Deforestation

What is deforestation?
Deforestation refers to the massive cleaning of trees from forests or other barren
lands in order to serve human demands. Natural forests are being cut down to use
the barren land formed in place for cultivation, building houses and industries,
clearing areas for cattle grazing, forming space for mining, for construction of dams,
or for other such human activities. The wood that is obtained in the process is also
used for making furniture for our homes or is used as fuel. The wood from the forests
has been used for human needs since the beginning of civilization.
Importance of forests
Trees provide shelter to various organisms in the forests. They also help in
maintaining the water cycle and serving various human needs. Forests are a very
vital part of our ecosystem. They are important for us as:
 As forests are an indispensable resource and provide an uninterrupted supply

of oxygen, they are referred to as the lungs of the Earth as they make life
possible for all human beings and organisms.
 Forests absorb greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, acting as a storehouse
of carbon, thereby combating climate change.
 The trees in the forests form an oasis of shade as they block sunlight. In
various urban areas, these trees help in tackling severe issues such as the
‘heat island’ effect.
 As a large number of trees in the forests provides mechanical support to the
soil, they help in preventing soil erosion.
 Forests are an indispensable source of oxygen, medicine, clean water, and
food.
 With the help of the process of transpiration, the forests add water to the
atmosphere, thereby playing a vital role in the water cycle.
 Forests account for approximately 1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
of the world.
 Approximately 1.6 billion jobs are dependent on the forests.
 By acting as a sink for the floodwater, forests combat the disastrous effects
and damages caused by floods.
 Forests are a source of various raw materials for many commercially
important products such as wood, paper, and fabric.
 Forests are homes for over 80% of the biodiversity based on land. Over 50%
of the species of Earth reside there.
Causes of deforestation
The causes of deforestation can mainly be classified into two types: natural causes
and human activities.
Natural Causes
1. Natural calamities such as floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc can also lead
to the destruction of forests.
2. Forest fires by natural causes such as lightning are responsible for clearing large
areas of land.
3. Invasion of the forest ecosystem by some parasites or other animal species can
destroy the biodiversity of various areas of land.
Human Activities
While humans used to worship plants and trees, now they have resorted to cutting
them for their selfish needs. The various human activities that contribute to
deforestation are:
1. Agriculture
The clearing of forests for agricultural land and activities is a primary cause of
deforestation. According to the data from UNFCCC (United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change), agriculture accounts for over 80 percent of
deforestation. The primary agricultural activities that lead to the degradation of
forests are:
 Expansion of agricultural land

 Growing field crops such as cocoa, palm oil, soya bean, etc. For instance, in
Malaysia, deforestation is done on a major scale to extract palm oil.
 Raising livestock
2. Logging
Logging includes the cutting of trees for raw materials to be used for commercial
purposes in industries. Illegal logging of wood fuel and the expansion of roads also
contributes to deforestation. Industries based on wood such as furniture, paper, and
match-sticks industry needs a huge supply of wood. Trees are cut down for fuel
supplies such as charcoal and firewood.
3. Urbanization
With the increasing population, the needs of humans are also increasing. For the
purpose of dwelling, a huge number of forests are cut down. The land obtained after
deforestation serves various purposes such as for the construction of homes and
industries, development of roads, mineral expansion, etc. The increasing population
has increased the need for settlements and housing areas which further leads to
deforestation activities.
Effects of Deforestation
The various effects of deforestation are:
 Biodiversity Loss
Forests are a habitat of over 80% of the species that exist on Earth. Deforestation
destroys all the habitats of these animals and plants thereby causing many species
to become extinct in nature. This leads to “biodiversity loss”. While many species
have become extinct, multiple species remain endangered. The loss of these
species due to the destruction of their habitat causes a disturbance in the
ecosystem.
 Climate Change
As forests absorb a huge amount of CO2 from the atmosphere, releasing O2 in the
process which is necessary for our breathing. Carbon dioxide and gases like
methane are responsible for trapping heat in the atmosphere of the Earth. The
removal of trees leads to global warming as the cutting of trees increases the carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere causing an absorption deficit. This releases greenhouse
gases leading to a change in the climate.
 Soil Erosion
The cutting of trees weakens the soil and hence soil erosion occurs. The exposure of
the land to the heat of the sun dries the moisture that exists inside the soil. The
nutrients present are evaporated and therefore when rainfall comes, the soil is
washed off and soil erosion occurs. As a result of which, the irrigation infrastructure
and hydroelectric structures are damaged.
 Floods
Deforestation also causes erosion of land. As the water level of various water bodies
rises, floods occur. Trees absorb and therefore store a huge amount of water when it
rains through their roots. This flow of water is disrupted due to deforestation causing
floods in various areas.
Preventive Measures
Deforestation can be prevented by following various preventive measures that can
be followed on an individual level and also implemented by our government.
Individuals and government play a really important role in the protection of forests.
Role of Individuals
 Implementation of the 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

 Reduce: Reducing the consumption of paper and instead of that using their
alternatives.
 Reuse: Avoiding products that are just for the purpose of use and throw in order to
prevent wastage of materials.
 Recycle: Recycling all the paper and wood products in a diligent manner.
 Spreading awareness regarding the importance of trees and the harmful effects of
deforestation.
 Planting more and more trees to compensate for the removal of trees which in turn
will only benefit mankind.
Role of Government
 Launching new campaigns for reforestation to restore the destroyed lands.

 Investing in new and latest technologies such as hydroponics for the agricultural
industry.
 Aiding farmers to implement agricultural practices that are eco-friendly in nature like
the process of cyclic agriculture.
 Implementations of strict rules to prevent illegal logging activities.
 Careful implementation of plans of construction of infrastructure such as roads,
industries, homes, dams, etc to reduce the loss of area of forests.
 Investing in forests planted with trees that offer high yields increases the output of the
natural forests.
 Increasing the forest range and area that are under the protection of the government.
 Implementing rules to ban the agricultural practices that are inefficient like slash-and-
burn agriculture, which refers to the practice of burning huge areas of land in forests
and then planting crops in the same soil which has now become fertilized due to the
addition of the ashes of the burnt trees.
 Use of alternatives of wood like bamboo to reduce the demand for wood fuel and
timber.

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What is deforestation?

 As forests are an indispensable resource and provide an uninterrupted supply

 Expansion of agricultural land

 Implementation of the 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

 Launching new campaigns for reforestation to restore the destroyed lands.

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