These, and other forests, are important not only for their role in maintaining biological diversity but also because of their role in global climate. They are a significant factor in taking carbon dioxide, the primary anthropogenic greenhouse gas, out of the atmosphere. Increased deforestation could lead to a greater build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, with consequent global warming.
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This image, constructed using Landsat data, highlights the deforestation caused by logging in the Olympic Peninsula in the state of Washington. The small yellow “dots” represent regions logged between 1973 and 1982. Red areas represent regions logged between 1982 and 1988.