Adverse Impact of Deforestation on Environment

Deforestation

Deforestation is an impending catastrophe. With the present frequency of deforestation, in 100 years we will no longer be comparing the pros and cons of forest removal, because we will no longer have forests to remove. Without trees, humans will likely cease to exist. Starvation will set in within days of the devastation. Without trees our air will become unsustainable. (Nassem, 2011) Trees play a vital role in the carbon cycle. Without them, more carbon dioxide will be released into the air causing a decrease in oxygen. This leads to a rise in temperature.

Deforestation plays a key role in climate change. With no trees to prevent absurd amounts of carbon, the freely flowing carbon will increase the temperature. According to momtastic.com, “Slowing deforestation by 50 percent from current levels (by 2050) could save approximately 50 billion tons of carbon from being emitted into the atmosphere – or the equivalent of six years of cumulative global fossil fuel emissions.” That means just by reducing deforestation, we could lessen climate change. Researchers estimate nearly “15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are a result of deforestation.” (worldwildlife.org). With a decrease in forests we see an increase of greenhouse gases. We have an excess of greenhouse gasses trapping the sunlight, causing warmer temperatures. To put simply, deforestation equals faster global warming.

Not only do these gasses play a hand in global warming, they also cause an increase in extreme weather patterns and change normal weather patterns. In recent years, category 5 hurricanes are no longer shocking. Twenty years ago having three high category hurricanes in the same month was unheard of. Today we are experiencing more and more extreme weather than ever before and it’s only going to get worse if we do not fix it and fast. If you have managed to survive the polluted air, then the effect on the agriculture could be your next tribulation. The soil will transform into a toxic nightmare. Adding to the growing list of detrimental effects due to deforestation are droughts. Trees release their own water to the soil. Trees help to humidify our air; without them the air will lack moisture. (naseem, 2011)

Deforestation comes in many forms, not just clearcutting. Illegal logging is another issue causing more harm to our already endangered habitats. Laws are in place to protect how much timber is allowed to be cut and where. In a perfect world every one follows these laws and we do not see so much deforestation. We do not live in a fantasy. Illegal loggers venture on private properties and protected areas and take whatever they want. This is becoming more and more of a problem because we have less trees to work with.

Many species and plants cannot survive their entire habitat being wiped out. Over half the Earths animal and plant life live in these forest habitats. When we take out entire forests we are also taking out entire ecosystems. Entire species being taken out but no one cares because it’s not effecting them personally, yet. Not only do trees help to maintain our climate, they also balance our water cycle. Deforestation leads to changes in the way our rivers flow and precipitation. According to nature.com, soil erosion usually prevented by trees will cause soil to lose its “arability” making it unable to support plant, which means we can no longer grow any type of food.

Once the trees are gone, there is nothing to hold fertile soil in place, leaving it defenseless as it gets swept away into the currents of our rivers, that are now flooding. In 1998, the Yangtze River in China saw its worst flood since 1954. Not only did the heavy rainfall during El Niño cause the flood, but also deforestation. Trees help to control our ecosystem. Once removed there can be a “multitude of largely irreversible consequences.” (masleem,2018) Some of the consequences include droughts, landslide from soil erosion, and devastating fires. Not only do these fires change the make-up of the forest, they also serve as an invitation to unwanted, invasive species. In 1997 Indonesia was greatly affected by forest fires. According to Wikipedia, the cause of these fires were a technique called “slash and burn” used by Indonesian farmers to clear land for agriculture. They used this method because it was cheap and easy. This caused nearly $5 billion United States dollars in damages. These fires released an upwards of 3 gigatonnes of carbon into the atmosphere just in 1997 alone.

This excess deforestation boils down to human wants. Humans want to build new cities instead of rebuilding old ones. Humans want paper products and tree products. Humans do not care that they are completely eliminating species of animals and plants. We don’t care that we are destroying our ecosystem. We don’t care that we are destroying our future children’s home. Why? We don’t care because we want these things, we want paper so we will cut down a forest in order to get that paper, regardless of the negative outcomes. Humans as a species are selfish and this ongoing deforestation only proves that. At our current rate of deforestation, for every tree you cut, you are also signing your future grandchildren’s death certificate.