Deforestation
Deforestation is defined as the conversion of forest to other land uses (regardless of
whether it is human-induced). Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land
to farms, ranches, or urban use. About 31% of Earth's land surface is covered by
forests at present.
Causes:
Agriculture:
The overwhelming direct cause of deforestation is agriculture. More than 80% of
deforestation was attributed to agriculture in 2018. Forests are being converted to
plantations for coffee, tea, palm oil, rice, rubber, and various other popular
products. The rising demand for certain products and global trade arrangements
causes forest conversions, which ultimately leads to soil erosion. The top soil
oftentimes erodes after forests are cleared which leads to sediment increase in
rivers and streams.
Another prevalent method of agricultural deforestation is slash-and-burn
agriculture, which was primarily used by subsistence farmers in tropical regions
but has now become increasingly less sustainable. The method does not leave land
for continuous agricultural production but instead cuts and burns small plots of
forest land which are then converted into agricultural zones. The farmers then
exploit the nutrients in the ashes of the burned plants. As well as, intentionally set
fires can possibly lead to devastating measures when unintentionally spreading fire
to more land, which can result in the destruction of the protective canopy. The
repeated cycle of low yields and shortened fallow periods eventually results in less
vegetation being able to grow on once burned lands and a decrease in average soil
biomass.
Wood Industry:
A large contributing factor to deforestation is the lumber industry. A total of
almost 4 million hectares (9.9 million acres) of timber, or about 1.3% of all forest
land, is harvested each year. In addition, the increasing demand for low-cost timber
products only supports the lumber company to continue logging. Experts do not
agree on whether industrial logging is an important contributor to global
deforestation. Some argue that poor people are more likely to clear forest because
they have no alternatives, others that the poor lack the ability to pay for the
materials and labour needed to clear forest.
Economic Development:
The degradation of forest ecosystems has also been traced to economic incentives
that make forest conversion appear more profitable than forest conservation. Many
important forest functions have no markets, and hence, no economic value that is
readily apparent to the forests' owners or the communities that rely on forests for
their well-being. As the human population grows, new homes, communities, and
expansions of cities will occur, leading to an increase in roads to connect these
communities. Rural roads promote economic development but also facilitate
deforestation. About 90% of the deforestation has occurred within 100 km of roads
in most parts of the Amazon.
Mining:
The importance of mining as a cause of deforestation increased quickly in the
beginning the 21st century, among other because of increased demand for
minerals. The direct impact of mining is relatively small, but the indirect impacts
are much more significant. Mining is a particular threat to biodiversity: "in 2019,
79 percent of global metal ore extraction originated from five of the six most
species-rich biomes".
Impacts:
On atmosphere and climate:
Deforestation is a major contributor to climate change. It is often cited as one of
the major causes of the enhanced greenhouse effect. The incineration and burning
of forest plants to clear land releases large amounts of CO2, which contributes to
global warming. Deforestation affects climate change by releasing greenhouse
gases that trap heat and warm the Earth. Trees are major carbon sinks, meaning
they naturally absorb more carbon than they release. On average, forests absorb
more than twice the carbon they emit. When trees are cut down or burned, they
stop absorbing carbon, and the carbon stored in their wood is released into the
atmosphere. Deforestation of tropical rainforests is a major source of these
emissions. Because of their high-growth rate, tropical rainforests have a high
capacity for storing carbon – more than any other forest type.
Biodiversity Loss:
One of the most direct impacts of deforestation is on the 80% of land-based plant
and animal species that rely on forests for food, shelter, and safety. When forests
are cleared for things like farming or construction, wildlife lose their homes and
often have nowhere else to go. This can lead to species disappearing, as they
struggle to survive without their natural habitat. Species loss weakens ecosystem
services, which are the natural benefits ecosystems provide, like clean air, water,
soil health, and food. Each species plays a role in keeping ecosystems balanced and
functioning.
For example, many plants, including crops, rely on insects and animals for
pollination. When pollinators like bees and butterflies decline, fewer plants get
pollinated, which reduces crop yields and plant diversity, impacting food supply
and nutrition. When species go extinct, it disrupts predator-prey relationships and
can lead to imbalances, causing some populations to explode and others to crash.
This affects overall ecosystem health and stability.
Soil Erosion and Degradation:
Deforestation causes soil degradation and erosion because trees and plants anchor
the soil with their roots. When these plants are removed, the soil becomes loose
and unprotected. Rain can then wash it away, or wind can blow it away, leading to
erosion. In heavy rain, this loose soil can slide down hills, causing landslides.
Erosion also removes soil that would normally absorb rainwater, so more water
flows over the surface, increasing the risk of floods. Together, this makes the land
more vulnerable to these dangerous events. Soil erosion and degradation removes
the top, nutrient-rich layer of soil, making it harder for plants to grow and reducing
the land’s productivity. Over time, this loss of soil makes the land less fertile. This
means farmers get lower yields, and the soil becomes less productive over time,
making it harder to grow enough food and increasing the need for fertilizers to
restore lost nutrients.
Spread of diseases:
When forests are cleared, humans and animals are brought into closer contact,
which can lead to the spread of diseases that were once contained in the forest.
Deforestation removes the natural barriers that keep disease-carrying animals, like
mosquitoes or rodents, away from human populations. As animals lose their
habitat, they can more easily invade nearby areas, increasing the chances of
spreading zoonotic diseases (diseases that jump from animals to humans), like
Ebola, and COVID-19. In addition, deforestation alters the environment, which can
encourage the growth of pathogens or bacteria that thrive in disturbed areas, further
increasing health risks.
