“More than 80% of Earth’s natural forests have already been destroyed at the rate of 20,000 hectares per day” according to the World Resources Institute (WRI). Despite our dependence on forests for our means of survival, from the provision of livelihoods for us human-beings, the prevention of soil erosion, medicines derived from rainforest plants, to the air we breathe, we are still allowing them to disappear at shockingly high rates through deforestation. High deforestation rates, primarily as a result of the growing demand for agriculture, fuel use and production, fires, timber harvesting, logging, and pasture and clearing for livestock animals due to the exponential growth in human population, can be prevented through the requirement of …show more content…
Significant increases in greenhouse gas emissions contribute to large-scale, rising temperatures, changed weather patterns, and an escalated frequency of severe weather events contributing to issues such as global warming and biodiversity loss as a result of the decreasing availability of adequate food and water and altered habitats in these integrated ecosystems. Disruptions of water cycles such as changes in precipitation and river flow are considerably impacted when deforestation or forest degradation occurs, resulting in the throwing off of the balance between water on land and in the atmosphere that trees help maintain. Other negative impacts of deforestation or forest degradation comprises of increased soil erosion, disrupted livelihoods, and a simultaneously high loss in biodiversity species. Deforestation often results in the extinction of numerous, unique species struggling to survive in geographic locations all over the world. “About 80% of the world’s documented species can be found in tropical rainforests—some of the forests most vulnerable to deforestation.” (WWF). Agricultural expansion, wood extraction, and infrastructure expansion through processes such as urbanization and road building work together simultaneously to cause deforestation. Primarily for the need of subsistence, one of the most significant causes of
Deforestation plays a big role in global warming. The “land use connection” referred to as “land use changes” is a huge contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. Land use change involves all the destructions of land in order to produce and distribute food. Every year rainforests are demolished for agriculture intentions. “The biggest factors are the destruction of vital rainforests through burning and clearing and the elimination of wetlands” (Lappe 753). Deforestation of these habitats leads to the discharge carbon dioxide into the environment.
Deforestation is the destruction of a wide area of forest land into a cleared land that is used for a variety of reasons. The impact on the environment from cutting down, burning and damaging forests is very detrimental and there are severe consequences for the environment and future generations because of deforestation. According to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization approximately 7.3 million hectares of forests are being destroyed per year in the world (Bradford, 2015). In this essay, I will explore the impact that deforestation on the environment and I will also look at the actions that are being taken to prevent deforestation. There are various reasons why deforestation is occurring despite its negative effects on the environment. Deforestation can cause very serious environmental problems such as climate change, flooding, loss of habitats as well as others.
Three to six billion trees are cut down each and every year! Deforestation is a huge problem in the rainforests. Because these forests are home to much of the Earth’s species of life. Covering 30 percent of our land forests provide homes, protection, and oxygen for humans and other wildlife in the forests. There are 7.125 billion people that count on the benefits provided by the forest, which is: food, clothing, traditional medicine and shelter. If something isn 't done soon to reduce our carbon footprint, we will not have forests of any type to soak up the carbon dioxide(CO2) in the atmosphere.
Deforestation has been an increasing issue with the modern age. As new technologies and productions are introduced, space for forests and trees are removed dramatically. Although it offers massive economic benefit, it creates a portal to more issues, such as environmental and gas emissions, animal habitats, and local people in several third world countries. Contrary to popular belief, however, deforestation can also provide as a benefit. It allows people internationally to have access to a common resource, lumber, and creates room for employment; in some areas, deforestation could actually positively affect climate change. It is critical to weigh both pros and cons of deforestation as well as its effects on society, environmentally and economically. Deforestation’s negative outweigh the positives; however, the positives are crucial to function our society globally. As a result, it is imperative that deforestation must be used in moderation and only used when necessary.
Deforestation is one of the most significant issues of our time; considerable measures must be taken to prevent further pillaging of our unique forest resource.
