China, India, Brazil, the USA and Turkey are the countries which grow the most tobacco, although many other countries also grow it. Places like Malawi and Tanzania have in recent years devoted much more land to growing tobacco.

Deforestation

When forests or large areas of trees are cleared by being cut or burned down, this is known as deforestation. The tobacco industry clears a lot of land every year in order to grow tobacco and make cigarettes and other products.

Although some land is cleared to make way for the tobacco crop, most trees are cut down to use in the process of turning tobacco into cigarettes. Wood is often used as fuel when drying or curing tobacco leaves so that they can be used in cigarettes, especially in Africa, Asia and South America.

Most paper is made from wood pulp, and vast amounts of paper are used by the cigarette industry. The tobacco is wrapped in a very fine paper, and cigarette packaging is also usually made from card.

Global warming and forest fires

Deforestation is a serious problem that affects us all, even if we don’t live near to the forests. When wood and other fuel is burned to cure the tobacco, CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide) is released into the atmosphere. This contributes to global warming. It is also thought that ¼ to ⅓ of forest fires are started by cigarettes. Forest fires are devastating and cause millions of acres of trees to be lost every year.

Damage to the land

Deforestation can cause soil erosion and damage the local ecosystem. When trees are cut down, soil can be washed or blown away. This means that the land loses its nutrients, and plants and trees will struggle to grow again. The forests that are cut down are also the habitat for many other plants and animals.

Children and Tobacco

Millions of children all over the world work in tobacco growing. Messi’s letter tells you more about the life of a child who works in the tobacco fields.

Sources and resources

¹ White Ribbon Association, KS1 Activity Set, KS2 Activity Set, KS3/4 Smoking Leaflets
² World Wildlife Fund, Tobacco - Environmental Impacts of Production: Deforestation
³ World Health Organisation, The Tobacco Atlas - Atlas 13: Costs to the Economy (pdf), Atlas 16: Growing Tobacco (pdf), Atlas 17: Manufacturing Tobacco (pdf)
⁴ Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco-Growing Foundation, Agriculture and Tobacco

China, India, Brazil, the USA and Turkey are the countries which grow the most tobacco, although many other countries also grow it. Places like Malawi and Tanzania have in recent years devoted much more land to growing tobacco.

Deforestation

When forests or large areas of trees are cleared by being cut or burned down, this is known as deforestation. The tobacco industry clears a lot of land every year in order to grow tobacco and make cigarettes and other products.

Although some land is cleared to make way for the tobacco crop, most trees are cut down to use in the process of turning tobacco into cigarettes. Wood is often used as fuel when drying or curing tobacco leaves so that they can be used in cigarettes, especially in Africa, Asia and South America.

Most paper is made from wood pulp, and vast amounts of paper are used by the cigarette industry. The tobacco is wrapped in a very fine paper, and cigarette packaging is also usually made from card.

Global warming and forest fires

Deforestation is a serious problem that affects us all, even if we don’t live near to the forests. When wood and other fuel is burned to cure the tobacco, CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide) is released into the atmosphere. This contributes to global warming. It is also thought that ¼ to ⅓ of forest fires are started by cigarettes. Forest fires are devastating and cause millions of acres of trees to be lost every year.

Damage to the land

Deforestation can cause soil erosion and damage the local ecosystem. When trees are cut down, soil can be washed or blown away. This means that the land loses its nutrients, and plants and trees will struggle to grow again. The forests that are cut down are also the habitat for many other plants and animals.

Children and Tobacco

Millions of children all over the world work in tobacco growing. Messi’s letter tells you more about the life of a child who works in the tobacco fields.

Sources and resources

¹ White Ribbon Association, KS1 Activity Set, KS2 Activity Set, KS3/4 Smoking Leaflets
² World Wildlife Fund, Tobacco - Environmental Impacts of Production: Deforestation
³ World Health Organisation, The Tobacco Atlas - Atlas 13: Costs to the Economy (pdf), Atlas 16: Growing Tobacco (pdf), Atlas 17: Manufacturing Tobacco (pdf)
⁴ Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco-Growing Foundation, Agriculture and Tobacco