The Real Cost of Our Culture: A Reflection on Deforestation and Responsibility

As you may know, here at Rhythm of Gaia we acknowledge that the health of our bodies is NOT separate from the health of our planet. My heart is heavy as I imagine the forests I call my home being torn down. The destruction that the extraction industry has caused our planet is dark. This week I read headlines like “America’s Forests Being Opened to Loggers” filled me with terror and pain. I am lucky to have that emotional reaction – because it moved me into action. Action to start conversations, action to do research, action to critically think, action to use my hands, my energy, and my mind to be a part of the solution.

I know that action without awareness can be dangerous. That’s where calming down and zooming out (thank you eagle spirit) helps me understand what role I can take.

Here’s what I understand:

• Logging, while normalized, often devastates ecosystems

• People prioritize profit over the balance of nature

• We are already buying wood from unethical sources

• We have become desensitized to what we don't see

In 2024, the U.S. imported $23.8 Billion in wood products:

• Canada ($11.1B)

• China ($2.11B)

• Brazil ($1.56B)

• Vietnam ($1.12B)

• Chile ($1.05B)

This isn’t just about American forests. It’s about how we treat the Earth globally.

Here are a few things we can do:

• Demand ethical environmental oversight

• Reduce our own consumption

• Amplify the voices of Indigenous stewards of the land

• Reconnect to nature

• Compost. Plant. Volunteer. Learn.

The health of the Earth is our health. Healing is holistic. Protecting wild spaces and reducing consumerism isn’t just activism – it’s wellness.

I’m seeking and supporting others doing work aligned with these values. If you have recommendations or reflections, please reach out. Let’s keep growing together.