Effects of Deforestation
March 30, 2011 | Nature
Forests, and the trees they contain are essential for the well being of planet Earth. They play a huge role in determining the climate. They filter out unwanted carbon dioxide gas, and provide a shelter and habitat for millions of species.
Currently, primarily due to the action of man, these vital natural organs are being lost at an alarming rate, and it is estimated that 50% of forests have been lost in fairly recent times as a direct result of human activity, certainly during the last 175 years or so.
Deforestation is occurring in most developing countries today, and the massive destruction of the rainforests is not only associated with climate change, but also the loss of biodiversity to such an extent that the extinction of many species is a very real threat as their natural habitats are destroyed. What are the effects of deforestation on such a large irresponsible scale? But first, why are we undertaking such destructive practices, what are the causes of deforestation?
Causes of Deforestation.
- Due to uncontrolled population growth, space is required for expanding urban areas, so forests are destroyed to create the necessary space.
- More food is required. Hence space is needed for crop growing.
- Increased amounts of land are needed for animal grazing.
- In the developing countries trees are cut and burnt to make charcoal for cooking purposes.
Effects of Deforestation.
- Deforestation leads to soil erosion. The cleared land exposes the soil directly to the sun, and eventually its nutrients are lost. The permanent loss of soil nutrients negates the effects of tree replanting, and makes it useless for crop growing or animal grazing, the land is virtually barren.
- Forests play a large role in maintaining the natural water cycle. A major part of the water in a rainforest ecosystem remains within the plants and trees. Deforestation leads to loss of moisture, and leads to a drier climate in the area.
- Although rainforests make up only a small percentage of land mass (about 6% of the Earth’s surface), they contain about 80 – 90% of the planets entire biodiversity. Currently almost 50 – 100 species are being lost each day causing the extinction of plants and animals on a huge scale.
- A further problem caused by deforestation is associated with the regulation of water. In times of severe rainfall the forest has the ability to store large amounts of water. Deforestation causes the water regulation to be completely disrupted, leading to alternate periods of flooding and drought in the locality.
- Deforestation is directly associated with global warming. It is commonly suggested that excessive amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, plus other green house gases are linked to global warming. The trees in the forest absorb massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it as food for the trees growth by the process of photosynthesis.
Deforestation releases the carbon dioxide stored within the trees and causes it to be re released to the atmosphere, and the loss of the trees prevents further absorption of the gas from the atmosphere.
For all of the above reasons, we, as a species should be closely examining the policies we have to our treatment of our natural environment. It cannot be replaced!