By Sarah-Claire Jordan
Though the soil may be the foundation of almost everything that grows on the earth, forests are probably the next most important part of our world. Forestry is the study of everything related to forests, as well as the study of how to preserve them, make use of them, and grow new ones. As you can see, forestry is an essential field in terms of the environment, but it also has many other aspects to it.
Translating research and other information related to forestry into other languages is something that would enrich our world. Not only would it spread consciousness of how important forests are to our planet, but it would ensure that everyone had access to the most up-to-date information regarding forest management, preservation, timber and wood products, and so much more. Here are three of the most important reasons explaining why we need to translate everything we can about forestry:
1. Humans have come depend on forests for wood, among other things
Trees have been a source of construction material for humans since we first started creating and using tools. Wood has been used to make everything from house frames and ships to musical instruments and artwork. Paper is yet another commodity that we can thank forests for, which we use in so many ways that it would be tedious to list them all. Certain trees give us food as well, such as apples, bananas, cherries, maple syrup, cinnamon, and more. Rubber and cork are materials that also come from trees, trees that need to be managed and preserved so that we can get the most out of them without damaging them or the environment. Getting to a point where all information about trees, forests, and what they can give to us is available in every language would create more global opportunities for people to grow and use these products responsibly.
2. Proper management of forests helps combat climate change
Another huge thing that forests do for us is provide us with oxygen, which we can’t survive without. On top of that, they act as environment cleansers, taking in carbon dioxide produced by animals and machines alike. Forests are essential for preventing soil erosion, keeping soil rich with nutrients, and for maintaining the natural water cycle. Without forests, these environmental issues get out of hand and start to affect the animals and communities near them, as well as the whole world. It probably doesn’t need to be mentioned at this point, but translating any information regarding the environmental impact of forests would benefit everyone.
3. Forestry provides many economic and job opportunities
If you are more interested in looking at things economically, then maybe this reason will convince you that everyone should have access to information about forestry regardless of their language. Forests provide all kinds of jobs for people, from scientists to park rangers and many more in between. Aside from jobs related to preservation and recreation, you also have to consider the number of people employed to cut down trees and turn them into things that we can use as humans. In some countries, forests provide a huge percentage of jobs. For those countries that aren’t sure how to take advantage of their forests while keeping them healthy, tips and advice from countries that have figured it out would go a long way. Of course, this is where the translators come in, and their work is just as essential as that of the forester.
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