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Abstract
This paper aims to study the environmental effects of deforestation and suggest potential solutions for this issue. Backed by research, it asks what the primary causes of forest destructions are and whether they can be eliminated. To get a better idea of the problem, thorough research of the existing data was done. Namely, papers discussing the subject were selected, analyzed, and summarized. The results indicate that peoples activities aimed at industrialization and farming are among the most hazardous as they often involve forest destruction. Thus, a more sustainable approach needs to be implemented by countries to eliminate adverse environmental effects. The paper considers potential counterarguments to the issue and suggests efficient alternatives for deforestation.
Keywords: deforestation, environmental effects, greenhouse gases, biodiversity, agriculture.
Forests are an integrated ecosystem of the terrestrial environment, which plays a vital role in ecological processes and regulates climate changes. Forests provide housing for most animals and directly contribute to human activity. In this regard, deforestation that implies a stable removal of trees with industrial and agricultural purposes causes growing concern among social, political, and scientific communities. This paper aims at examining the environmental effects of deforestation and determining potential solutions for this issue.
Causes
To find solutions for deforestation, there is a need to explore the reasons for this problem. The primary causes of deforestation are related to livestock grazing, farming, logging, drilling, and mining. For example, extensive cattle ranching and industrial logging comprise approximately 80% of forest destructions overall. ( Effects of deforestation, n.d.). In recent decades, harmful human activities have acquired a threatening nature and scale. According to the World Bank (n.d.), in 2016, forests covered around 30.7 percent of the total land area, but they are now vanishing at an alarming pace. Back at the onset of the 20th century, the worlds forest area accounted for approximately 50 million but has shortened to 40 million square kilometers today (Khokhar & Tabar, 2016). This tendency is currently on the rise, even though many developed countries adopted reforestation strategies.
Environmental Effects
Atmosphere
Even though most people believe that global warming is primarily caused by burning fossil fuels, deforestation is the central factor of the greenhouse effect. The removal of forests results in the emission of tons of carbon dioxide and other types of greenhouse gases that have been accumulated there for hundreds of years. For instance, tropical forests alone contain over 230 gigatons of carbon that equals seven times the volume realized each year by peoples activities ( Deforestation and Forest Degradation, n.d). As The Food and Agriculture Organization states (n.d.), 25 to 30 percent of greenhouse gases are produced into the atmosphere yearly resulting from deforestation. The released gases promote the growth in global temperature and the frequency of natural disasters.
Hydrological Impact
Trees contribute to regulating the water cycle by supporting the balance between water in the atmosphere and land. When forests disappear, the amount of water in soil and humidity in the atmosphere decrease, which impairs soil cohesion, causes erosion, and changes microclimate. In this case, Agaja (2019) indicates that deforestation impacts microclimatic variables, including precipitation, maximum and minimum temperature, humidity, and transpiration in a region. The shrinking forest coat diminishes the landscapes ability to detain and postpone precipitation, which leads to an increased number of localized floods and landslides.
Biodiversity
One of the most disastrous deforestation results is the vanishing of plant and animal species because of their loss of habitat. According to Nunez (2019), 80 percent of all wildlife is threatened by deforestation. Moreover, in the study of the Aleutian Archipelago, Edwards et al. (2020) revealed that widespread deforestation in the region caused a 24% decrease in ecosystem respiration, which impaired ecosystem productivity and coastal ecosystem activity accordingly. Extinctions are connected with not only the loss of habitats belonging to related species but also a sharp change in environmental conditions to which they do not have time to adapt.
Solutions
Since this problem has been drawing considerable attention from society, the scientific community, and officials for long decades, many approaches have been developed to stop deforestation. For example, many countries, especially the US, European states, and East Asian countries, follow reforestation and afforestation practices. One of the leaders in this tendency, irrespective of the enormous scale of forest destructions, is China that has planted 47 million hectares of trees since the 1970s (Owen, 2006). The second solution is the commitments of governments, agribusinesses, and other enterprises to promote conserving the worlds forests and monitoring deforestation. The World Wildlife Fund implements different programs, such as REDD+ programs, to cooperate with governments and market-based certification schemes to involve agriculture producers ( Deforestation and forest degradation, n.d.). The third approach is correlated with implementing sustainable practices among governmental and private organizations, realized through the provision of global certification systems. Overall, the solutions should be employed on a worldwide level to fight off the hazards of deforestation.
Besides, countries and organizations should introduce contemporary methods for doing farming more intensively, including high-yield hybrid crops, hydroponics, autonomous building gardens, and greenhouses. Some states practice cyclic agriculture that implies the grazing of cattle on resting and rejuvenating farmlands and can improve soil fertility. Finally, governments should impose fines for illegal or excessive deforestation. Only collective effort and the application of the suggested approaches by all countries involved in the problem can solve the issue of the removal of forests.
Counterarguments and Refutations
Despite the apparent harm deforestation causes, some people might consider it positive and justified. Indeed, forest destruction advantages include more space for growth and expansion, more materials and revenue produced, new opportunities for farming and industrialization, and an increased number of job offerings. However, these benefits are outnumbered by the drawbacks affecting people and wildlife and draining scarce resources. Deserted and undeveloped land areas can be used for expansion, farming, and industrialization, instead of cutting hectares of forests. Switching to reusable and recycled materials is a more efficient practice, which saves cost and natural resources. Finally, there are endless opportunities for job openings in the field of afforestation and environmental protection, the number of which would be increasing due to the regenerative, not destructive nature of the activity. Hence, excessive deforestation is not justified by its advantages as there are more efficient alternatives.
Conclusion
In summary, the paper has determined the causes and scale of deforestation, examined the environmental effects, and suggested potential solutions for the issue. The primary causes of forest destruction are found in human activities, while ecological impacts are related to the atmosphere, the water cycle, and biodiversity. To eliminate the consequences of deforestation, governments and organizations should adopt various approaches, such as reforestation, practices to monitor deforestation, sustainable practices, cyclic agriculture, and intensive farming.
References
Agaja, T. M. (2019). Deforestation and micro-climate of Ilorin and its Environs. Analele Universitcii din Oradea, Seria Geografie, 29(2), 77-85. Web.
Deforestation and forest degradation. (n.d.). World Wildlife Fund. 2020.
Edwards, M., Konar, B., Kim, J-H., Gabara, S., Sullaway, G., McHugh, T., Spector, M., & Small, S. (2020). Marine deforestation leads to widespread loss of ecosystem function. PLoS One, 15(3), e0226173. Web.
Effects of deforestation. (n.d.). Pachamama alliance. 2020.
Khokhar, T., & Tabar, M. E. (2016). Five forest figures for the International Day of Forests. The World Bank.
Nunez, C. (2019). Deforestation explained. National Geographic.
Owen, J. (2006). Worlds forests rebounding, study suggests. National Geographic News. Web.
The Food and Agriculture Organization. (n.d.). Deforestation causes global warming. FAO Newsroom. Web.
The World Bank. (n.d.). Forest area (% of land area). 2020, Web.
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