Deforestation is the ongoing, human lead process where forest terrain is converted for use to serve purposes other than the natural purpose of the forest itself. Damage is happening on a global scale and current rates of deforestation suggest that all tropical rainforests could disappear by the end of the 21st century. Deforestation is most extensive in the Amazon, where 20% of the natural forest's biome is now without trees. Agricultural and logging operations as well as urbanisation are among the biggest contributors to the removal of forest land.
The damage caused is sometimes irreversible as the natural ecosystem is overwhelmed by unsustainable and unnatural practices. Many thousands of plant and animal species have gone extinct as a direct result of deforestation. Yet, forests themselves are indispensable for the sustainability of life all over the planet. People and animals living within and around them depend heavily on the nutrients that they provide. Plants and trees also help regulate the Earth's temperature by storing and absorbing carbon in the atmosphere. Deforestation contributes to rises in greenhouse gases and climate shifts that are produced consequentially. For the most part, deforestation can be reversed if trees cut down are replaced, and modern rejuvenation methods known as 'forest landscape restoration' can help restore more extensive damage to the ecosystem.