The Chemical effects of Deforestation

Effects of Deforestation

Forests are essential to the survival of mankind and many other life forms , and are a significant factor in the quality of human life . The contribution of forests to life on the planet must be known in to understand why it is important to address the problem of deforestation

Deforestation has far-reaching effects it contributes to many environmental problems , such as desertification , erosion , flooding mudslides , and extinction of species . With deforestation people struggle to live in a drastically changed environment , and they experience economic , health , and social hardships

p Agriculture and livestock grazing , urbanization , mining , and petroleum extraction are the main human drives for deforestation . Deforestation is also caused by overpopulation , particularly in third world countries where the poor have no choice and are forced to cultivate ' and clear virgin forests . Cattle grazing is also a factor , as the need more more grazing fields by beef-hungry countries destroys forests as well . Some other causes are pollution (acid rain , in particular , the building of dams (Deforestation , 2006

Tropical rainforests are the home of a great majority of the Earth 's species . Although tropical forests cover only six percent of the Earth 's land surface , they contain approximately 70-90 of the world 's species Because of deforestation , an estimated 50-100 plant and animal species are lost every day . This has practical implications on human life , as every distinct species means another resource of potentially useful genetic material , particularly in medicine and biology (Deforestation 2006

Tropical forests are in a very fragile balance . Almost all of a forest area 's nutrients are in the plants themselves , and little is in the soil . This has significant implications - when a tropical forest is cleared , the soil becomes even poorer because nutrients are washed out by precipitation , sunlight , and heavy winds

Because of this , reforestation is difficult , and since plants will not grow , the soil will become eroded . When there are no trees to prevent soil erosion , the soil dries under the heat of the sun , and volatile nutrients such as nitrogen are lost , and the fertility of the soil is further reduced . Remaining nutrients are washed away by rainfall into the rivers , and large areas of land become permanently impoverished . The land becomes useless

With deforestation , what happens is a vicious cycle that is tremendously difficult to stop . Still part of this vicious cycle is its social impact . People who live in already cleared regions find themselves forced to move frequently because of the quick impoverishment of the land

The greatest consequence of deforestation that affects everyone on earth is the release of greenhouse gases , particularly carbon-dioxide Tropical rainforests hold a lot of carbon - as much as 600 metric tons per hectare - which is cycled in the rainforests , with no net gain or loss . In contrast , land used for farming holds only about 5 tons per hectare . When a rainforest is destroyed , the excess carbon is released into the atmosphere and combines with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide (Methods and Effects , 2002...