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Environment

Deforestation, the clearing of forests for agriculture, urban development, and logging, poses significant environmental threats, including climate change, loss of biodiversity, and soil erosion. Forests are crucial for oxygen production, carbon dioxide absorption, and maintaining the water cycle, yet they currently cover only 31% of the Earth's land, a number that is declining. The logging industry exacerbates these issues by causing habitat loss and pollution, highlighting the need for more responsible practices to protect these vital ecosystems.

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3 views

Environment

Deforestation, the clearing of forests for agriculture, urban development, and logging, poses significant environmental threats, including climate change, loss of biodiversity, and soil erosion. Forests are crucial for oxygen production, carbon dioxide absorption, and maintaining the water cycle, yet they currently cover only 31% of the Earth's land, a number that is declining. The logging industry exacerbates these issues by causing habitat loss and pollution, highlighting the need for more responsible practices to protect these vital ecosystems.

Uploaded by

kofklens682
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ENVIRONMENT

Deforestation, also called forest clearance, is when people cut down or destroy large
areas of trees. This is usually done to use the land for something else, like growing crops,
raising animals, building houses, or making roads. In many cases, the land that was once
forest is turned into farms, cities, or factories.

Forests are very important because they:

 Produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide,


 Provide homes for many animals and plants,
 Protect the soil from erosion,
 And help keep the water cycle balanced.

Right now, forests cover about 31% of the Earth's land, but this number is going down
because of deforestation. It happens more often in tropical areas like the Amazon
rainforest. If too many forests are destroyed, it can lead to climate change, loss of
biodiversity, and other environmental problems.

THERE ARE 3 MAIN REASONS

Agricultur

Farmers often clear forests to grow crops like corn, soybeans, or


rice. They also cut down trees to create open land where animals
like cows and goats can graze. This helps them produce more food
and animal products, but it’s one of the biggest causes of
deforestation, especially in developing countries.

Natural disasters
Natural disasters like forest fires, droughts, floods, and
hurricanes can damage or destroy large areas of forest.
These events can happen naturally, but they are becoming
more frequent and severe due to climate change, causing
even more loss of forests around the world.

Natural disasters
Natural disasters like forest fires, droughts, floods, and hurricanes
can damage or destroy large areas of forest. These events can
happen naturally, but they are becoming more frequent and severe
due to climate change, causing even more loss of forests around
the world.
Environmental Impacts of Logging

From shipping crates to paper bags, the logging industry supplies the raw materials for an array of
products. However, this is not without untold harm to the environment. The damage includes habitat
loss, pollution, and climate change, with the effects spanning the globe from the rain forests of Central
Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America to the northern forests of Canada and Scandinavia. The
effects of logging extend beyond just the felling of a swath of trees. Nutrients, water. And shelter for
plants, animals, and microorganisms throughout the ecosystem are also lost; many life forms-both
terrestrial and aquatic-are becoming endangered as forests·vanish.
Trees protect the soil beneath them; thus, tree loss can affect soil integrity. For example, the rain forest
floor, home to myriad plant life as well as insects, worms, reptiles and amphibians, and small mammals,
relies on a dense canopy of branches and leaves to keep it healthy and intact. The canopy prevents
surface runoff by intercepting heavy rainfall so that water can drip down slowly onto the porous earth.
Tree roots also stabilize the soil and help prevent erosion. In return, a healthy soil encourages root
development and microbial activity, which contribute to tree growth and well-being. A major factor in
logging-related soil damage comes from road building, with trucks and other heavy equipment
compressing the spongy soil,creating furrows where water collects, and disrupting the underground
water flow. Eventually, the topsoil wears away, leaving behind an infertile layer of rocks and hard clay.
Logging can also damage aquatic habitats. Vegetation along rivers and stream banks helps maintain a
steady water flow by blocking the entry of soil and other residue, and tree shade inhibits the growth of
algae. Removing trees obliterates these benefits. When eroding soil flows into waterways, the organic
matter within it consumes more oxygen, which can lead to oxygen depletion in the water, killing fish and
other aquatic wildlife.
Trees provide a natural defense against air pollution. They remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
while they emit oxygen, and their leaves filter pollutants from the air. Cutting down trees keeps
pollutants airborne, where they can mix with water vapor and form acid rain. Water quality in nearby
streams and rivers also deteriorates as tree loss contributes to increased sedimentation.
In a healthy forest ecosystem, trees draw moisture from the soil and release it into the atmosphere
while they provide shade to lessen evaporation. Thus, deforestation impacts rainfall patterns, leading to
flooding as well as drought and forest fires. Deforestation is responsible for about one-fifth of carbon
dioxide emissions worldwide, making it a major contributor to climate change-in particular, global
warming. In the Amazon basin alone, deforestation is responsible for millions of tons of carbon dioxide
being released into the atmosphere annually. Some logging companies bum large tracts of forest just to
facilitate access to one area practice that discharges even more carbon dioxide.
Forests, especially the tropical rain forests, are a vital natural resource with extensive biodiversity and
irreplaceable wildlife habitats. More responsible logging practices would help ensure that they are
protected for future generations.

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