I've heard rain forests described as our planet's lungs, which makes the following tidbit from National Geographic disturbing. "...Swaths the size of Panama are lost each and every year" due to deforestation.

Why it matters:

Deforestation also drives climate change. Forest soils are moist, but without protection from sun-blocking tree cover they quickly dry out. Trees also help perpetuate the water cycle by returning water vapor back into the atmosphere. Without trees to fill these roles, many former forest lands can quickly become barren deserts.

...Trees also play a critical role in absorbing the greenhouse gases that fuel global warming. Fewer forests means larger amounts of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere—and increased speed and severity of global warming.

Panama, in case you're wondering, is 29,000 square miles big, nearly 76,000 km.