One of the most profound ecological disasters of the modern age is the unchecked destruction of forests around the world. This destruction of forests is having significantly negative effects on the environment and ecological health of sensitive ecosystems ( Malhi et al., 2002) . D eforestation refers to the act of clearing large areas of forest for the sake of human activities such as agriculture and commercial developments. The main cause of deforestation is anthropogenic activities. More often than not, forests are cleared to provide land for agricultural activities such as the commercial farming of highly sought-after commodity foods such as soya beans, sugar cane, corn and other crops . It is also done to facilitate subsistence farming meant for immediate, local consumption. Ranching is also one of the key reasons why large swathes of forest are cleared. Forests are not only the lungs of the Earth but also play a crucial role in the regulation of global temperatures. Currently, large tracks of rainforests are under the threat of wanton destruction as a result of human activities. This negatively affects the environment as well as the climate ( Malhi et al., 2002) . The harmful effects of forest destruction are far-reaching and long-lasting. They affect the carbon cycle, the diversity of species an d even the water cycle. While d eforestation is caused by numerous factors, the most critical amongst them i s human activity. Human activities now pose the greatest threat to the environment and are the leading cause of climate change.
The Disruption of the Carbon Cycle
The importance and abundance of carbon on Earth cannot be overstated. It exists in different forms in the atmosphere (the air), biosphere (living and dead organisms), hydrosphere (oceans, rivers, lakes and other water bodies) and lithosphere (soil and rock formations). Carbon is stored in different forms in these four spheres for periods spanning from a few months to million s of years. The process of transferring carbon from one sphere to another is what is referred to as the carbon cycle. When trees are cut down, and the ground is burnt, the carbon that is stored in trees and the top layer of soil is released into the atmosphere. This is because cutting down trees and clearing forest land is often accompanied by burning. This has been identified in many environmental reports as one of the leading contributors of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere ( Malhi et al., 2002) . The cutting down of trees and their burning releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Once carbon is released, it tends to linger in the higher levels of the atmosphere. A layer is then formed that traps radiation from the sun, this leads to an increase in temperature and warming effect , This phenomenon is referred to as the greenhouse effect. When human beings clear forests, they release a lot of carbon dioxide and methane gas - often referred to as greenhouse gases - into the atmosphere. These gases are released when the tree mass and carbon trapped in the top layer of oil are converted into carbon dioxide through the process of combustion. It is also important to note that trees offer the best protection with regard to the absorption of gases . This because the trees s ynthesize carbon dioxide during the process of photosynthesis. When large trees are cut, they’re often replaced with smaller plants that are not as efficient at carbon dioxide storage . This creates a carbon deficit and gradually initiates the process of degradation. Deforestation alters carbonalte 's natural balance, contribute s to the warming of the atmosphere , and leads to the gradual warming of oceans ( Malhi et al., 2002) . This consequently results in a complex, interconnected web of events that contribute to climate change.
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The Disruption of the Water Cycle
Forests are crucial components of the water cycle. Trees in many cases have deep roots that help in water percolation. According to Marengo (2006 ) , the t ree roots aid in the gathering and accumulation of groundwater. The roots help trap water following precipitation events. Leaf litter, branches , and twigs also carpet forest floors and help reduce the effect of surface run-off by increasing the top-layer mass, thus making it difficult for water run-off to erode the soil. Leaf litt er and other biomass produced by trees also help improve the quality of topsoil . They also improve the soil’s ability to trap carbon by transferring the carbon that was trapped in leaves to the soil through the process of organic decay. The retention of water is crucial for soil health and the ecology of an ecosystem. Trees play a crucial role in the trapping and retention of moisture. Many rivers originate from underground springs and wells whose welfare is directly connected to the trees that help accumulate and maintain healthy groundwater levels. Forests help to regulate temperatures which facilitate s the maintenance of ideal temperature levels needed to reduce the rate of evaporation and protect such water sources as glaciers ( Marengo, 2006 ) . Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between the health of a forest and the health of river s , lake s or stream s in its immediate surrounding. When trees are cut, and the ground is cleared, the top layer of soil is immediately exposed and is vulnerable to large precipitation events that are currently occurring with increased frequency around the world. Many landscapes are also witnessing unprecedented levels of soil erosion and environmental degradation following the clearing of forests. This also implies that since the ground is left bare and exposed, evaporation takes place faster and the soil becomes drier. Over time, the groundwater levels begin to fall, and the severity of consequences increase downstream as the levels of river water start to fall. The complete elimination of forests alters the water cycle and affects it negatively. In the long run, the communities living in the affected areas have to cope with new levels of difficulty as water resources become strained and scarce. In this case, c ommunities become vulnerable to the effects of more extreme climate which negatively affects the quality of their lives.
The Reduction of Species Diversity
According to Lawrence & Vandecar (2015 ) , t ropical rainforests account for 80% of the total Earth’s biodiversity. These forests hold a huge portion of the world biological treasure. For instance, these forests house various undiscovered species that stand to benefit humankind in many unprecedented ways. The fields of medicine and pharmacy have benefited greatly through medical breakthroughs in the treatment of ailments using compounds that have been discovered in remote forests. The destruction of forests poses the greatest threat to the extinction of species ( Pimm & Raven , 2000). In this regard, scholars have s how n that over 130 species of plant s and insect s disappear from the face of the Earth every day. With insect and plant species forming the base of most food chains, the threat to larger terrestrial animals increases with each passing day. Deforestation creates a scenario where certain species might disappear before they are even discovered. The future of humankind is under threat due to man’s ha rmful activities. Despite this, some i ndividuals and organizations are taking the lead in the process of protecting various species. For example, c ertain species have been brought back from the brink of extinction through proactive conservation efforts that incorporate a vast number of stakeholders. While real progress has been made in the conservation arena , many species of plan ts and animal s are still under critical threat. If deforestation continues unabated around the world, many species will become extinct.
Conclusion
Human beings hold the key to reversing the fortunes of a degrading environment. If stakeholders around the world come together, effective legislation can be created to protect the environment. The enforcement of laws that help protect the environment should be prioritized. Many governments are yet to see the gravity of the situation , and the ramifications of not acting fast enough are already being felt. Educating the people on environmental preservation is key to securing the future health of ecosystems. It is often said that when human beings take care of nature, nature will take care of them in return . Thus, the buck of protecting nature by addressing the challenge of deforestation stops with humans.
References
Lawrence, D., & Vandecar, K. (2015). Effects of tropical deforestation on climate and agriculture. Nature Climate Change , 5 (1), 27.
Malhi, Y., Meir, P., & Brown, S. (2002). Forests, carbon and global climate. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences , 360 (1797), 1567-1591.
Marengo, J. A. (2006). On the hydrological cycle of the Amazon Basin: A historical review and current state-of-the-art. Revista Brasileira de Meteorologia , 21 (3), 1-19.
Pimm, S. L., & Raven, P. (2000). Biodiversity: Extinction by numbers. Nature , 403 (6772), 843.
