How is Deforestation Affecting the Environment?

Deforestation is a major problem, as it impacts the environment, animals, plants, and climate change. We need to take action to prevent deforestation from wiping out many species and polluting the air with more greenhouse gas emissions.

Forests are important so important to the planet because they provide habitats for many animals, plants, and indigenous people that rely on them for food and shelter. Forests are very important in means of climate change because trees sequester carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Therefore when they are cut down, they release these gases back into the atmosphere, and as we continue to cut down trees the less they can store these gases, continuing to damage the ozone layer and allow for warmer temperatures (Holland). With the rising temperatures and dryness of the forests that have been impacted by deforestation of the forests can cause wildfires, which are damaging more trees (Holland). Forests also can prevent erosion and purify water (Holland)

An article by National Geographic about deforestation mentions, that 502,000 square miles of forests were lost between 1990 to 2016, which is a region larger than South Africa (Nunez). This article also mentions that eighty percent of land plants and land animals, call these forests home (Nunez). Deforestation affects the habitats where animals and plants live, and changes the canopy and the amount of sunlight which increases temperatures, affecting many species. 

 

(De Souza)

In the National Geographic article, there is a video called Climate 101: Deforestation says that forestry and agriculture account for 24% of greenhouse gas emissions. The major causes of deforestation include farming, logging, development, mining, and drilling. 

Farming in means of clearing space for agricultural development, like crops, and livestock, like cattle ranching affect the environment. Also, high demand for products like soybeans and palm oil cause many trees to be cut down, due to all of the crops needed to meet the demand (Holland).

Logging is a large factor of deforestation, as they cut down many trees in order for the demand for paper and wood supply. Deforestation even occurs when loggers are cutting down trees in order to make paths to get to the forests they are logging (Nunez).

As the planet continues to populate more areas are needed for development, and trees are cut down for the development of houses, and buildings (Nunez). Mining and drilling also impact deforestation due to their large infrastructure, like trucks, railways, power systems, alongside clearing away even more land for the mining and drilling (Holland).

It's really sad when you realize how important forests are the environment, and how every day we are losing more and more trees, disrupting many homes and as these trees continue to disappear climate change continues.

(Parry)

Although we can still help try and lower the amount of trees we cut down every year, by reducing consumption of products that contain products like soybeans and palm oil, reducing paper consumption, purchasing from companies that don’t contribute to deforestation, reforestation and forest protection (Holland).

Even reducing the consumption of paper and products will help. Reforestation and protecting these forests is important that we are protecting these trees and habitats, alongside that we are taking action to plant trees because we are losing so many. We should be planting trees especially in areas where habitats depend on them, and protecting them. We need to take action to help prevent deforestation and protect the species that depend on them everyday.

Works Cited:

De Souza, Carl. Deforestation is often a precursor to fires in the Amazon.
     New Scientist , www.newscientist.com/article/
     2214734-its-officially-now-the-worst-ever-august-for-amazon-deforestation/.
     Accessed 13 Dec. 2019.

Holland, Emily. "Deforestation—Causes, Effects, and Solutions." Futurism,
     vocal.media/futurism/deforestation-causes-effects-and-solutions. Accessed
     13 Dec. 2019.

Nunez, Christina. "Deforestation Explained." National Geographic, 7 Feb. 2019,
     www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation/.
     Accessed 13 Dec. 2019.

Parry, Luke. Selective logging in Brazil. Mongabay, news.mongabay.com/2014/05/
     logging-fires-take-a-hidden-toll-on-amazon-rainforest/. Accessed 13 Dec.
     2019.