The Cause and Dangers of Deforestation

The destruction of our forests has many factors. This occurs due to various reasons and one of the main reasons is due to the short-term economic benefits. It also includes many factors such as corruption at the government institutions, wealth and power due to harvesting of the riches of the forest, population growth and urbanization. Most of these destruction are man made or due to mans greed. Some of the factors are the following;

      Urban Construction

The cutting down of trees for lumber that is used for building materials, furniture, and paper products has a major impact on forest life. Forests are cleared to accommodate expanding urban areas. This results in loss of forest area and massive deforestation.

      Commercial Purposes

Some of the other causes are: clearing forests for oil and mining exploitation, to make highways and roads, slash and burn farming techniques, wildfires, and acid rain. Forest fires can occur naturally or in most cases are deliberate attempts by man to clear huge forests. Most of the time, these forests may recover, but usually the cleared land is used for construction and agriculture purposes. This leads to loss of forests and loss of habitat for the local wildlife.

      Agriculture

Forests are cut down to clear land for growing crops, build farms, ranches and other food growing lands.

      Grazing Land

Forests are cut down in order create land for grazing cattle. Huge herds of animals require food and forests are cleared out to make way for grazing lands for these cattle.

      Use for Fuel

Trees are cut down in developing countries to be used as firewood or turned into charcoal, which are used for cooking and heating purposes.

           Illegal Logging

Many government agencies are fighting illegal logging to protect the forests. However, any type of logging legal or illegal leads to deforestation. Trees are cut down indiscriminately by logging companies, to fulfill the demands of the wood market. This does not give a chance to the local wildlife and trees to regenerate and sustain themselves. Thus, leading to loss of wildlife forever.

Ø  DANGERS OF DEFORESTATION

•Destruction of carbon sinks

Carbon sinks are huge stores of carbon, e.g. Swamps and forests

•Soil Erosion

Deforestation makes soil prone to erosion by agents such as wind and water. The roots of trees hold the particles of soil together thus, preventing the fertile top soil from being carried away. Soil erosion leads to loss of productivity of the land due to loss of mineral nutrients and soil microorganisms

•Destruction of animal habitats

Apart from domesticated animals and marine and fresh water animals, all other animals need forests as their habitats. These forests do not only provide a place for the animals to roam day but also provide their food and act as a source of protection from predators through camouflage. Destruction of the animals’ habitats literally kills the animals.

•Medicinal Plants
Some trees are used as herbs. Trees such as the Cinchona have been used as treatment against Malaria since time immemorial. Destruction of these forests leads to destruction of medicinal plants that could be used as treatment for various ailments.


•Trees act as windbreakers

Absence of these trees enables strong winds and or storms e.g. Hurricanes and Tornados.


•Greenhouse effect and global warming

Nature balances the flow of energy and nutrients. Forests plan a very vital role in these cycles e.g. the carbon cycle where deforestation causes carbon dioxide to remain in the atmosphere. Accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere acts as a blanket that traps long wave radiation of heat and prevents it from escaping the surface of the earth back into the atmosphere. This phenomenon is known as the greenhouse effect. The trapped radiation is converted into heat. This heat causes global warming.

Destruction of forests also causes modification of climate of an area mostly leading to desertification and aridity.