The Devastating Effects Of Deforestation

Human beings have always been and possibly will be dependent on forests to some extent. Trees were there form of homes, their natural world, their mine for food and their shelter from opponents. Forests are greatly significant to man, and other living creatures as well; and unfortunately, it is one of the largest threats that the world is facing today.

Mainly, the problems we have are due to massive deforestation; and at the present moment, we are realistically experiencing the detrimental effects of deforestation and suffering from them at the same time.

Deforestation can be characterized by the great scale depletion of forests. Deforestation transpires when forests are transformed to barren lands and areas for industrialization, for source of human consumption, and other explanations without adequate restoration of the forests. It is rather the undying damage to the vast land areas on earth; and thus should be stopped and halted before the untoward effects become totally inevitable.

Effects Of Deforestation In The Environment

Forests are one of the most organically distinct areas of the world. Millions of plant and animal species inhabit the forests and may or may not have been classified yet. The unique surroundings of these untouched beauties permit the existence of what we call, biodiversity.

Simply, if the forests are to be destroyed wholly, all forms of biodiversities in it will be swept away. There is no probability of getting them back and having to reconstruct again a forest that is as perfect as the ones we have right now. Furthermore, if these places are completely shattered, the prospect to explore other probabilities would be lost forever.

The effects of deforestation on the coming genre ahead can be absolutely inestimable. Thus, the preservation and the protection against extinction of many species can leave the world with many opportunities open for the forthcoming people ahead. Areas such as medicine and other essential inventions can be gaping for future possibilities for the further advancement of humanity.

Effects Of Deforestation In The Society

Much of the effects of deforestation weigh on the indigenous people bracket; this is because they form the largest inhabitants of the forests plus they earn a living from there too. All other groups affected such as hunters and agriculturists have been greatly tormented by the influx of colossal devastation of the forests. All forms of reproductions which people benefit form these land areas have been stopped; and thus, the whole world also suffered from its inescapable effects.

Indigenous people will become homeless if their form of habitation is taken away from them. The natives of every country would be fleeing to live somewhere else, thus bringing another set of problem for the world to absorb. Since they would assumingly transfer to rural and urban areas, their chances of living are narrowed because unlike city inhabitants, these people know less of the busy and buzzing world.

Overall, the terrible effects of deforestation cannot be compensated by the plans of further world development. No matter what great importance industrialization may bring, we must also consider that nature serves us in far better ways than buildings and other facilities you can see in urbanized areas.

Nature knows how to get back at us, and we can inevitably wait for more disastrous effects if humans to do not stop destroying it.

Deforestation A Human Creation

The world paints a grim picture of barren lands and forests. Sadly, it is the work of human hands that deforestation and other earth destroying actions are rising in pace; and the only one who can halt all these activities are the humans themselves. How and when to stop will be two of the questions that will need urgent answers. If such acts will not be controlled, the earth could turn out to be a wasted land in no time.

Perhaps the ones who dare cut tress and kill all else that inhabit them can be named as the evils of our world. After all, no humane creature can ever do such an obliterating act when he knows in his thoughts that it is practically biological killing. Also, a sane mind wouldn't think of harming anyone or anything. Only a monster can do insignificant slaughter for the profit of oneself. You wouldn't want to be named that monster, do you?

Deforestation For Profit

Everyday we see pictures over the internet and the television depicting the wipe-out of forest lands. Did we ever get to question ourselves why such things happen and who are responsible for these acts? Perhaps it is not because we care less about what's happening; it's more of being weak to even stop something this big from happening. But, remember, huge things become possible even if they started small.

Deforestation is one means of earning a living. Yes, this is a sad reality. Since the forest is home to many trees and other significant resources, people have found it to be an avenue to make money. For example, some of the furniture that we use at home have probably been crafted from the forests. How does this happen?

Established furniture companies have been manufacturing their wooden items, surprisingly via legal means, from forests. As to how they get these permits, we do not know. But, one thing’s for sure, they've taken a big cut on probably the biggest forests on the earth and right under our noses!

