By Kira Gabriel
As one of the leading indulgences in the world, coffee has taken America, as well as other countries, by storm. Dominating franchises, like Starbucks, with a hip and appealing atmosphere, free Wifi, calorie-laden desserts, serve a plethora of addictive caffeinated creations, making coffee popular among all ages. Whether it’s stopping at one of these shops or making a cup at home, coffee is undeniably one of the most popular beverages across the globe.
To many teens, coffee and coffee-based beverages are part of an everyday routine. You can’t beat the taste, not to mention the pep it gives you to make it through that afternoon game. You buy it at a premium so that it is served just the way you like, and savor it , from the first sip to the last drop and you enjoy every bit of it. But what you are not considering, is at what cost, that cup of coffee comes with. I am talking more than the exorbitant amount of money you are paying for a addictive sip of caffeinated heaven, but the cost of this cup of coffee on a global scale. The fact that by purchasing your little sip of decadence, that you are in actuality contributing to the total obliteration of the rainforests all across the globe.
Coffee, in such popularity, is in high demand where mass production of coffee beans is needed globally. Coffee plants, or also known as coffea plants, thrive only in wet and forested areas, and plantations are mainly found in African rainforests. In order to make way for these plantations, rainforests are destroyed and miles of trees are cut down. For every cup of coffee that is consumed, one square inch of rainforest is destroyed. You got it, for each cup of Starbucks you consume, you are destroying the rainforest inch by inch. We are not just talking about compromising the size of the rainforest, but killing off whole species of animals that occupy these habitats.
Right now, you’re probably thinking, “Yeah, whatever. It’s just trees being replaced. Why is it a problem?”
What may seem to you as “just trees” is a big deal. Trees are essential to maintaining a healthy environment, and thousands of animals rely on these trees as their homes, their habitats. After these homes are destroyed and diminished, all of the animals are left without a place to live. They face countless days of starvation, not knowing where to stay or how to take care of themselves. According to National Geographic, 80% of Earth’s animals and plant species live in forests. Many of these animals are unable to survive deforestation. Just think about it — if all of those species can’t survive, what will? What will happen to our wildlife?
Some animals have already been hit tremendously hard by deforestation, and are battling extinction. One animal in particular is the Sumatran Tiger. This species has been trying to survive habitat destruction for many years — and there are only about 300 of them left in the wild. There are now critically endangered — only because of deforestation. These lives could have been spared if it weren’t for human destruction, and if there wasn’t the need for crops in their natural habitat. If this keeps up, this beautiful tiger species will be long gone just like the hundreds of others species that were neglected for the need of plantations. What if we can save them?
As stated by Conservation International, tropical rainforests cover 60% of the land that has an ideal climate for coffee production, which is why they are targeted so heavily by growers. Coffee as well as some other crops, are using this land rapidly to fill demands. According to National Geographic, the world’s rainforests could completely vanish at the current rate of deforestation in only 100 years. At this rate, animals, even entire species of animals, will vanish too. This is not something we can fix later, we must act now to prevent this from happening.
Not all hope is lost, meaning that if we act now to change our behaviors, we can create a better future for ourselves as well as benefit the rainforests and its inhabitants. Even though coffee is an indulgence, be mindful about how much of it you drink. Each square inch of rainforest adds up, and it can mean a home, a life, for an animal in need.
Animals don’t have voices, in fact, we must be their voice. Some companies believe that making money is more important than deforestation, and that the environment is not worth the effort. We must stand up to these beliefs and challenge them. We must speak up and take action. You can help by being mindful with what you purchase and how frequently you consume coffee. You can also donate to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to support the fight to end deforestation for good by preserving and protecting our rainforests.
The rainforest is being destroyed. Is it really worth that Starbucks coffee?
This essay was one of three winning submissions to an op-ed writing contest in Ms. Bodnar’s 8th grade honor’s science class.
