An area of forest the size of Poland disappears every year, worldwide. It is partly up to us. In 2016, 7,989 square kilometres (nearly 800,000 hectares, an area almost as large as Umbria) of land were deforested in Brazil, a 29 per cent increase on 2015, when the figure was 6,207 square kilometres. Bolivia suffered the same fate: in 2016, 3,508 square kilometres of forest disappeared (more than the entire Aosta Valley), compared with an average of 2,700 square kilometres literally going up in smoke each year throughout the 2000s. Soya is obviously not the sole culprit behind this disaster, but the food industries control much of the fate of South America's forests. Here are 10 everyday choices — 10 things to do to save forests.

1. Watch out for… deckchairs

Small tables, deckchairs and garden furniture made of teak or exotic, dark and durable hardwoods are frequently on sale — often from Asian countries. Well, according to a World Bank study, 80 per cent of timber from Indonesia is of illegal origin. In Brazil it is the same story, according to the government. In Africa the situation is no better. The only guarantee is this symbol on the label: Fsc or Pefc, standards for responsible forest management. If it is absent, it is very, very likely that the timber in question comes from virgin, intact forests that are being devastated.

2. Use wood

Paradoxically, raw timber is the most ecological and efficient material for construction. Its production generates no pollution, and CO2 emissions are neutral (the CO2 absorbed and fixed by the tree during its lifetime equals the CO2 emitted at the end of its life). But which wood to choose? Oak, larch, pine, fir, beech. Strictly local, from controlled, eco-sustainable and responsibly managed sources.

3. Less shrimp

Mangrove forests, habitat and spawning ground for fish and crustaceans, hold back wave erosion and are important both for marine ecosystems and for local economies. They fringe almost a quarter of tropical coastlines; only half of their original extent remains. They are retreating steadily due to timber exploitation, pollution and, increasingly… shrimp farming, especially in Asia, which supplies 80 per cent of world production. Let us cut down our consumption of farmed shrimp. The impact of these farms on ecosystems is such that, in certain areas, for every kilogram of shrimp, 500 grams of fish and other crustaceans disappear.

4. No hamburgers

They are clearing the Amazon to make way for farmland… but not to feed people. Rather, to grow hay, cereals and soya plants destined for pigs and cattle, in order to export ever more hamburgers and tinned goods to Western countries. The meat industry is among the leading causes of deforestation at a global level. Reducing our consumption means stopping subsidising it, encouraging a fairer distribution of resources — and gaining in health.

5. Sustainability projects

At international level and in Italy there are various awareness campaigns for the environment and the protection of nature. Let us get personally involved, with a contribution to serious projects supporting and defending green areas. Looking for an original gift? Give someone you care about a membership.

6. More tourism

It started with "photographic safaris". Today, sustainable tourism is the new frontier. Full and solidarity-based trips, respectful of the place and in closer contact with local communities — who begin to understand, in this way, how important it is to preserve their territory and their culture intact. Some tour operators, large and small, are equipping themselves to offer ever more intriguing destinations and ever more authentic journeys.

7. The right paper

It may seem hard to believe, but virgin forests still exist in Europe — in Scandinavia. And yet even these forests are threatened by the Nordic paper industry, which, in recent months, has been engaged in a tug of war with the indigenous Sami peoples. It is essential that the paper we choose does not come from forests: the label to look for is "recycled ecological paper", or at the very least Fsc or Pefc. Incidentally, according to WWF estimates, more than 270,000 trees are flushed away in Europe every year for toilet paper alone.

8. Be wary of GMOs

Forests are being cleared to plant transgenic soya destined not only for animals but also for the food industry (GMO soya and rapeseed oil are used to produce low-cost fats). And that is not all. In some experimental fields, GMO trees are also being cultivated: invasive crops for plantations that could prove unsuitable for local ecosystems, leading in the long term to soil depletion and desertification.

9. Adopt a green lifestyle

Choose products with rational, lightweight or eco-friendly packaging; move away from the disposable philosophy. In general, support companies that stand out for sustainable behaviour and offer products with strong ecological performance.

10. Plant a tree

Half of the Earth's surface was once covered by dense forest. Now it is not. We have lost three-quarters of the original forests. But we can, why not, start again. By planting a tree — even just a single seed — each of us takes part in the fight against soil erosion, drought, air pollution and the greenhouse effect caused by CO2 emissions. A growing tree absorbs CO2, consolidates the soil and strengthens its moisture and fertility, provides shelter for birds and beautifies the landscape. Jean Giono wrote a fable about this small gesture that causes an entire region to bloom again: L'uomo che piantava gli alberi.