The other unfortunate thing is that some of the people who should be the key caretakers of the earth allow them to happen. Given our position, it is frustrating to be in a stand where you can do nothing but sit down and wait for graver things to happen. All is not lost, however.

People must remember than even in small ways they can put a halt to the continuing destruction of the earth. If everyone unites to support the green movement, we might just stop these monsters from profiting from our forests. Remember, it is not only unto them that the earth has been entrusted, but to all others, as well.

Reversing Deforestation

Probably, stopping deforestation or reversing an already damaged land is one of the hardest things to do. In reality, one has to be powerful enough to get in control of the situation. However, if we render an ample amount of support to the movements that fight against deforestation and believe in the restoration of the earth, we can go hand in hand with nature.

Try picturing this out: if each individual would contribute even a small effort, there would be bigger possibilities that the earth will be saved. No matter how small your labors may be, they would surely mean a lot in the restoration of our disturbed natural resources.

The Positive and Negatives of Deforestation

Earth and the lives of everything that depends on it - from the smallest bacteria to the largest sea creatures - rest on a delicate matter and that is balance. A single, seemingly harmless disturbance in this balance has consequences that are both beneficial and disadvantageous. One of these is deforestation.

Deforestation has always been a practice of many developing communities and has contributed greatly to civilization as we know it today. Unfortunately, much of the ill effects of deforestation is caused by greed, bad agricultural practices and government neglect.

Why forests are important -

Other than for their beauty, forests are highly responsible in keeping and sustaining global ecosystems. In fact, much of the quality of life we enjoy, we owe to the forests. It is also the home of more than half of all creatures and organisms in this planet. From food to life-saving medicines, forests give mankind a variety of gifts that contribute much to our quality of life.

The positive consequences of deforestation -

Depending on the needs of the social group concerned, deforestation has made it possible for communities to be built. Forests make way for residential houses, office buildings and factories. Governments are able to build roads to make trade and transport easier and therefore more convenient to residents.

Deforestation can also mean the conversion of forest land to productive land for agricultural uses. This results in better and more abundant production of food and materials, virtually eradicating periods of want and lack. Economically, deforestation has contributed much in giving many communities the opportunity to make positive changes in their lives.

The negative consequences of deforestation -

Unfortunately, the negative consequences of deforestation far outweigh its positive effects. Here are a few of them:

1. Exposing soil to heat and rain. When forests are cleared, soil cover, which consists mainly of vegetation, is removed as well. This exposes the bare soil to extreme conditions produced by the sun's heat and rainwater.

With these activities alternating, the soil quickly compacts. As rainwater flows, it will wash out the nutrients and other organic materials that make the soil rich and fertile. Add to that the frequent activities of tilling, cropping and grazing which gradually results to the degradation of the soil's quality.

These practices are specially a concern in areas where forest zones are drier. Agriculture practice on top of deforestation can result to the desertification of many areas. Desertification is also a direct result of the demand for the soil to produce more (as a consequence of the increase in human population), thereby decreasing to a significant degree the land's carrying capacity.

2. Flooding. Deforestation can result to watersheds that are no longer able to sustain and regulate water flows from rivers and streams. Trees are highly effective in absorbing water quantities, keeping the amount of water in watersheds to a manageable level. The forest also serves as a cover against erosion. Once they are gone, too much water can result to downstream flooding, many of which have caused disasters in many parts of the world.

As fertile topsoil is eroded and flooded into the lower regions, many coastal fisheries and coral reefs suffer from the sedimentation brought by the flooding. This results to negative effects in the economic viability of many businesses and fatalities in wildlife population.

3. Non-suitability of deforested areas for conversion. Most of the areas that have undergone deforestation are actually unsuitable for long-term agricultural use such as ranching and farming. Once deprived of their forest cover, the lands rapidly degrade in quality, losing their fertility and arability.

The soil in many deforested areas is also unsuitable for supporting annual crops. Much of the grassy areas are also not as productive compared to more arable soils and are therefore not fit for long-term cattle grazing.

