The investigation about the
impact of deforestation on
the environment of Namibia
Authored by:
Ivanka Ward 9G
Karien du Plessis 9G
Johannah Jansen 9G
Maryna Opperman 9G
Katelyn Taljaard 9G
19 SEPTEMBER 2024
1
Table of Contents
Cover page -Pg 1
Table of contents -Pg 2
Introduction & causes of deforestation in Namibia -Pg 3
Effects of deforestation on the environment -Pg 4
Solutions to deforestation -Pg 5
Interesting facts about deforestation & references -Pg 6
2
The impact of deforestation on the environment of
Namibia
Introduction
Deforestation is the purposeful clearing of forested land for various
human activities. Throughout history and into modern times, forests have
been razed to make space for agriculture and animal grazing, to obtain
wood for fuel , manufacturing, and construction.
Deforestation has greatly altered landscapes around the world.
Deforestation has many negative effects on our environment.
Deforestation is mainly carried out for monetary gains.
Causes of deforestation in Namibia
In Namibia deforestation is mainly caused by people cutting down trees
for the construction of homes and shelters, for firewood, food and
medicines, for household utensils and used for furniture.
More than half of the country’s population are still largely rural and
depend on locally sourced firewood.
Direct causes of deforestation are agricultural expansion, wood extraction
(e.g. logging or wood harvest for domestic fuel or charcoal) , and
infrastructure expansion such as road building and urbanization.
Deforestation is also caused by livestock grazing .
3
Effects of deforestation on the environment
The loss of trees and other vegetation can cause climate change,
desertification, soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere, and a host of problems for indigenous people.
Deforestation can have many negative effects on the environment:
Flooding
Deforestation reduces the soils ability to absorb water.
Soil erosion
Soil erosion can deprive humans of the benefits of forests(oxygen release
and carbon dioxide uptake).
Loss of habitat
Loss of habitat of animals and plants can contribute to species extinction .
4
Climate change
Deforestation is a big contributor to climate change, because it releases
large amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Solutions to deforestation
By consuming less, avoiding single-use packaging, eating sustainable food,
and choosing recycled or responsibly produced wood products.
Reforestation is the natural or intentional restocking of existing forests
and woodlands that have been depleted, usually through deforestation.
Forests have already removed nearly one third of human produced carbon
dioxide emissions from the atmosphere. Through sustainable forest
management, they could remove much more.
We can also:
Plant more trees
Engage in tree-planting initiatives in your community or through
global organizations
Go paperless
Support responsible companies
Buy certified wood products
Buy and use responsibly
Avoid palm oil
Educate others
5
Chocolate and biscuits are major contributors to deforestation
Aside from beef production, the palm oil industry is also responsible for a significant
amount of deforestation around the world. Palm oil is used in over two thirds of the food
products that we consume everyday, from vegetable oil to chocolate to biscuits, as well
as in other household products like soap and shampoo. To keep up with the demand,
forest land equivalent to 300 football fields is being cleared every hour to make room
for palm plantations, destroying important habitats of critically endangered species such
as the orangutan and Sumatran tiger.
Brazil and Indonesia account for almost half of tropical deforestation
And one-third of tropical deforestation happens in Brazil alone. That amounts to
approximately 1.7 million hectares each year. Both Brazil and Indonesia are home to
some of the world’s largest and biodiverse tropical forests in the world. As the
agricultural industry continues to practice land clearing for crop and livestock farming,
the threat to biodiversity only worsens. Studies say observed animal populations have
experienced an average 68% decline in population numbers. In Borneo, Indonesia, the
critically endangered orangutan lost nearly 80% of its population within the last 50
years.
References
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!
&&p=221a92f4be1291a5JmltdHM9MTcyNjAxMjgwMCZpZ3VpZD0xN2FiZGMzOC0xZThlLTYyYjQtMTY5MS1jY2U2MWE4
ZTZjNjcmaW5zaWQ9NTE5Ng&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=3&fclid=17abdc38-1e8e-62b4-1691-
cce61a8e6c67&psq=causes+of+deforestation+in+namibia&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhpbmtuYW1pYmlhLm9yZy5uYS
9pbWFnZXMvcHJvamVjdHMvZm9yZXN0L0RSRk5fRmFjdCUyMFNoZWV0X05vNF9FTkdfZmluYWwlMjBzY3JlZW4ucGRm&
ntb=1
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!
&&p=10a65d04fa7bcba0JmltdHM9MTcyNjAxMjgwMCZpZ3VpZD0xN2FiZGMzOC0xZThlLTYyYjQtMTY5MS1jY2U2MWE4Z
TZjNjcmaW5zaWQ9NTE5Mg&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=3&fclid=17abdc38-1e8e-62b4-1691-
cce61a8e6c67&psq=+deforestation+in+namibia&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ2xvYmFsZm9yZXN0d2F0Y2gub3JnL2Rhc2hi
b2FyZHMvY291bnRyeS9OQU0v&ntb=1
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!
&&p=b145b058755167ddJmltdHM9MTcyNjAxMjgwMCZpZ3VpZD0xN2FiZGMzOC0xZThlLTYyYjQtMTY5MS1jY2U2MWE4
ZTZjNjcmaW5zaWQ9NTIxNw&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=3&fclid=17abdc38-1e8e-62b4-1691-
cce61a8e6c67&psq=effects+of+deforestation+on+the+environment&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly9lYXJ0aC5vcmcvaG93LWRvZXM
tZGVmb3Jlc3RhdGlvbi1hZmZlY3QtdGhlLWVudmlyb25tZW50Lw&ntb=1
6
7
8
9
10
