Illegal logging is not uncommon and it’s directly linked to legitimate activities such as clearing forests for space or for making room for other developments. The difference is that these organizations are unscrupulous and violating the proper procedure by cutting green spaces rather than replanting them first. The results of deforestation can be seen all over the world, where the quality of land, weather and even climate vary. The main culprits are forestry enterprises and authorities that turn a blind pause illegal business practices. Without this we would see more illegal deforestation efforts.
So, the disappearance of forests without restoration reduces soil moisture and leads to its desertification. Cutting down trees is prohibited when it comes to valuable species. But with the help of corruption, subjects get the right to cut these trees.
Under normal conditions, soil has moisture. If there is no tree cover, the humidity cannot be regulated and plants will often dry out. One of the most important roles that trees play is to keep moisture in the ground. When it rains, trees will release water into the soil and when it’s hot there’s even more evaporation, but plantations slow this process down.
When there is deforestation, it disrupts this cycle. Moisture evaporates more quickly than before and without any trees, rainfall stops. Central Africa may lead to desertification- which can be a threat for entire countries. Some of the worst desert conversion rates in Sub-Saharan Africa have been associated with deforestation.
Trees are an important part of greenhouses gases. They absorb carbon dioxide and other such gases under normal conditions. The Earth’s forests have been cut down significantly in the past decade. As a result, an extra billion tonnes of CO2 got emitted.
When the forest cover is hacked away, it leaves the ground vulnerable to climate change. This can lead to increased levels of greenhouse gases, which then cause global warming.
This often leads to negative effects on our environment and the climate, such as floods or drought. Some of the adverse effects of climate change are an increase in El Niño and La Nina. El Niño is a region of the Pacific ocean with increased water temperature. These changes in temperature have a significant impact on climate.
When the greenhouse effect increases, the air becomes hotter which increases evapotranspiration levels. As a result, the duration of the dry period will also increase which will affect our ability to fight against natural droughts.
Deforestation in the cold snowy regions can affect ice caps and cause them to recede which will eventually result in increased melting and rise in sea levels.
Climate change also means increased problems for fungi to grow. When these trees are cut down and the ice begins to melt, there is a change in the weather, which directly affects the change in climatic conditions in the polar regions. With the melting of icebergs, sea levels have risen, putting homes and businesses at risk of intense floods.
As a result of habitat loss through deforestation, many species will be at risk of extinction. This causes an imbalance in biodiversity as these endangered species depend on their habitats for survival, reproduction, and development.
With about 80% of the world’s species residing in tropical forests, their unique environment helps each keep alive and well. The diverse ecosystem of a tropical forest provides animals with food, shelter and much more. When trees are cut down, many animals that rely on them for food & shelter are slowly dying out.
For example, in this instance, many animal species in a certain area of equatorial rainforest villages in West Africa have disappeared without a trace. The debate between preserving a natural, untouched forest or planting secondary forests have been going on for awhile and there are good, compelling arguments on both sides.
People may not always be directly affected by climate change, but often suffer the consequences of their own unintelligent activities. Climate change is leading to big changes in the weather. These may include things like extreme heat or an increased risk of rainfall.
Deforestation is main reason for the increase in deserts in the world and also degrades soil quality. Such unpredictable weather patterns are causing a decline in the agricultural industry because of changing environmental conditions. People suffer from food shortages due to low agricultural production resulting in a reduction in the availability and variety of food.
It is understandable if people worldwide have been condemning the extreme weather events all around the globe, such as the US’s heatwaves, India’s heatwaves, or the South American rains. But not many people realise that deforestation is actually a major contributor. This can be dangerous in the long-run and leads to various problems, some of which are life-threatening.
Extreme changes in climate could lead to a reduction in the availability of water and food sources. This can not only disturb an area’s natural balance, but also affect its biodiversity. Extreme changes can even result in extinction for creatures that don’t have the necessary adaptive mechanisms.
Natural disasters like floods can be caused by climate change, and of course, that usually leads to loss of life, displacement of people…Without trees and vegetation we see soil erosion increase which eventually decreases the amount of arable land.
The El Yunique rainforest in parts of Honduras and Nicaragua provide many types of natural resources for the local people that live there. Their lack of access to resources forces many residents to perform subsistence farming at home and hunt for meat, often with the use of traditional methods. Deforestation has been linked to migration and social conflict in some regions. Consequently, many people are choosing to move away from these areas, leading to families being split up.
The effects of climate change are not always immediately apparent. They affect species in unforeseen ways because they depend on rainfall patterns or the presence/absence of water. This is why extinction occurs so frequently.
Prolonged deforestation is a problem, but there are many solutions out there. To save the environment, it’s important to create the right domestic and international policies. Fortunately, the harm we do can be undone if there are appropriate policies in place. Regeneration is the best way the entire globe and local communities can respond to the devastating effects of climate change and global warming.