4. The displacement of indigenous communities and their traditional way of life. When governments decide to offer forests for deforestation mainly to open up areas for 'civilized' communities, access to forest resources by indigenous peoples are ignored. In fact, indigenous peoples are hardly included in economic and political decisions that directly affect their lives. This encroachment ignores their rights as much as it takes away the resources that their ancestors have bestowed upon them.

5. The loss in the number of biodiversity. This is probably the most serious consequence of deforestation. Put simply, it means the destruction and extinction of many plant and animal species, many of whom remain unknown and whose benefits will be left undiscovered.

Each year, as deforestation continues, much of the wilderness from which we benefit and would have continued to benefit from will be lost forever. With it are the millions of chances in the form of plants and wildlife that could bring us many economic and medical solutions to pressing problems we currently face.

While it's true deforestation has brought with it opportunities to improve our lives, we have not mastered the right kind of responsibility that goes with having control over our planet's resources. As a result, we and all the other creatures on this planet suffer greatly from the consequences of our actions.

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The Effects of Deforestation

Deforestation is the process of converting forested lands into non-forest sites that are ideal for crop raising, urbanization and industrialization. Because deforestation is a serious concept, there are also serious effects to the surroundings.

Effects of deforestation can be classified and grouped into effects to biodiversity, environment and social settings. Because deforestation basically involves killing trees in forests, there are so many effects that can be enumerated as results of the activity.

When forests are killed, nature basically requires people to renew the forest. Reforestation is one concept that is in the opposite direction as deforestation, but is proven to be a much harder effort than deforestation.

So the rate of deforestation has not been offset by the rate of reforestation. Thus, the world is now in a troubled state when it comes to issues concerning the environment.

Pollution is rapidly growing along with population. Forests are greatly helping reduce the amount of pollutants in the air. So, the depletion of these groups of trees is greatly increasing the risk that carbon monoxide would reach the atmosphere and result in the depletion of the ozone layer, which in turn results to global warming.

Environment change

One major effect of deforestation is climate change. Changes to the surroundings done by deforestation work in many ways. One, there is abrupt change in temperatures in the nearby areas. Forests naturally cool down because they help retain moisture in the air.

Second is the long process of global climate change. As mentioned above, deforestation has been found to contribute to global warming or that process when climates around the world become warmer as more harmful rays of the sun comes in through the atmosphere.

The ozone layer is a mass of oxygen or O3 atoms that serves as shield in the atmosphere against the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. Because ozone is made up of oxygen atoms, oxygen react with carbon monoxide. Such reaction would use up oxygen atoms.

It follows that when there are more carbon monoxide atoms going to the atmosphere, the volume of oxygen would decline. Such is the case of ozone depletion.

The third effect to the environment would be on the water table underneath the ground. Water table is the common source of natural drinking water by people living around forests.

Water table is replenishing. That means, the supply of water underground could also dry up if not replenished regularly. When there is rain, forests hold much of the rainfall to the soil through their roots.

Thus, water sinks in deeper to the ground, and eventually replenishing the supply of water in the water table. Now, imagine what happens when there is not enough forests anymore. Water from rain would simply flow through the soil surface and not be retained by the soil.

Or other than that, the water from rain would not stay in the soil longer, for the process of evaporation would immediately set in. Thus, the water table is not replenished, leading to drying up of wells.

Effect to biodiversity

Forests are natural habitats to many types of animals and organisms. That is why, when there is deforestation, many animals are left without shelters. Those that manage to go through the flat lands and residential sites are then killed by people.

Through the years, it is estimated that there are millions of plant and extinct animal species that have been wiped out because they have been deprived of home. Thus, biodiversity is significantly lowered because of the savage deforestation practices of some people.

Wildlife advocates have been constantly reminding that several wild animals left in the world could still be saved if deforested forests would only be reforested and the practice of slash and burn of forests would be totally abandoned.

Social effects of deforestation

Deforestation is hardly hitting the living conditions of indigenous people who consider forests as their primary habitats. Imagine how they are rendered homeless when forests are depleted. These natives would be forced to live elsewhere, and are usually left to becoming mendicants in rural and urban areas.

