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NATURAL RESOURCES
There are many topics that could be covered in this section, all extensive and numerous. For the purpose of the Youth Sourcebook, we chose to focus on deforestation and biodiversity.
Forests are one of the planets most vital resources, and one upon which many other resources such as water and soil depend. The current rates of deforestation have left communities and countries vulnerable to desertification, soil erosion, and flooding. Our atmosphere and our river systems depend on forests since they serve as natural controls. Biodiversity and the livelihoods of people, particularly those of forest dwellers are threatened by the loss of forests. So much depends on them, but rates of deforestation remain high.
Deforestation is a complex issue, and one that involves social, economic and environment issues. Most importantly, it is an issue that we can do something about, provided some action is taken before it is too late. There are personal choices, community and national based action that we can take to combat the root causes and the effects of deforestation, from using recycled paper to opposing mega projects such as dams that destroy forests and their resources and their peoples.