It is widely acknowledged that deforestation is occurring at an alarming rate, and there are many effects of deforestation which call for this to be curbed. The effects of deforestation basically come under environmental and social headers and we have provided some general information on this below.
First of all, what are the reasons for deforestation? Some forests are cleared for agricultural reasons, i.e. in order to grow crops or graze animals. Others are cleared in order for the wood itself to be used, whilst some deforestation is due to urban growth. The effects of deforestation are, however, far reaching. Forests still account for about 30% of the land area of the Earth, but this is reducing rapidly. It is estimated that, if current rates of deforestation continue, rain forests will be gone in just 100 years! The effects of deforestation on this scale will, however, last much longer.
The environmental effects of deforestation include a reduction in biodiversity and the contribution to climate change. Forests are homes to thousands of species, both plant and animal, many of which are not found elsewhere and which would struggle to survive in other environments. Soil erosion and the disruption of the water cycle cause both local issues and problems for the wider world, and the immediate vicinity of cleared forests can see a rise in temperatures. This is due to the fact that forests retain moisture thus keeping temperatures at a lower level. The fact that forests also act as ‘carbon sinks’ soaking up tonnes of carbon dioxide, means that the effects of deforestation will genuinely be felt on a global scale, as this carbon dioxide will otherwise be released into the atmosphere.
Higher local temperatures and disruptions to the water cycle will cause real problems for inhabitants of the areas around forests, and forest inhabitants will also be left homeless if deforestation continues at such high rates.
One way in which we can all help is to buy only sustainably-sourced wood products such as those with Forest Stewardship Council certification, which ensures that wood is harvested responsibly including the replacement of trees.
