Deforestation and its effect
- Sweta Limbachiya
- Feb 6, 2024
- 5 min read
Introduction
So when it comes to saving the environment, reforestation is considered the best way to restore our biodiversity. Reforestation or plantation will help you save and protect our ruptured environment through urbanization.
Here are facts and statistics about Deforestation and its effect
"By destroying the animals, the air, and the trees, we are destroying ourselves."
Fast forest facts
13 million hectares of forest are destroyed or converted for other uses.
Upto 28,000 species can go extinct in the next quarter.
By 2030, we might only have 10% of rainforest left.
10% of world forests are new protected areas.
Tropical rainforests store more than 210 gigatons of carbon and deforestation is a cause of 15% of carbon emission.
This is how Deforestation and its effect
Reason for cutting down of trees or deforestation:
Agriculture: So when it comes to agriculture, everyone knows that farmer needs more land for crops, and for cattle to gaze. So we need a lot of land for agriculture and for other agricultural purpose.
Logging: Using a tree for papers and for other purposes can help, in some ways, but can destroy the biodiversity,
Biofuel: The rising popularity of palm oil and its increased value is the main cause of deforestation in Malaysia and Indonesia. Palm oil is used in food and beauty products. Many countries are debating whether palm oil should be banned as biofuel. Soy, ethanol, and other biofuel plantations play a major part in the loss of our forest.
For fuel: Most cold countries use firewood and charcoal for heating and cooking their food.
Roads and highways: As urbanization increases, the construction of roadways and highways are there to connect intercity and between the other states, because of which there is a lot of tree destruction.
Mining: A lot of deforestation happens because as we see forested areas are rich in minerals and are vulnerable to mining stuff.
If you want to read about how to attain green life link is below
Effects of Deforestation on the Environment
Global warming
As we talk about global warming is one of the biggest environmental issues we are facing today. So there are greenhouse gases like CO2 that are usually, that released into the environment because of industrialization, urbanization, and other environmental factors are also responsible for the greenhouse effect.
So trees and other plants release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide present in the environment which helps to reduce or balance the CO2 present in the environment.
Directly or indirectly deforestation increases the greenhouse effect, which can be covered up by plantations.
Effect of global warming or greenhouse effects on the environment:
Hotter temperature
More severe storm
Increased drought
Warming, rising ocean
Loss of species
More health risk
Loss of habitat
Deforestation always leads to loss of habitat, as because of deforestation we have almost lost 70 plant species in the last 50 years. So all we know 70% of plant and animal species live in the forest, so cutting forests will make these species shelterless, and extinction of all species will be possible soon.
Flooding and erosion
Areas where deforestation is more, common are more prone to floods, as tree roots help to hold the soil down, as we cut the tree soil erosion happens.
Because of soil erosion, soil that is exposed to the sun gets dry out, and it contaminates the water as well, like streaming and drinking water.
Benefits of reforestation
Carbon sequestration
So when it comes to reforestation, right now our main goal is to save our planet by avoiding CO2 emission as much as possible, and planting is one of the best ways to absorb carbon dioxide as they absorb CO2 during photosynthesis.
Absorption of CO2 helps to avoid global warming in the long run. It's always advisable that people should volunteer for all projects where there is forestation.
Biodiversity conversation
We all know that 70% of species live in the forest, as we cut the plants and trees, will not only destroy their habitat but also lead to severe destruction of biodiversity.
It's better to avoid cutting the rainforest, that will not only help your biodiversity but we can easily reduce the bottleneck effect, in which the large immigration of certain species from one place to another place happens.
Soil protection and restoration
Reforestation helps in the restoration of the fertility of the soil and helps to avoid soil erosion. As all we know roots of the plants and trees help to hold the soil and increase water retention as well.
Water quality enhancement
The water table of any place can be easily predicted by seeing moisture in the soil. We can retain rainwater by planting trees and plants, as it will help to hold water and enhance the quality of water by avoiding soil erosion and increasing the water table of certain areas.
Climate regulation / Air quality index
So as we plant more trees it will help to reduce global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide. Not only does this plantation have a very important role in the water cycle as well, as transpiration also helps in it. Studies show that places where there is more tress are cooler and the air quality index is better there. As in the photosynthesis process, trees and plants release pure oxygen.
Disaster risk reduction
So because of deforestation, we can see drought and another natural disasters, if we plant trees, it will help to reduce the risk of floods, landslides all other natural climates. Like if there are more pine trees in the mountains the risk of landslides is less, if we plant more trees it will help to reduce the risk to the earth as well.
Economics benefits
So planting trees will not only help our ecology but also help our economy, it will help to create a job, particularly wood transformation activities, such as the treatment of transmission poles, wood-based panel production, and door and furniture production, which can stimulate economic growth in the region.
Social and cultural benefits
Other than this it has a cultural and social side as well, As planting will increase community engagement and volunteering. When residents come together to plant trees, it strengthens social ties and encourages active participation in neighborhood activities.
Recent projects
Hongera reforestation
Green zone reforestation projects
De-forest restoration projects
DRC, reforestation projects
Lake Aral Afforestation projects
Conclusion
In the entire post, we discussed and talked about how deforestation is destroying not only our environment but also leading to serious problems for mankind. In a further post, we discuss how we can plant more trees via different ways to get rid of problems like
soil erosion, earthquakes, and other natural calamities. And let me know in the comment section how you will do something in respect of growing more trees like have you joined any culture or volunteer programs.
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