What affected us?What affected us?

Every day, forests are cleared. Due Every day, forests are cleared. Due to this, there would be less trees to this, there would be less trees holding the soil together. As a result, holding the soil together. As a result, the soil erodes and when the rain the soil erodes and when the rain comes, the soil will be washed into comes, the soil will be washed into rivers. When the soil goes into the rivers. When the soil goes into the river, it causes the water to turn chalky. river, it causes the water to turn chalky. Thus, less sunlight will enter the river Thus, less sunlight will enter the river causing plants which gives out oxygen causing plants which gives out oxygen to die.to die.

What affected us?What affected us?

When there is no oxygen in the When there is no oxygen in the river, the sea creatures like fishes river, the sea creatures like fishes will die. When sea creatures die we will die. When sea creatures die we will not have sea creatures to will not have sea creatures to consume. In short, the whole food consume. In short, the whole food chain will affect negatively.chain will affect negatively.

Deforestation in brazilDeforestation in brazil In Brazil the rate of deforestation is largely In Brazil the rate of deforestation is largely

driven by commodity prices. Recent driven by commodity prices. Recent development of a new variety of soybean has development of a new variety of soybean has led to the displacement of beef ranches and led to the displacement of beef ranches and farms of other crops, which, in turn, move farther farms of other crops, which, in turn, move farther into the forest. Certain areas such as the Atlantic into the forest. Certain areas such as the Atlantic Rainforest have been diminished to less than Rainforest have been diminished to less than 10% of their original size and the Amazon 10% of their original size and the Amazon Rainforest is awaiting the same fate at 600 fires Rainforest is awaiting the same fate at 600 fires daily. Although much conservation work has daily. Although much conservation work has been done, few national parks or reserves are been done, few national parks or reserves are efficiently enforced. efficiently enforced.

Deforestation in IndonesiaDeforestation in Indonesia There are significantly large areas of forest in There are significantly large areas of forest in

Indonesia that are being lost as native forest is Indonesia that are being lost as native forest is cleared by large multi-national pulp companies cleared by large multi-national pulp companies and being replaced by plantations. In Sumatra and being replaced by plantations. In Sumatra millions of hectares of forest have been cleared millions of hectares of forest have been cleared often under the command of the central often under the command of the central government in Jakarta who comply with multi government in Jakarta who comply with multi national companies to remove the forest because national companies to remove the forest because of the need to pay off international debt of the need to pay off international debt obligations and to develop economically. In obligations and to develop economically. In Kalimantan the consequences of deforestation Kalimantan the consequences of deforestation have been profound and between 1997 and 1998 have been profound and between 1997 and 1998 large areas of the forest were burned because of large areas of the forest were burned because of uncontrollable fire causing atmospheric pollution uncontrollable fire causing atmospheric pollution across South-East Asia. across South-East Asia.

LandslidesLandslides Tree roots bind soil together, and if Tree roots bind soil together, and if

the soil is sufficiently shallow they the soil is sufficiently shallow they act to keep the soil in place by also act to keep the soil in place by also binding with underlying bedrock. Tree binding with underlying bedrock. Tree removal on steep slopes with shallow removal on steep slopes with shallow soil thus increases the risk of soil thus increases the risk of landslides, which can threaten landslides, which can threaten people living nearby. people living nearby.

Farming New methods are being developed to farm more food

crops on less farm land, such as high-yield hybrid crops, greenhouse, autonomous building gardens, and hydroponics. The reduced farm land is then dependent on massive chemical inputs to maintain necessary yields. In cyclic agriculture, cattle are grazed on farm land that is resting and rejuvenating. Cyclic agriculture actually increases the fertility of the soil. Selective over farming can also increase the nutrients by releasing such nutrients from the previously inert subsoil. The constant release of nutrients from the constant exposure of subsoil by slow and gentle erosion is a process that has been ongoing for billions of years.

How does it happen?How does it happen?

conversion of forests and woodlands to conversion of forests and woodlands to agricultural land to feed growing agricultural land to feed growing numbers of people .numbers of people .

development of cash crops and cattle development of cash crops and cattle ranching, both of which earn money ranching, both of which earn money for tropical countries.for tropical countries.

commercial logging destroys trees as commercial logging destroys trees as well as opening up forests for well as opening up forests for agriculture.agriculture.

How to stop that from happening?How to stop that from happening?

We must stop We must stop people from people from clearing the clearing the forests. Build more forests. Build more flats and do not flats and do not build so many build so many terrace house or terrace house or bungalow.bungalow.

Did you know?Did you know? the World Resources Institute regards the World Resources Institute regards

deforestation as one of the world's deforestation as one of the world's most pressing land-use problems?most pressing land-use problems?

an area of forest equal to 20 football or an area of forest equal to 20 football or rugby fields is lost every minute?rugby fields is lost every minute?

South Africa's climate is such that less South Africa's climate is such that less than 0,5% of its surface area is covered than 0,5% of its surface area is covered with indigenous forest - great care with indigenous forest - great care should be taken to conserve the little should be taken to conserve the little we have?we have?