Deforestation of the Environment

There are many reasons for deforestation of the environment, and a common cause is commercial exploitation of the forest. Forests are also used for subsistence farming, which is more valuable than other uses, making a solution more difficult. Deforestation also causes biodiversity loss and pollution. In many cases, indigenous lands have better management of natural resources, and there are far fewer species at risk from deforestation. However, recognition of indigenous lands can be politically difficult. Many governments are reluctant to give up title to land that is not used for commercial purposes.

Impacts on Biodiversity

Deforestation affects biodiversity in several ways. The first is through localized fragmentation of habitats. As a result, the flora and fauna of a region are depleted. This means that many animals and species are threatened and their populations will decrease. In addition, the destruction of native habitats reduces the availability of food and other resources, as well as mating opportunities.

The loss of biodiversity has become a global issue. In fact, it is considered an important factor in meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The decline in biodiversity has prompted a broad range of conservation responses. Although most efforts were local or national, international cooperation is increasingly needed to combat deforestation and protect biodiversity.

Conservation of forests is one way to mitigate deforestation's impacts and maintain high levels of biodiversity. However, conservation is not an easy process. Sometimes, it can conflict with local people's livelihoods. Conservation efforts can include planting trees and restoring forests, as well as protecting wildlife corridors. Effective conservation efforts are achieved when conservationists, local communities, and national governments work together to create and implement sustainable forest management plans.

Impacts on Climate

One reason why deforestation is detrimental to the climate is the amount of carbon that it releases into the atmosphere. Trees absorb CO2 from the air and store it in their trunks, branches and roots, but some of it is released back into the atmosphere when trees are burned or logged. The deforestation of forests is contributing to global warming more than originally thought.

Increasing CO2 in the atmosphere decreases the albedo of the Earth's surface. This effect is especially strong over the Amazon basin, where increased CO2 concentrations result in a darker surface. Deforestation in the Amazon is also more rapid than in other regions, meaning that the differential impacts of increasing CO2 are stronger than in other regions.

Deforestation also affects rainfall in some areas. A study in Brazil found that deforestation delays the onset of the rainy season. This study was published in Jgra, which is a journal of geophysical research.

Impacts on Soil

Deforestation can impact soil quality. There are several metrics that can be used to evaluate the impacts of deforestation on soil quality. These indicators include soil organic carbon, available P, available K, and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). Deforestation negatively impacts these soil quality indices, resulting in deteriorated soils.

Deforestation affects the water supply, air quality, and soil fertility in several ways. It causes soil erosion, which can contaminate rivers and streams and cause flooding. It also worsens climate change, as soil holds high levels of carbon dioxide. For this reason, reducing deforestation is important for maintaining the health of the planet.

As we've discussed, soil is the skin of the earth. It is a complex dynamic ecosystem that supports countless species. It is the most precious resource we have. Unfortunately, as demand for agriculture commodities rises, more natural vegetation is converted to farmland. The soils that are lost cannot hold the crops in place, which in turn causes soil erosion and loss.

Effects on Coastal Flooding

Deforestation has many effects on coastal flooding. In places like West Africa, where the land is largely deforested, storms will increase in frequency, triggering greater flooding. The increase will be particularly pronounced in densely populated coastal areas. As a result, the combination of increasing deforestation and rapidly expanding urban areas could dramatically alter the risk of flooding in the region.

Deforestation also reduces the effectiveness of coastal vegetation, reducing the impact of storm surge. This is particularly important in coastal regions, which are more vulnerable to destructive floods. For example, the nonstop clearing of mangrove forests in Myanmar resulted in extensive flooding during the 2008 cyclone there. Similarly, the clearing of forest in lake and riverside areas has regularly resulted in extensive flooding.

Deforestation is also a major contributor to local climate change and extreme weather events. In West Africa, for example, the frequency of thunderstorms has doubled in the last 30 years, a trend that is strongly linked to deforestation. In addition to increased storms, deforestation also increases the likelihood of flooding and mudslides. The Freetown mudslide in August 2017 killed more than one hundred people.