ADNSU
Fənn: İngilis dili
Müəllim: Fərəcova Aysel
Tələbə: Rəsulov Rahim
Mövzu: The causes and effects of
deforestation on climate change
Introduction to
Deforestation and
Climate Change
Deforestation, the permanent destruction of forests, is a major driver of
climate change. As forests are cleared, the delicate balance of Earth's
carbon cycle is disrupted, leading to a rise in greenhouse gas emissions
and global temperatures. Understanding the intricate relationship
between deforestation and its profound impacts on our climate is crucial.
Defining Deforestation: What Is It and
Why Does It Happen?
Deforestation refers to the permanent clearing of forested areas, often to make way for agricultural
land, urban development, or resource extraction. This practice has accelerated alarmingly in recent
decades, driven by factors such as population growth, commercial logging, and the expansion of
industrial agriculture, particularly for commodities like palm oil, soy, and beef.
Deforestation has devastating consequences, destroying biodiversity, disrupting local ecosystems, and
releasing vast amounts of stored carbon into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change.
Understanding the complex drivers and far-reaching impacts of deforestation is crucial for developing
effective strategies to protect and restore the world's remaining forests.
The Role of Forests in
Regulating the Climate
Forests play a vital role in regulating the Earth's climate. As the lungs of the
planet, they absorb and store vast amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas
that drives global warming. The extensive root systems and vegetation of forests
also help to stabilise soil, regulate water cycles, and moderate local temperatures.
The Carbon Cycle and the Impact of
Deforestation
1 Carbon Absorption
Healthy forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing vast amounts of carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
2 Carbon Release
When forests are cleared or burned, the stored carbon is released back into the air,
contributing significantly to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
3 Disrupted Balance
Deforestation upsets the natural carbon cycle, leading to an imbalance and a net
increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
Deforestation and Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
Carbon Methane Reduced Amplifying
Dioxide Emissions Carbon Effects
Release Absorption
Deforestation also The combined
When forests are contributes to the The loss of forests impact of increased
cleared or burned, release of methane, means a reduction greenhouse gas
the stored carbon is another powerful in the planet's emissions and
released into the greenhouse gas, as natural carbon reduced carbon
atmosphere as decaying organic sinks, diminishing sequestration
carbon dioxide, a matter in the soil the Earth's ability creates a feedback
potent greenhouse emits this potent to absorb and store loop, further
gas that traps heat compound. excess carbon exacerbating
and drives global dioxide from the climate change and
warming. atmosphere. its devastating
consequences.
Deforestation and Biodiversity
Loss
Deforestation devastates the delicate balance of ecosystems, leading to the loss of
countless plant and animal species. As forests are cleared, irreplaceable habitats
are destroyed, driving many species to the brink of extinction and irrevocably
disrupting the intricate web of life.
Deforestation and Changes in
Precipitation Patterns
Deforestation disrupts the delicate balance of
the water cycle, leading to significant changes
in precipitation patterns. The loss of forests'
ability to regulate moisture and release water
vapour into the atmosphere can result in
droughts, erratic rainfall, and altered weather
systems in affected regions.
Reduced evapotranspiration from deforested
areas leads to less moisture being pumped into
the atmosphere, leading to a decline in cloud
cover and a reduction in rainfall. This can have
a devastating impact on local communities,
agriculture, and ecosystems that rely on
predictable precipitation patterns.
Deforestation and Soil Degradation
Soil Erosion Soil Compaction Nutrient Desertification
Depletion
The clearing of In severe cases,
forests exposes soil Heavy machinery The loss of forest deforestation can
to wind and water used in deforestation cover eliminates the contribute to the
erosion, leading to activities can natural nutrient process of
the loss of nutrient- compact the soil, cycling process, desertification,
rich topsoil and reducing its ability to leading to a gradual transforming once-
turning once-fertile absorb water and depletion of the lush, biodiverse
land into barren, nutrients, further soil's fertility and areas into dry,
unproductive degrading the land's making it inhospitable
ground. productivity. increasingly difficult landscapes unable to
to sustain support diverse plant
agricultural and animal life.
The Economic and Social Impacts of
Deforestation
Livelihood Disruption Resource Scarcity
Deforestation destroys the livelihoods of The loss of forests reduces the availability
indigenous communities and small-scale of natural resources like timber, medicine,
farmers who rely on forests for food, and clean water, impacting local economies
shelter, and income. This forces them to and communities that depend on these
migrate and disrupts their traditional way of resources.
life.
Increased Poverty Health Consequences
Deforestation disproportionately affects the Deforestation can increase the risk of
world's poorest regions, trapping vulnerable zoonotic disease outbreaks by disrupting
communities in a cycle of environmental natural habitats and bringing humans into
degradation and economic hardship. closer contact with wildlife, with
devastating public health implications.
Strategies for Reducing Deforestation
and Mitigating Climate Change
1 Sustainable Forest Management 2 Transition to Sustainable
Agriculture
Implement responsible forestry Promote agroforestry, precision farming,
practices, including selective logging, and regenerative agriculture to reduce
replanting, and protecting primary the need for expanding agricultural land
forests to maintain their vital role in at the expense of forests.
regulating the climate.
3 Strengthen Legal Protections 4 Empower Local Communities
Enact and enforce strict laws and Support indigenous and local
regulations to curtail illegal logging, communities in managing and
mining, and conversion of forest land protecting their ancestral forests,
for unsustainable development. recognising their traditional land rights
and stewardship role.
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