What is deforestation? Details on historical background, areas of concern,effects on the environment and ecological community, ongoing conservation efforts, possible solutions, and much more, with pictures.
“If you cut down a forest, it doesn't matter how many sawmills you have if there are no more trees.” ~ Susan George By : Sophia Elsadig Valeria Castillo Marium Khan
Transcript
If you cut down a forest, it doesn't matter how many sawmills
you have if there are no more trees. ~ Susan George By : Sophia
Elsadig Valeria Castillo Marium Khan Biology- 5B 2/18
Deforestation is the action or process of clearing of forests
(Merrium Webster). Deforestation occurs due to various reasons.
Agriculture, urban development, cattle ranching, subsistence
farming, logging, and natural disasters such as forest fires, are
some of these reasons. Forests cover about 30-31% of our planet,
but 46- 58 thousands of square miles are lost each year to
deforestation. To put in perspective that equates to about 36
football fields per minute.
Throughout the majority of history, most people were hunter
gatherers that were nomadic.They followed their food sources.The
introduction of agriculture greatly increased deforestation,
because people could now settle down in one area to produce crops.
Industrialization is another major contributor to deforestation.The
increase of urban lifestyle increased the need to cut down
trees.
A few known areas with the highest deforestation rates in world
are: 1) The Philippines- The islands that make up the Philippines
used to be completely forested. Currently about 35% of those
forests remain. 2) Ghana- At one point about two-thirds of Ghana
was covered with a forest, but as time went by less than 10% of
that forest remains. 3) Honduras- A long time ago Honduras was
entirely covered with trees, with half a percent of the land not
forested. But today about half of that remains (52%). Between 1990-
2005, Honduras saw a decline of about 37% in its forest cover.
Climate change- Trees act as sponges that absorb harmful
greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide. Fewer trees means more
gasses free in the atmosphere, thus contributing to the ongoing
climate change and global warming. About 15% of greenhouse gasses
are the result of deforestation. Biodiversity- Tropical rainforests
are home to about 70% of the worlds plant and animal species.When
trees are cleared, the animals and plant inhabiting the area are
left without a home and this can lead to endangerment and even
extinction. Water Cycle- Without trees in an area to evaporate
ground water and produce water vapor, the water cycle in the area
is disrupted and this can create drier climate. Soil- In tropical
rainforests the nutrients is mainly located within the trees and
vegetation occupying the area.The soil does not contain an
abundance of nutrients. So when forests are cleared it is very hard
for the ecosystem to rebuild itself, due to the lack of nutrients
in the soil.This leads to soil erosion, and runoff.
Loss of species Soil Erosion Humans Animals Also affects some
cycles: The water cycle The oxygen cycle The carbon cycle
About 70% of the worlds plants and animals live in forests. But
due to deforestation they are losing their habitats.When they loose
their habitat this leads to an extinction of species. This has many
consequences for medical research and the human population that
relies on the animals and plants. Lonely monkey!
Trees play such an important role in the water cycle by
containing water in their roots and then releasing it into the
atmosphere. In the Amazon, more than half of the water in the
ecosystem is contained in the plants.Without the plants than the
climate may become dryer. How will this happen without trees?
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has targeted zero net deforestation
by 2020. -Countries need to commit to reducing gross forest- based
greenhouse gas emissions by at least 75% by 2020 Achievements by
countries: the Amazon Regional Protected Area (ARPA) Programme, and
the three-country Heart of Borneo initiative. The Zero
Deforestation Law introduced by Paraguay in 2004 has dropped the
rate of deforestation in the Atlantic Forests by an incredible 85%.
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/how_we_w
ork/conservation/forests/zeronetdeforestation/
Amazon, Brazil has taken extensive measures. Authorities that
have taken notice of the drastic deforestation are incorporating
the following in an effort for reduction: -mosaic of parks
-reserves -conservation units -native territories These together
work as a barrier and defense against those illegally clearing the
forest. Achievements: Deforestation rates fell more than 30% in
2005.
Reaching the goal of zero net deforestation can be done by:
Getting both private and public sectors involved. Including
producer, consumer, financiers and local stakeholders in places
threatened by deforestation. Reducing emissions from deforestation
and forest degradation by getting countries to sign an agreement,
in exchange for incentives (as done in the REDDs program)
Implementing land-use policies, to keep track of whos using the
land Protection and sustainable management of forests Promoting
responsible consumption and production of forest-related goods and
agricultural commodities. (i.e. reuse, reduce and recycle)
Work Cited Brazil's Greed, Deforestation and Environmental
Genocide Worsens : The Canadian National Newspaper." Brazil's
Greed, Deforestation and The Environmental Genocide Worsens : The
Canadian National Newspaper. The Guardian, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.
"Cost of Deforestation in Kenya Far Exceeds Gains from Forestry and
Logging, UN Joint Study Finds." UN News Center. UN, 05 Nov. 2012.
Web. 16 Feb. 2014. Deforestation in the Amazon." Theguardian.com.
Guardian News and Media, 24 Oct. 2007. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.
"Deforestation: Solved via Carbon Markets?" Environmental Defense
Fund. Environmental Defense Fund, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.
"Deforestation: Solved via Carbon Markets?" Environmental Defense
Fund. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014. "Recycling Stock Photos,
Illustrations, and Vector Art." Recycling Stock Photos, Recycling
Stock Photography, Recycling Stock Images : Shutterstock.com. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014. Wallace, Scott. "Farming the Amazon."
National Geographic. National Geographic, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.
"Zero Net Deforestation." WWF. WWF, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.
Cesareo, Kerry, and Linda K. Walker. "Deforestation."
WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.
"Deforestation." National Geographic. National Geographic Society,
n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014. "Tropical Deforestation : Feature
Articles." Tropical Deforestation : Feature Articles. Earth
Observatory Project, n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.
Work Cited continued.. Szalay, Jessie. "Deforestation: Facts,
Causes & Effects." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 06 Mar.
2013. Web. 17 Feb. 2014. "10 Countries With the Highest
Deforestation Rates in the World." TreeHugger. N.p., n.d. Web. 19
Feb. 2014.