Environmental Problems Caused By Deforestation

Imagine living in a world without trees. It is nearly impossible because trees play such a crucial role all throughout the world by providing the earth with a home for plants and animals, natural resources, and protection. If the current rate of deforestation continues a world without trees could become reality. According to National Geographic, deforestation is defined as “clearing Earth’s forests on a massive scale, often resulting in damage to the quality of the land” (“Deforestation and Its...” ❡1). Since early times trees have been used to benefit humans without regard to the harm it has caused. The United States was 46 percent forested before the European Settlement and by 1907 was already only 33 percent forested (Becker ❡2). Although it can be used for developmental and agricultural purposes, deforestation has a negative impact on the earth that has a detrimental effect on humans, animals, and plants.

The world’s population is growing. The need for water is rising with the birth of every child. Sooner than most people would want to admit, the water resources available in the world would be inadequate to cater for the needs of humanity. As developing countries seek to become industrialized, more water will be needed for their industries. The developed world is also not slowing down its water usage in its industries. Given the important part it plays in growth, the world is well in its path to facing its worse season yet: living without water. When one goes to a country where water problems are real, they find businesses have made water a prominent factor in determining whether or not to set up and run their businesses there. No one can afford to bury their head in the sand anymore. The water problem that is not far away in the future must be addressed now.

Deforestation is a concerning issue that has come about within the past decade that hasn’t been getting much attention. Deforestation is defined as the clearing or removal of a forest or group of trees where the land is not used for forest use afterwards. The land could be used for urbanization, farms, ranches, extra land, or anything that the country needs that piece of land for. Deforestation has become more common and the industry for it has increased rapidly. Although so many people have increased the amount of deforestation, they don’t realize the effects that it can bring upon the world and its environment. Deforestation not only affects the United States, but effects countries all over the world in multiple ways. Each way that

Across the globe there are approximately six hundred and sixty three million people who lack access to clean, safe drinking water. Water is essential to life and a basic human right that everyone, regardless of status or location, should have. Water scarcity has begun to increase with the growth of population and agricultural industry. This scarcity is affecting humans across the globe, even in wealthy industrialized countries. The overuse of water in homes, on farms, and in the workplace has put a burden on the natural environmental systems that keep civilizations going, forcing people to take action. Water scarcity continues to be a modern tragedy worldwide; however, global efforts provide hope for many through their continued outreach programs to bring water to people in need and fix the broken system that has been adopted.

Water is becoming a precious commodity around the world. “Throughout to world, water is recognized as the most fundamental and indispensable of all natural resources and it is clear that neither social and economic development, nor environmental diversity, can be sustained without water” (Ashton 1). Water is becoming scarce throughout the world. “Water scarcity is when an individual does not have access to safe affordable water to satisfy her or his needs for drinking, washing or their livelihoods…”(Rijsberman 1).

Deforestation happens every day without us knowing that it happens. Deforestation is the removal of a forest where the land is converted to a non-forest use; such as farms, ranches, or urban use. I will inform you of the history, effects, disadvantages, and what can be done about deforestation.

millions of trees each day. Not only hurting the environment, but all types of animals, plants, and

Water scarcity is the lack of sufficient water sources in a country or a region. It can affect 2.8 billion people around the world one month out of a year. More than 1.2 billion people around the world lack access to clean drinking water.

Today one of the biggest ecological problems is Deforestation. For instance, every year the rainforests are slowly disappearing due to deforestation which is the permanent clearing of earth's forests on a massive scale, often resulting in damage to the quality of the land in order to make the land available for other uses. This can be done legally and illegally. There are many reasons why trees are remove from a forest. Some of these reasons are to cover needs or to make a profit. However, the biggest causes of deforestation are agricultural, logging operations and growth of urban zones. Often, small farmers will clear a few acres by cutting down trees and burning them in a process known as slash and burn agriculture. Some are caused by a combination of human and natural factors like wildfires and subsequent overgrazing, which may prevent the growth of young trees. Logging operations, which provide the world’s wood and paper products, also cut countless trees each year. Loggers, some of them acting illegally, also build roads to access more remote forests which leads to further deforestation. Forests still cover about 30 percent of the world’s land area and extend throughout half the size of most countries but, many are lost each year (Live Science).

One of the primary and notable effects of Deforestation is Climate change, specifically in Global Warming. Climate change is defined as the changing in our planet’s temperature and is considered as the effect of deforestation. On the other hand, global warming refers to the fact that the average temperature on Earth is significantly rising and the period of warming is occurring more rapidly than before. Losing trees and forests will affect the carbon sink and the greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, resulting in more carbon dioxide appeared, more heated being trapped. As a result, the global temperature is significantly rising, hence, causing climate change and global warming. The author of the article “Climatic Effects of Amazonian Deforestation: Some Results from ABRACOS” concluded that “Observations at the local scale show that deforestation produces an immediate change in the surface climate. The reduced evaporation and increased sensible heat flux in dry season pasture produce the strongest effect, with higher daytime temperatures being the most obvious feature” (Gash & Nobre, 1997).

Trees and any plantation for that matter are often taken for granted as they provide many of the essentials such as photosynthesis regulation, habitat, food, and even save ground to build construction. However as more people demand more, more space will be needed and cutting away the trees for humans to use. Deforestation is the act of cutting and clearing a large area of trees. It is the cause of extreme damage to the ecosystem and sustainability of life. Deforestation is negatively affecting the interaction between the water cycle, soil sustainability, and trees stability.

Deforestation is an underrated environmental issue! It has many problems that most people are failing to acknowledge, there are so many complications circling around it that are not being talk about as often as it should be. Deforestation contributes to other environmental issues that are going on in our earth, such as global warming. Deforestation is damaging our world slowly every day. Deforestation is ruining thousands maybe millions of species' habitats and it's even causing pollution, so I have listed some simple ways to help reduce it.

Today, about thirty percent of our planet is covered by trees. These trees bring us oxygen, wildlife and stabilize our earth’s soil. The problems we are now facing are the effects of deforestation. Clear cutting through trees is very harmful to our environment and is one of the leading causes of global warming (National Geographic). It also tampers with the quality of Earth’s soil, leading to landslides and future problems in regrowth of new trees. On top of all this, our wildlife is decreasing from the deforestation of their habitats.

Imagine being home on a nice day just relaxing in the sun, then suddenly hear a roaring noise and see massive machines tearing down your habitat leaving you no choice but to run through the forest. Being separated from family members, all alone in the african desert with no home left. This issue is happening all over the place for many beloved animals yet not much is being done about it at all. Deforestation is a major issue for animals, forests are a huge source of oxygen for the wildlife surrounding them. “80% of the animals in the world live in or around forests”(National Geographic, Munita) there has been a huge increase for many species going into endangered, more people need to realize that this is happening

While it is easier for someone who lives in America to see the localized water-related problems in this country, such as the droughts in California and the Flint, Michigan water quality crisis, clean water is a worldwide issue and a preventable one. Many impoverished people must live with unclean water due to neglect of this problem by their governing political bodies. The United Nations reports 1,000 children dying every day from diseases caused by unclean water and sanitation issues that are avoidable with reasonable improvements. When the