- (A) During photosynthesis (CO 2 + H 2 O + sunlight → O 2 + C 6 H 12 O 6 ),
which occurs in the leaves (or needles), atmospheric carbon dioxide is
absorbed (removed from the air) and converted to glucose. When glucose is
present in excess, trees and plants store it by using it to synthesize chains of
sugar molecules (i.e., starches). Deforestation is the permanent destruction
of forests to make the land available for other uses.
■ About 18 million acres (7.3 million hectares) of forest (e.g., about the size
of Panama) are lost each year.
■ About half of the world’s tropical forests have already been cleared.
■ Forests currently cover about 30% of the world’s landmass.
■ Forest loss constitutes between 6% and 12% of annual global carbon
dioxide emissions (e.g., about 36 football fields’ worth of trees lost every
minute).
