In the past couple of months local building projects have begun, or continued, in tearing down hundreds of acres of trees for new buildings. Deforestation has increasingly become a global issue, but it’s impacting us right here in Virginia Beach.
One of these projects is a sports stadium being built behind Regent University. Thirty-one acres of trees are being cut down to make room for this new stadium. That is equivalent to over a million feet of forest.
“I live in a neighborhood right next to Regent,” said English teacher Mrs. Kathleen Trace. “We’ve had an influx of animals in the neighborhood that we don’t normally see very often, like raccoons and foxes. We think they’re coming into the neighborhood because they were previously living in the woods behind Regent.”
This is just one of the many projects currently impacting Salem students and staff. Another project behind the Brock Environmental Center has affected many of Salem’s environmental studies students.
Senior Gavin Wehr, who studies in the Brock Environmental Center, has been directly affected by these projects.
“There have been direct effects on our environmental program, especially in the areas where we used to learn and do research. The forested section that was torn down was where we studied forestry and ecosystems up close. Losing that space meant losing our primary hands-on learning grounds,” said Wehr.
Deforestation greatly affects, not just us, but our local ecosystems. Animals are losing their homes.
Deforestation is just the tip of the iceberg. Many students don’t realize how their actions also affect these animals’ habitats.
“High school is a time when a lot of us are figuring out our style, clothes, makeup, and hair products. But many of these items contain harmful chemicals and are made in ways that damage the environment. Without doing a little research, we could potentially be supporting companies that pollute local ecosystems or rely on unsustainable practices,” said Wehr.
If you’re interested in organizations that promote healthy local environments, check these out.
Bill Arnold • Aug 28, 2025 at 6:36 am
The biggest problem is, Centerville Turnpike can’t handle the traffic that is currently on it. There are over 2,000 new homes that have been approved and now the sports stadium.