Deforestation entails the removal or elimination of forests and trees with the aim of converting land to other use. Deforestation continues to become a major concern due to the short-term and long-term implications associated with it. The biodiversity, climate, the atmosphere and general cultural and physical life are negatively affected by rampant deforestation. It has led to the reduction of indigenous forest cover on the planet surface to a paltry 21% (Pires & Costa, 2013). Currently, deforestation suffices as one of the major land use challenges. Additionally, the world clears 13million hectares of forest cover on an annual basis with the intent of converting it into arable land or establishing other commercial ventures.
Deforestation has a profound impact on the carbon-cycle. It disrupts the normal running of the carbon cycle. The trees are fundamental in the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Studies show that the trees also absorb pollutants thus ensuring that a clean environment prevails. With reduced forest cover, there is an influx of carbon dioxide and methane. These two gases bring about the greenhouse effect (Cattaneo, 2002). The influx creates a blanket in the atmosphere which traps heat. This heat is prevented from exiting earth, and therefore global warming occurs. The abnormal temperatures heat earth thus bringing about environmental degradation. Global warming continues to be a top agenda in the geopolitical platform with countries focussing on a joint strategy anchored on the need not only to reduce pollution but also pursue increment of forest cover as a viable solution.
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Forests transfer store great quantities of water. Trees and other vegetation extracts groundwater via absorption and transfers it to the atmosphere through the transpiration process. It is this water in the form of a vapour that is released into the atmosphere and condenses into rain. Deforestation, therefore, reduces the amount of water vapour that finds its way into the atmosphere. This brings about the rainfall diminution as there is less moisture in the air. Additionally, less cloud cover is observed with notably enhanced aridity (Cattaneo, 2002). As a result, temperatures increase extremely because of the reduced cloud cover and the reduced process of evapotranspiration which usually produces a cooling effect. Case in point is the Amazon where after deforestation there has been an over 40% surge in annual local temperatures.
Deforestation plays a key role in the noticeable decline in the global diversity of species. This is because forests play host to different species. According to studies despite the tropical forest cover being 6%, about 85 % of the world’s species are found there (Pires & Costa, 2013). In light of these facts, it is prudent to note that the world continues to lose 60 to 100 species on a daily basis. This has seen the increased extinction of species as they lack conducive environments that ensure their survival. In some cases, with deforestation, some animal species migrate or adapt while a majority succumb to extinction (Cattaneo, 2002).
In conclusion, deforestation continues to be a significant environmental issue which has pitted environmentalists against governments and corporates that do not understand the long-term implications of their actions. The implications of deforestation have become apparent with the influx of greenhouse gases due to the disruption of the carbon cycle. This has seen the earth temperatures rise precipitating the melting of snow cover in the northern hemisphere. The sea level over the years has risen. The disruption of the hydro (water) cycle has led to environmental balances with the earth occasioned by more aridity and desertification. The aridity affects biodiversity as well as cultural and physical aspects of humanity. Deforestation has also led to the extinction of many species which would have been central in the planet’s ecology.
References
Cattaneo, A. (2002). Rainforest or income growth in the Brazilian Amazon: The effects of institutional failures, missing markets, and technological change . Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute.
Pires, G. F., & Costa, M. H. (2013). Deforestation causes different subregional effects on the Amazon bioclimatic equilibrium. Geophysical Research Letters , 40 (14), 3618-3623. doi:10.1002/grl.50570
