This year on World Wildlife Day we’re taking a deeper look at how Southerners feel about logging. A recent survey found that Southerners have deep reservations about logging. Over two-thirds of those surveyed said that logging in their local area was harming both wildlife and people. Over half agreed that they’d seen logging around their local community.
YouGov surveyed 1,000 people across Georgia and North Carolina. NC and GA are the two top wood pellet producing states in the US. These states are also major producers of other wood products. What does it mean for forests in the Southern US? Check out the survey results to see how people responded.
67% of Southerners believe that cutting down forests undermines efforts to combat climate change.
It’s no surprise that most people know logging worsens climate change. All over the world researchers are learning how forest destruction harms the climate. From disturbing the water cycle to creating carbon emissions. Logging is bad news. Logging is especially prevalent in the US South. Here the estimated rate of removal is four times that of South American rainforests. In North Carolina, the carbon emissions from logging are third in the state!
Citizens everywhere recognize that cutting down forests has grave consequences. As climate change progresses, we need to keep calling out the bad actors. From fossil fuels to logging, it all has an impact on our climate’s bottom line.
73% of Southerners worry about the impacts of cutting down forests on wildlife.
The effects of logging become clearer each day. More Southerners than ever worried about the impacts of logging on wildlife. Whether they’re hikers or hunters, people notice when trees go missing. Especially when the wildlife disappears, too. Deforestation is responsible for wildlife losses around the world, threatening even the iconic Monarch butterfly.
Our natural forests provide habitat and resources that keep animals healthy and wild. Without forests, these creatures struggle to survive. As we lose forests all over the world, there are dramatic losses to biodiversity. Preserving nature is critical.
67% of Southerners worry about the impacts of cutting down forests on people.
The effects of forest loss on humans are devastating. Over two-thirds of Southerners worry about how logging is harming people. This survey shows that people living in the South recognize the value of forests to their own well-being.
Logging affects not only the trees, but also humans. This underscores why we need to protect woodlands. Cutting forests can lead to flooding, landslides, soil compaction, and even water loss. We need to center forest conservation for both carbon sequestration and human health.
62% of Southerners agree that the government should set carbon-reduction targets for the forestry (logging) industry.
It’s one thing to recognize the problem. It’s another to enact change. 62% of survey respondents want governmental intervention in the forestry industry. This survey result shows the rising importance of climate-smart forestry practices.
The South is known as the “wood basket” of the world. The South is also a huge carbon-emitter when it comes to forests. But carbon-reduction initiatives are gaining ground. Improving the state of forests in the US South would make a big difference in the fight against climate change.
Southerners are looking for leadership from the EPA, from state officials, and from the federal government. Who will take charge and work to curb forest industry emissions? That type of political action will help us make real progress in reducing climate change.
35% of Southerners agree that flooding happens more frequently near them because of logging.
Logging destroys tree cover, natural habitats, and soil quality. This leads to greater rainfall runoff. That means more soil erosion, muddy streams, and flooded homes. Devastating floods have hit communities near heavy logging time and time again.
Over a third of surveyed Southerners believe that logging creates flooding problems. Scientists may still be working out the details. But citizens already see the truth. Rapid forest clearing can create flooding issues in nearby communities. And many fear that the flooding will continue to increase with climate change.
58% of Southerners agree that they see a lot of logging in their community
Logging increases along with community growth and the growth of subsidies for false “renewable” energy solutions. According to our recent survey, a whopping 58% of Southerners agree that they’re observing more cut down trees in their community than before. These losses add up to hundreds of acres of forests destroyed.
Clearcuts are ugly. They’re bad for business. Bad for recreation. And bad for the ecosystem. We must work together in our local communities to keep natural forests standing.
Final thoughts
Citizens across North Carolina and Georgia know the truth. Logging is causing more problems than it’s solving. As citizens of the US South, we can be a strong force for protecting our forests from logging. Logging is harming the environment and our communities instead of helping them. We must come together to champion conservation efforts. We must protect our natural resources. Join us in defending our forests, climate, and communities. Together, we can fight for the health of our environment and the future of our planet.