The problem
Globally
Forests, the size of 27 soccer pitches are destroyed every minute.
85%
of endangered species are at risk of extinction as a result of deforestation.
3.4 tonnes of fertile soil per person are lost every year due to erosion from deforestation.
Annually a landmass twice the size of Ireland becomes desert, as a consequence of tree loss.
9.11 billion tons of carbon are emitted annually due to consumption of fossil fuels, equal to the carbon stored in a forest 1/3 the size of China.
In Ireland
The average household produces 5.5 tonnes of CO2 per year - planting 27 trees can offset this.
610 tonnes of CO2 is released annually as a result of deforestation, the equivalent of the emissions of Roundstone, County Galway.
Forests 150 times the size of Vatican city are lost each year.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter%27s_Basilica
https://www.seai.ie
https://www.unccd.int
https://www.globalforestwatch.org
Treechange.ie