Mercilessly, loggers and cattle farmers choose to desecrate the precious lands of forest to satisfy their impractical demands. For instance, farmers graze their livestock over land which used to inhabit luxuriant forest life. Likewise, loggers ignorantly fell countless trees, contributing to insidious repercussions that harm more than just the atmosphere. Forest components, whether biotic or abiotic, serve pertinent roles for the health of the earth. But, with these lumbermen slashing trees in some of the world’s most rich and diverse ecosystems, interventions must occur. All countries should outlaw deforestation; not only does it disturb the forest elements, but it also engenders effects that cause major pernicious disruptions in the global
Tropical deforestation results in immediate climate impacts independent of, and in addition to, its contribution to the greenhouse effect”. The deforestation of tropical rainforests promotes the greenhouse effect which is an important aspect regarding climate change. The greenhouse effect releases heat into the atmosphere, causing the temperature to increase. Further studies prove that the deforestation of tropical rainforests has long term and global impacts. In the future, if all of the trees in the tropical rainforests are cut down and they are permanently destroyed, the temperature could globally increase by almost a whole 1 degree. With the trees gone, the air will warm, travel to the upper parts of the atmosphere, and create ripples referred to as teleconnections. Also, scientific researchers have found a correlation between climate change caused by the deforestation of tropical rainforests and agriculture/farming in the tropics. The result of warm and dry climates puts agriculture at risk. Another study states the following prediction, “Yields of soy in the Amazon, for example, are projected to drop by up to 60 percent if more trees are cut down, and cattle production may not be viable in some areas as the quality of pasture declines”. The deforestation of the land can potentially continue the dry season for a long period of time, which means that the rainy season will arrive later. Under the extreme changing temperatures between day and night, the crops may not be able to
Environmental issues affect every life on this planet from the smallest parasite to the human race. There are many resources that humans and animal needs to survive; some of the most obvious resources come from the forests. Forests make up a large percentage of the globe. The forests have global implications not just on life but on the quality of it. Trees improve the quality of the air that species breath, determine rainfall and replenish the atmosphere. The wood from the forests are used everyday form many useful resources. Moreover, thinning the forests increases the amount of available light, nutrients and water for the remaining trees. Deforestation (forest thinning) is one of the most
Deforestation plays a prime role in climate change as well. When trees are cut down or burned, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. This is incredibly dangerous, as global warming by definition is the result of too much carbon dioxide in
Homo sapiens has a huge impact on photosynthesis and plants. Humans are continuing to develop and it is making it more difficult to compensate for everyone’s needs. The population is exponentially increasing and they need shelter. The only way to make room for more people is to cut down forests and use the wood and lumber to create shelter. The cutting down of trees is known as deforestation. Trees are not only cut down for shelter, but for also businesses. Areas that were once
Everyday our earth is being poisoned. Despite many alarming facts from scientists, we still do not have a solution to combat this detrimental on-going problem. Deforestation is one of the many causes, due to the fact that it releases vast amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In turn, this allows the sun to radiate even more on earth, rather than space. More sun radiation causes the average temperature to increase at a rapid rate inducing effects that lead up to global warming. Deforestation of rainforests is more than just cutting down trees, it is a major cause of global warming, soil erosion, and extinction of many plants and animals around the world.
Forests cover 31% of the Earth’s surface, around 40 million square kilometres, making them a huge carbon store. They can also create long-term carbon stores as trees can live for hundreds, even thousands of years and can lock carbon dioxide into their wood for their entire lives (Lorenz et al, 2010). According to the International Panel on Climate Change, changes in forest management could offset an additional 15-20% of global emissions. Worldwide deforestation currently prevents forests from reaching their maximum storage potential as when old forests and woods are cut down, huge amounts of stored CO2 are released into the atmosphere. There are many schemes globally which have been created in order to protect existing forests and to plant new forests to act as a store. Such schemes often involve promises to plant more trees in place of ones which have been cut down, these are favoured by many large companies who need trees to produce
The rapid rate of tropical deforestation has raised widespread concern about the consequential irreversible environmental changes that lead to the loss of plant and animal species, on scale never before experienced in human history. Tropical deforestation is the leading cause of biodiversity loss. Behind fossil fuel combustion, tropical deforestation is the second leading cause of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with almost 20% of all global CO2 emissions are caused by deforestation.
Rainforests are homes to millions of species, where many are also endangered. By cutting down forests, humans are not just destroying the homes of individual species, but also resulting in the extinction of the many species. In fact, deforestation has already eliminated various species from our planet. According to a UN Environmental Programme report released on 2005, Amazon rainforest region has lost 17 percent of its forest and led to the extinction of 26 animals and plants species in South America. The UN reporter also noted, “The deforestation in the region was still going on at an accelerated pace”. In addition to the destruction of habitats, the loss of trees also allows a greater mass of greenhouse gases to be released into the atmosphere. Presently reported by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, who defines deforestation
The rate of deforestation is increasing and the tropical forests are falling at approximately 140,000 acres per day (Miller & Tangley 1991: xvi). The forests are crucial to the environment. They are important in minimizing erosion, providing a stable habitat for many animals, and helping to keep the environment clean. Deforestation has devastating effects, not only on the biological dependents within the depleted forests, but also on the surrounding human-populated communities.