Deforestation
Indiscriminate felling of trees as a result of urbanization, industrialization, mining operations, and use of wood for domestic and other purposes have caused heavy depletion of forests. This is called deforestation.
- Deforestation results in conversion of forest land to non-forest use.
Causes of Deforestation
- Agriculture: As per UNFCCC, agriculture is the direct cause of deforestation. Subsistence farming, commercial agriculture, shifting cultivation and industrial logging all cause deforestation.
- Developmental Projects like hydroelectric projects, reservoirs etc. require immense deforestation.
- Raw Material requirements
- Overgrazing by cattle
- Other causes like mining, overpopulation and urbanization, floods, forest fi res due to climate change etc.
Impacts of Deforestation
• Environmental Impacts:
• Environmental Impacts:
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Deforestation is a contributor to global warming, and is often cited as one of the major causes of the enhanced greenhouse effect as it causes carbon stores held in soil to be released.
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Deforestation affects wind flows, water vapor flows and absorption of solar energy thus clearly influencing local and global climate.
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The water cycle is also affected by deforestation. Trees extract groundwater through their roots and release it into the atmosphere. When part of a forest is removed, the trees no longer transpire this water, resulting in a much drier climate.
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Deforestation causes: Increase in the rate of soil erosion. This can further lead to flooding in river and makes the soil susceptible to landslides.
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Removal or destruction of significant areas of forest cover has resulted in a degraded environment with reduced biodiversity.
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Deforestation can destroy genetic variations (such as crop resistance) irretrievably.
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Economic Impacts:
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A short-term economic gain made by conversion of forest to agriculture, or overexploitation of wood products, typically leads to a loss of long-term income and long-term biological productivity.