Why is deforestation harmful to the environment

The barren land which is left behind in the wake of these unsustainable agricultural practices is then more susceptible to flooding, specifically in coastal regions. As large amounts of forests are cleared away, allowing exposed earth to whither and die and the habitats of innumerable species to be destroyed, the indigenous communities who live there and depend on the forest to sustain their way of life are also under threat.

The loss of forests has an immediate and direct effect on their lifestyle that we in the highly industrialized parts of the world, despite our own dependency on what the rainforest provides, will never know. The level of immediacy is exponentially greater for indigenous peoples. The governments of nations with rainforests in their borders often attempt to evict indigenous tribes before the actual clear-cutting begins. This is one of the pre-emptive effects of deforestation.

Global Commons. Effects of Deforestation The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines deforestation as the "permanent removal of standing forests. This rain used to recharge aquifers, but now it drains away. Clear-cutting forests also degrades the soil. Forests store nutrients and feed the soil as part of the natural life cycle of plants and animals. After a few years, all the soil fertility is gone, and things start to get more dusty and barren.

According to WW, scientists estimate a third of all arable land has been lost to erosion since the s. Despite the many negative effects of deforestation, the world economy is built on money rather than sustainability. In short, the fiscal advantages of deforestation have proven too tempting for industry. As you may have read in the news, deforestation in the Amazon rainforest is rapidly on the rise.

According to The Guardian , the slash-n-burn rates have risen dramatically since the election of Brazil president Jair Bolsonaro in January Indonesia has the largest expanse of rainforest in Asia , but the Rainforest Action Network cites studies estimating over 2. Unfortunately, these forests are home to endangered animals like Java tigers and orangutans. Deforestation in Malaysia , which has ample rainforests and peat swamps, is cause for concern as well. It, too, is threatening a number of endangered species, including orangutans.

Furthering the problem, wildfires often result from the slash-and-burn method of clearing forests that often takes place there. The rise of deforestation in the Philippines is also largely the result of the palm oil industry. The increasing popularity of palm oil is one of the major causes of deforestation because, like corn and soy, it has oozed its way into so many of our modern consumer products.

Here again, we see the destructive slash-and-burn method of clearing land for agriculture becoming more commonplace. That being said, Al Jazeera reports that clear-cutting rates have escalated with the economic development and industrial pursuits of independent India. And as the forests continue to disappear, arid deserts are replacing them. Australia also has a problem with dire desertification due to deforestation.

While tropical deforestation appears to be the dish of the day, in no way does that indicate a historic trend. Reading about the consequences of deforestation can really get a person down. There are so many disadvantages to deforestation that the benefits seem horribly disproportionate. Thankfully, lots of people are looking for ways to stop deforestation and speak for the trees.

Instead, we can recycle the materials we already have to avoid cutting more trees for things like toilet paper, boxes, office supplies, etc. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.

Deforestation contributes to air pollution Forests absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen through photosynthesis. Deforestation is harmful to the environment Deforestation is destructive for the broader environment too.

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Others Others. As Sciencing. Biodiversity loss: Though not necessarily the most harmful, this could well be the most heartbreaking impact of deforestation that there is. Plants and animals are adaptable, but it takes time. Certain plants might rely on the birds to spread their seeds and might also suffer population losses. Because each piece of an ecosystem relies upon other pieces, one species loss can have far-reaching consequences for other species.

Fortunately, there are many ways we can all become involved in help to save forests worldwide, supported by global forces for good including Green Peace. They range from buying and working with like-minded companies to using recycled materials and making more informed food sources.