Question
Question: What are the consequences of deforestation?...
What are the consequences of deforestation?
Solution
Deforestation is the process of removing trees permanently to make room for something other than woodland. Clearing land for agriculture or grazing, as well as using timber for fuel, building, or manufacturing, are examples of causes of deforestation.
Complete answer:
Habitat Degradation:
Forests are home to 70% of all land animals and plant species. Deforestation endangers not only recognized organisms but also unknown species. The rainforest trees that protect some species often provide a temperature-regulating canopy. Deforestation causes a more extreme temperature difference between day and night, similar to a desert, which could be fatal for many residents.
Increase in Greenhouse gases:
In addition to causing habitat destruction, a lack of trees allows for a greater release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Forests that are healthy extract CO2 from the atmosphere and serve as useful carbon sinks.
Water in the Atmosphere:
The trees also help to regulate the water cycle, which helps to balance the amount of water in the atmosphere. There is less water in the air to return to the soil in deforested areas. As a result, the soil becomes drier, making it impossible to grow crops.
Erosion of the soil and flooding:
Soil erosion and coastal flooding are two more consequences of deforestation. Trees aid in the retention of water and topsoil, as well as the provision of rich nutrients to support additional forest life. The land erodes and washes away without forests, forcing farmers to move on and continue the cycle. The barren land left behind as a result of these unsustainable agricultural practices is more vulnerable to flooding, especially in coastal areas.
Note:
The indigenous people that live and depend on the forest to support their way of life are also at risk as vast areas of forest are cleared away, leaving exposed soil to wilt and die and the habitats of countless species to be lost. Despite our dependence on what the rainforest offers, we in the highly developed areas of the world will never know how the disappearance of forests affects their way of life.