What value to trees hold? Are they a commodity to be used, a wonder to be preserved? Or maybe a little bit of both. Forests are important to the environment and to people in many ways. Most of which fall into one of five categories. Biodiversity, carbon, water, and oxygen. Cultural values, economic values in landscape values. For us, sir, home to as many as two-thirds of the plant and animal species on Earth. Moreover, more than half of these species are thought to live specifically in the tropics. Many are not found outside of the forest locale that they are native to. Forest ecosystems are the largest terrestrial carbon reservoir and are thought to contain 40 to 50 percent of all carbon in the terrestrial biosphere. For us, also recycle the world's water and oxygen and may mitigate global climate change. More than just plants and animals, roughly 60 million people, both indigenous and non-indigenous, live in forests and also depend on them for their subsistence and livelihoods. Some rely heavily or solely on wood as their energy source. For us also provide a place for recreation and are closely linked to the natural and cultural heritage many places around the world. While the United States provides a good example of the economic value of forest, numerous other countries or even better examples. Paper packaging, palm oil, and other agricultural products. Tourism, furniture and building materials are among some of the more common products associated with forest. Contributing to local and national economies and providing jobs. And forests are not just nice to look at. They provide protection against geomorphic processes, especially water and wind. For example, planting a row of trees along the edge of farm fields, like those shown in the photo on the slide, impede the wind protecting the soil from erosion. Likewise, you may remember our discussion of thermal pollution. Not only to trees along riverbanks, anchor the soil and prevent it from entering a river, but can additionally provide some shade for plant and animal species and the water alike and prevent moisture loss. For us are also a critical part of maintaining a healthy and productive global environment while also providing people with a valuable renewable resource. But as you know, our forest resources are vulnerable to irreparable damage by the same people who rely so heavily upon them.