Deforestation

Work done by:

Gonçalo Chaves nº10 11º2

Deforestation, is the permanent removal of trees to do something else in that location, is an

environmental problem that affects forests, primarily for agricultural expansion, logging,
urbanization, and infrastructure development. It is a critical environmental issue with far-
reaching consequences for biodiversity, climate change, and local communities. Much of
deforestation has human origins, now I´m going to cite some causes of deforestation:

Infrastructure Development: Building roads that were once almost inaccessible,

dams, and other infrastructure often fragments forests and opens up new areas for
development.

Agricultural Expansion: One of the primary drivers responsible for around 80% of
global deforestation is the conversion of forests into agricultural land. As the global population
grows, so does the demand for food, leading to the clearing of vast areas of forests. This
includes clearing land for crops, cattle pasture, and production of things like soy and palm oil,
which are used every day in a lot of products.

Mining: Mining operations, including surface mining and deforestation for mineral
extraction, by extractive industries (mining, oil and gas), result in the destruction of forests and
their associated ecosystems. These activities can have severe impacts on biodiversity, water
quality, and local communities.

Natural deforestation can occur, although it has less impact compared to deforestation
caused by human activities. Some examples of natural causes of deforestation are:

Natural Disturbances: Events such as wildfires, severe storms, hurricanes, and volcanic
eruptions can result in the falling of trees and the destruction of forests. Although these events
are natural processes, they can cause significant damage to forests on a local scale.

Climate Change: Changes in weather can bring extreme events, such as prolonged droughts,
that weaken forests and make them more vulnerable to fires. Increased global temperatures
can also change species habitats, causing migration or local extinction, which can result in
changes in the composition of forests.

Impacts
Deforestation has a series of adverse consequences that affect ecosystems, human health, the
economy and society in several ways:

Ecosystems:
-Deforestation can result in more carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. That is
because trees take in carbon dioxide from the air for photosynthesis, and carbon is locked
chemically in their wood. When trees are burned, this carbon returns to the atmosphere as
carbon dioxide. With fewer trees around to take in the carbon dioxide, this greenhouse gas
accumulates in the atmosphere.

- Biodiversity Loss: Forests are full of life, and deforestation destroys vital habitats. This
fragmentation and loss of homes cause species extinction. Estimates suggest that 10% of
known species disappearing each decade due to habitat loss.

Human Health:
- Respiratory Problems: Deforestation worsens air quality by reducing natural filtration and
increasing pollutants. This rise in air pollution translates to an increase in respiratory illnesses.
Economic:
-Impacts on Tourism: Many forests are popular tourist destinations due to their biodiversity
and scenic beauty. The destruction of forests can reduce the tourist appeal of these areas,
harming the local economy.

- Rising Costs: Deforestation can lead to increased costs for essentials like water, energy, and
other natural resources that become scarcer.
Social:
-Population Displacement: Deforestation can lead to the displacement of indigenous and
traditional communities that depend on the forest for their survival.

-Social Conflict: Competition for the reduction of forest resources can trigger social conflicts
between groups with different needs and interests.

The current efforts or initiatives aimed at addressing about the

deforestation
Several organizations are taking action to stop deforestation

-The FSC is an international non-profit organization that promotes responsible management of

the world's forests. They provide certification to forestry operations that meet rigorous
standards for environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

- Most conservation areas (parks called protected areas) are not well funded. As a result, they
are not well managed, which often leads to deforestation. Implement key strategies for the
lasting protection of biodiversity and the minimization of climate change – including
community engagement, sustainable financial mechanisms, policies and capacity building of
local and national organizations, ensure long-term conservation

Other measures that we can take in our daily lives are Plant indigenous trees, recycle, do not
smoke or light fires in the forests. We should prefer products where waste is minimal and
adopt more sustainable behaviors, correctly separating waste.

Solutions proposal
To effectively resolve deforestation, it is necessary to take certain measures, one of them is
greater rigidity for those who disregard the regulations proposed by the government in relation
to protected areas and ignore the risks indicated. Strengthen government institutions can
prevent illegal and unsustainable practices. One of the challenges is combat corruption and the
influence of powerful economic interests

Recognize and strengthen the land tenure rights of local and indigenous communities over the
forest areas on which they live and depend for survival. This would impact many people and
activate solidarity within the human being towards these people

Economic Incentives for Forest Conservation. The lack of economic incentives for forest
conservation often leads to its destruction. Payments for environmental services, development
of markets for forest products can create economic value for conservation. Reward landowners
who protect their forests and provide ecosystem services, would be a good approach to start.
One of the challenges would be de cost of payment to that persons who take care of their land,
but in the future that will bring very benefits, and if it results can attract the attention of
investors to this project.

Conclusion
Environmental problems, such as deforestation, have significant impacts on the health of
ecosystems, biodiversity, the global climate and people's quality of life. These problems often
bring future consequences that affect not only the environment, but also the economy, human
health and social well-being. By addressing environmental problems, we can protect essential
natural resources for future generations, ensure the protection of ecosystems, and promote
sustainable development that meets the needs of current and future generations. Individuals
play a crucial role in promoting sustainability through their daily choices and behaviors. This
includes decisions about consumption, lifestyle and the use of natural resources. Small
individual actions, such as reducing the consumption of animal products, recycling, saving
energy and opting for sustainable products, can have a significant impact when adopted on a
large scale.

Webgraphy
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/deforestation/
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/pt/policies/deforestation/
https://www.fao.org/portugal/noticias/detail/en/c/327831/
https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/forests_practice/
deforestation_fronts_/
https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation-and-forest-
degradation