Overall, effects of deforestation cannot be offset by the contribution of the practice to development. While it is logical that progress is very much needed by mankind, it must also be noted that nature knows no defeat. Destruct it and it would certainly retaliate, one way or another.

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Some Of The Facts About Deforestation

Deforestation is a permanent destruction of forests and woods. Deforestation is the conversion of forested area to the non forest land for the use of industrial gain, livestock, and urban use. In the ancient times, most of the land was covered with forests. As the population and other demands damage the earth and it leaded to deforestation.

In all over the world the rate of the destruction of forests is unimaginable. Nearly half of the mature tropical land is destroyed. As the humans are more conscious for searching of new accommodation, and making urban areas, they have become the largest cause of deforestation.

Examples of Deforestation:

Many tropical countries are the victims of deforestation. For example:
• Philippine
• Central America
• Nigeria
• Ethiopia
• Brazil

Other than the beauty, forests are responsible in keeping the world healthy and green. If we are enjoying the quality of life, it's just because of forests. Forests are the gifts that contribute to our quality of life. Deforestation has always been a practice, which is dangerous for lives. Unfortunately all of the negative effects of deforestation are caused by bad agricultural practices, and negligence on the part of government.

Causes of Deforestation:

Deforestation is happening due to many reasons. Some are the common reasons are:
• Urban and Construction purpose
• Population growth
• To grow crops
• Agricultural practices
• To create cattle grazing lands
• Climate change
• Cut the woods for using fuel
• Clearing forests for mining and oil exploitation
• Making roads and highways
• Slash and burn forming techniques
• Wildfire
• Acid rain
• Greenhouse effect
• Making products from woods

Consequences of Deforestation:

There are two types of consequences of deforestation:
• Positive Consequences
• Negative Consequences

Positive Consequences:

Deforestation has made possible the needs of the social groups. Forests are the way for residential houses, building and factories. Roads are building for trading and easier transports. Deforestation also made possible to produce agricultural products. The lands are used for agriculture. This brought more productions of foods and other materials. Economically deforestation contributed much and made positive changes in the lives of humans.

Negative Consequences:

The negative consequences are:
• Exposing of soil
• Flooding
• Drought
• Disruption of water cycle
• Loss of biodiversity
• Climate change
• Desertification
• Shrinking beauty
• Increased population
• Irreversible environmental changes

How to prevent deforestation:

Deforestation should be controlled. There are some suggestions which should be considered.
• Reforestation/Plantation
• Wildlife sanctuaries: not only save the wild animals, but also save the woods and trees.
• Commercial forest plantation
• Water management: improper water management causes the deforestation. This should be controlled.
• Use recycled items
• Farming practices
• Become an advocate: learn how the person can spread the word.
• Support conservative organization: support the organization through donation, money, time etc.

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8 Ways To Preventing Deforestation

There have been so many discussions on the effects of deforestation in our environment. These effects range from alarming to catastrophic. We have read newspaper headlines that show the wreckage that natural disasters have done. Flashfloods have not only damaged millions of properties all over the globe but it has also collected lives. Landslides have done the same. These two are the results of nature's balance that has been disturbed--they are the effects of deforestation.

Deforestation is the act of converting patches of forests to become areas of residence or industry. More and more businessmen are pushing through forests to obtain more land. Environment is sacrificed in exchange for profit. And this is a highly disturbing fact.

As an individual or as a part of the global community, you can do something to help prevent deforestation. Maybe you can't fight off illegal loggers with your bear hands but with some basic ways, you can make a difference--no matter how small. Here's a list:

1. If deforestation is a negative event, then a positive event should take place to counter its effects--reforestation. Plant trees and begin doing this in your yard. Trees give off oxygen that is essential for human existence and they, in turn, capture the carbon dioxide that humans and animals exhale. Trees also help in containing water in its roots. With this simple act, you are able to prevent soil erosion, which is the root cause of landslides!

