences occurring in our natural environment indicate a far-reaching impact.

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Forest plays a crucial role in the carbon cycle. Through photosynthesis and respiration processes, they enable the reuse of carbon in nature as biomass. Due to relentless and extensive land exploitation, the carbon cycle is inevitably disrupted, resulting in increased carbon pollution levels in the environment, further exacerbated by industrial activities. During deforestation practices, methods such as slash-and-burn agriculture release particulate matter and stored carbon into the air, leading to air pollution and exacerbating climate change. Data shows that tropical deforestation — is responsible for 10 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change.
Organic waste like tree stumps, branches, and leaves, contributes to land pollution when not properly managed, disrupting the natural decomposition and regeneration process. While simultaneously, trees hold soil in place. Their removal during deforestation directly triggers soil erosion, causing sediment runoff into water bodies. This adds to the degradation of water quality, adversely affecting the aquatic community and many species are on the verge of death. Soil may also lose its nutrient-dense top layer and turn unsuitable for cultivation. Consequently, deforested areas become more prone to floods and droughts.

In the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods, around 7000 properties, the city’s transport, water networks, and even airports were damaged. Furthermore, the world loses 137 species of plants, animals, and insects to deforestation every day, amounting to a staggering 50,000 species that become extinct each year.
It is evident that human activities have set off a chain reaction in the environment deterioration across air, land, water, and the overall health of ecosystems. This is a call for immediate action. 

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Over time, New Zealanders have expressed their perspectives on deforestation and made their efforts towards pollution mitigation. In a street interview I conducted in July 2024, many people shared their views, noting that while the loss of native forests brought some benefits through the advanced use of goods, it also undermined cultural heritage and values for Indigenous communities, particularly the Māori. Economically, forestry and agriculture have been the key drivers of deforestation, starting with the Māori arrival and accelerating under European colonization, which led to aggravated logging and land clearing. Some interviewees acknowledged that although it historically provided jobs and economic hikes, the hidden costs and consequences as said above are profound, such as treating air and water pollution, coming along with the loss of biodiversity.

The New Zealand government has implemented policies like the Emissions Trading Scheme to mitigate climate change by limiting pollution from sectors like forestry and agriculture. This approach aims to balance economic development with environmental conservation, demonstrating New Zealand’s commitment to the Paris Agreement. Companies like Fonterra and Ngāi Tahu Forestry are working towards carbon neutrality by 2030, promoting sustainable practices and restoring native vegetation. Additionally, the New Zealand forestry industry, Tupu.nz, emphasises sustainable practices and economic benefits of maintaining and expanding forests, as evidenced on their website and factsheets. These efforts reflect a broader movement towards integrating environmental stewardship with economic growth.

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It is essential that solutions should be put in place to address this outrageous crisis triggered by human desire. These solutions should align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 12 and 13: responsible consumption and production and climate action.

According to the responses of my interviewees, many mention the method of replantation and sustainable use of products. Overall, reforestation and afforestation may be the most encouraged method by replanting trees in areas where forests have been cut down or degraded, and introducing new forests in previously barren regions. This approach benefits both the environment and local economies in the long term. However, the effectiveness of these projects depends on watchful planning and implementation, including selecting appropriate species, securing sufficient funding, and ensuring community commitment and involvement. Though these challenges are significant, the potential rewards are immense. Thoughtful execution, in collaboration with promoting sustainable products, forestry practices, and raising public awareness, can eventually possess a positive impact on our planet.
Now, it's our chance to start to protect the earth and leave a legacy of hope and renewal for future generations. Together, we can make sure nature never cries again.