Earth's forests are home to up to 90% of Earth's plant and animal species (Heaton 76). Approximately 13 million hectares of forests are cleared worldwide every year (FAO 2005). Forests also contain 25% of modern medicines (World Rainforest Movement 28), while the United States is the largest consumer of wood in the world; Heaton states that the United States, per capita, consumes approximately 330 kg of wood-based products compared to 233 kg in Germany, which ranks second (WRI 2003). WWF has been trying for years to contribute to the preservation of forests around the world. WWF's policy towards forest conservation is to "...[influence] broader, long-term government policy – ​​nationally and internationally – that supports our mission to conserve 19 of the world's most important natural places and change global markets to protect the future of nature by 2015.” Having grown up in a logging community where logging is not just a livelihood for citizens, but an important and necessary industry, I was made very aware of the arguments on both sides. However, the media tends to be biased in favor of environmentalism. We have myriads of organizations formed just to prevent further damage to our environment and ecosystem. Over the past twenty years, numerous laws have been implemented to try to save forests across America as a result of petitions, protests, and people wanting to do good for the environment. I want to believe that by reducing logging and expanding our national forests to save ecosystem and animal habitats, the problem of forest depletion would be solved, however, these hopes, which are the same hopes of environmental organizations, to ban logging I am neither ideal nor logical. I would like to know if… middle of paper… and it is incredibly difficult for the government to completely end this practice. The human race has used wood since the dawn of man. We are so dependent on this material that we have exhausted resources to the point that some animal and plant species are now on the brink of extinction or already non-existent. But there is hope for forests around the world. Organizations such as WWF, FSC and SFI have shown excellent results in saving natural resources and, in the case of FSC and SFI, have reused and recycled many items without further damage to the planet. I think with further studies on biodiversity, we could create a huge impact for future generations which would prove to be very beneficial. I think if this research were to begin, there would be a greater understanding of our environment and how to manage and treat it better.