2. Use recycled items such as books or pad paper, toilet paper, even shopping bags. If you can, do not waste any of these products so that no new raw material would be required to replace them.

3. If you are a farmer (or if you know someone who works as a farmer), try to rotate your crops. Instead of using a different portion of land each year, why not use the same portion with different crops? This practice also helps in maintaining the fertility of the soil. With the rotation of crops, not only is there a variety on the harvest each year, there is also the possibility of keeping that portion of land for as long as you can.

4. Cut down only the mature trees. Do not kill baby trees. And for every tree that is lost, plant another one as a replacement.

5. Join environmental awareness groups that would help you be an advocate of reforestation. In Washington, specifically in the Washington Middle School, there was a group of students that established a service-learning project. In their project, they asked a penny from each person. They explained that this money would help in buying acres of the rainforest in Amazon. Once this pushes through, no deforestation could take place in that purchased area.

6. There is a report that in Indonesia and Malaysia, more and more trees are cut down to produce palm oil. This massive destruction in the forests of both countries resulted into the loss of habitat for the native orangutans. With the loss of more trees, more animals become homeless. You can't help prevent this altogether but you can limit your consumption of products that contain palm oil such as breads, chocolates, and even some cosmetics such as shampoo, soap or toothpaste. As to your food consumption, you can begin a diet of roasted or boiled foods instead of frying them.

7. Instead of using firewood, use coals to heat up your fireplaces during the winter season. Remember that it takes only a few hours to consume the firewood but it would take years to grow a single tree. Think twice before purchasing firewood again.

8. Support the laws or programs that were made to protect the forests and to stop any form of deforestation. Programs such as the Tropical Forestry Action Plan have done a major difference on the way deforestation is looked at today. This program spearheaded the discussion of tropical deforestation.

It is imperative to know that there is no such thing as a small, insignificant act when it comes to defeating deforestation. No matter how small your deed maybe, the important thing there is 'every act can make a difference'. Deforestation can be prevented and you can be an active force in achieving that.

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Can Chocolate Lovers and Coffee Drinkers Effect Deforestation

I hear arguments about Chocolate lovers and Coffee Drinkers needing to stop deforestation because it is the forests, more specifically the rainforests that produce the chocolate we eat and the Coffee that people drink. My question is, it seems that the Chocolate making companies and the Coffee Companies would have more to lose. Why don't they buy up big plantations and help save the rainforests? If the rainforests are gone, yes we lose our Chocolate and coffee and possible cancer fighting drugs but they will lose the entire company. So, it seems we all need to do something. I just think that the companies have bigger pockets and more weight to throw around than us little guys. Agree?

Causes of Deforestation

Deforestation is a problem that could lead to disastrous consequences for mankind as a whole. Rapid urbanization is one of the primary causes of deforestation. As cities and towns expand, forests in their surrounding vicinity are being mercilessly cut down in order to make way for suburban townships. The forest cover in many areas is also decreasing since the land is being occupied for farming purposes in many countries. Increased global consumption is another one of the major reasons behind the decreasing forest cover. From paper to wooden furniture, one can imagine an entire host of products that owe their creation to trees and plants.

The Rapid Depletion of the World's Mangrove Forests

Mangroves can be described as 'rainforests by the sea'. Large stretches of the sub-tropical and tropical coastlines of Asia, Africa, Oceania, the Americas and the Caribbean are fringed by mangroves, once estimated to cover an area of over 32 million hectares. Now, less than 15 million hectares remain -less than half the original area. The depletion of the world's mangroves is due to excessive shrimp farms, tourist complexes and intense land development. According to the latest study by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the current rate of mangrove loss is around 1% per annum-or around 150,000 ha of new mangrove area loss per year. Now, the Mangrove Action Project (MAP) is working with other organizations in the global South towards restoring degraded and cleared mangrove areas as a high priority. MAP is especially interested in restoring some of the 250,000 ha of abandoned shrimp farms located in former coastal wetland areas, especially in Asia and Latin America. But, even more importantly, MAP is working to help conserve and protect existing mangrove wetlands around the world.

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