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By Karen Foerstel

The world’s forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. More than 37 million acres of forest — equal to the size of New York State — are destroyed each year.

Deforestation accounts for about 20 percent of all the climate-changing carbon emissions released into the atmosphere each year — more than from all the planes, trains and automobiles on Earth.

downed timber

“While the debate on stopping climate change has focused on curbing emissions from the world’s industry and transportation sectors, forest protection is one of the most powerful and cost-effective tools we have to reduce global carbon emissions,” according to Bill Stanley, science lead for the Conservancy’s Climate Change Program. (more)