What is the impact of deforestation?

Deforestation is the reason for many problems and a big problem itself. It causes global warming, soil erosion, floods and climate change. While trees can solve many problems. Fellers cut the trees just to make room for houses, factories, schools and many more. 

Today we will take a look at what is the impact of deforestation.

What is deforestation?

Desertification or deforestation is the the clearing or thinning of forests by humans. In the practice of clear-cutting, all the trees are removed from the land, which completely destroys the forest. In some cases, however, even partial logging and accidental fires thin out the trees enough to change the forest structure dramatically.

What is the impact of deforestation?

Some of the impacts of denuding are:

• Climate Imbalance and Climate Change
Forests and trees store carbon. When they are degraded or completely cleared, this stored carbon has the potential to be released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide and contribute to climate change.
• Increase in global warming
Trees play a major role in controlling global warming. The trees utilize greenhouse gasses, restoring the balance in the atmosphere. With constant deforestation, the ratio of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere has increased, adding to our global warming woes.


• Soil Erosion
The loss of trees, which anchor the soil with their roots, causes widespread erosion throughout the tropics. After heavy tropical rains fall on cleared forest lands, the run-off carries soil into local creeks and rivers. The rivers carry the eroded soils downstream, causing significant problems.


• Floods
Deforestation results in decreased water holding capacity of soil. This reduces the infiltration of water into the ground, which causes floods. Hence, it leads to flooding.


• Wildlife Extinction & Habitat Loss
Deforestation can directly lead to biodiversity loss when animal species that live in the trees no longer have their habitat, cannot relocate, and therefore become extinct. Deforestation can lead certain tree species to permanently disappear, which affects biodiversity of plant species in an environment.

What is the solution to the issue?

Solution to deforestation is:

• Reforestation and Afforestation
Land skinned of its tree cover for urban settlements should be urged to plant trees in the vicinity and replace the cut trees. Also, the cutting must be replaced by planting young trees to replace the older ones that were cut. Trees are being planted under several initiatives every year, but they still don’t match the numbers of the ones we’ve already lost.

• Reduce Consumption of Paper
Your daily consumption of paper includes printing paper, notebooks, napkins, toilet paper, etc. Try to reduce consumption, reduce waste of paper and also opt for recycled paper products. Make life simple such as printing/writing on both sides of the paper, using less toilet paper, avoiding paper plates, and napkins and wherever possible, go paperless.

• Eat Less Meat
Livestock rearing has become one of the leading causes of deforestation. Try to eat less meat. It may be hard for some people to try. However, eating less meat, even just for one meal a day, will also make an extreme impact on the environment.

Conclusion

Deforestation is a big problem, so one should do anything they could do to stop it. If deforestation stops, many other problems will stop. It might be hard as we have already adapted to it, but it is not impossible. Take care and don't forget to "Stay Healthy, Stay Positive"