Deforestation Problem Causes Effects And Solutions
Introduction To Deforestation: Forests are one of our most important natural resources, and we have depended much on the forests along the path of our development. ... This process (known as deforestation) involves the cutting down, burning, and damaging of forests. ... ” If the current rate of deforestation continues than tropical forests may virtually disappear in 50 years. The destruction of these forests at the current rates has the potential to cause unknown effects on global climate change as well as eliminating the majority of plant and animal species on the planet. ... Today, tropical deforestation is widely recognized as one of the most serious environmental problems facing the world today, with serious long-term economic and social consequences. ... The major organizations that contribute to the deforestation are wood harvesters, cattle ranchers (in South America), forest farmers, as well as the government in the development of infrastructure (Sandler p. ... By in large, the most significant condition that underlies tropical deforestation and many of the worlds other problems related to achieving sustainable development is our growing population. Population is exceptionally important to consider with regard to deforestation because of their closely linked relationship. ... The environmental Kuznets curve suggests that negative environmental effects first increase, but eventually falls as the per capita income of a given country increases. ... Deforestation makes a notable contribution to the increasing CO2 in the atmosphere. ... Tropical deforestation is a major component of the carbon cycle and has profound implications for biological diversity. Deforestation increases atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and other trace gases. ... With levels of CO2 increasing exponentially due to deforestation levels are increasing at alarming rates. ... Deforestation is closely linked to changes in biological diversity. Great numbers of plant and animal species are destroyed due to the effects of deforestation within rainforests. ... These include things such as the presence of other non-forest animals, hunters, and a range of other biological and physical effects. ... This makes them extremely vulnerable to deforestation. ... This causes the remaining species to face extinction themselves due to the fact that they cannot adapt to the changing environment. ... “The primary adverse effect of tropical deforestation is massive extinction of species including, for the first time, large numbers of vascular plant species” (Prickett p. ... Like the growth in forest products, the growth in agricultural production and its consequent impact on deforestation has been more a response to the growing national markets than an attempt to satisfy the international demand. While international market pressures are important factors in understanding the causes of deforestation, their importance should never be overemphasized. The causes of deforestation, like the solutions for controlling it, are to be found within the borders of each of the countries affected. International trade offers some leverage to halt or reverse deforestation in some countries, but it is far from a panacea. Long Term Effects Of Deforestation: The events which occur after a forest is cut are very important in the regeneration of that forest. Different clearing techniques and land uses of the forest have diverse effects on the soil and surviving organisms that make up a regions which are subject to deforestation. ... As a result, this type of farming increases the rates of deforestation because when the fertility of the ground decreases, farmers clear new areas to plant. ... Yet another result of deforestation is the disruption of safe drinking water flows. ... “Sedimentation from degraded watersheds is also one of the principal causes of the decline of coastal coral reefs. ... The lasting effects of deforestation on soil can be immense. A long-term impact of deforestation on the soil resources can be severe.