The Anthropocene is the unofficial name of the current geological epoch wherein human activity is driving widespread and rapid changes to the ecosystem. One of the ways humans influence the environment is through deforestation, the intentional removal of a large mass of trees in order to convert the area to a different use. Billions of trees are cut down annually due to agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, or to meet the global demand for wood products. Recently, ecologists have been attempting to raise public awareness about the negative effects of this phenomenon, particularly its contribution to climate change. Deforestation has long-term and serious effects on the carbon cycle, hydrologic cycle, and species diversity.
Firstly, deforestation affects the carbon cycle because it disrupts the balance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. When trees are burnt or cut down at a faster rate than forests can redevelop, the CO2 stored in their leaves, branches, trunks, and roots is released into the atmosphere. More than ten percent of global human emissions are related to deforestation (Pearson et al., 2017). This problem is further exacerbated by the fact that there are fewer living trees to absorb carbon and produce oxygen via photosynthesis. Deforestation increases the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and contributes to global warming and climate change.
Secondly, trees are an integral part of the hydrologic cycle because of their role in the process of transpiration. Transpiration occurs when the leaves of trees secrete water, which then evaporates into the atmosphere and becomes clouds. When trees are cut down, the amount of transportation either decreases or is eliminated completely, which reduces the amount of rainfall in the area and leads to droughts. Furthermore, with less rainfall, the success of local crops is undermined and farmers have to expend more energy to ensure that their crops are sufficiently hydrated (Bennett, 2017). Deforestation reduces the amount of naturally occurring water in the atmosphere, leading to less rainfall, droughts, and possible crop failures.
Thirdly, deforestation signifies declining biodiversity since the animal species that live in trees lose their natural habitat. The cleared areas are generally repurposed for different use, such as cropland, pasture, cities, or roads. In any case, the animals that lived in the previous forest are unable to adapt to the new environment and become extinct. Two-thirds of the world’s animals and plants live in forests (Giam, 2017). It is estimated that global biodiversity losses due to deforestation will be over 70 percent, the equivalent of a mass extinction event, if the phenomenon continues unabated (Giam, 2017). Deforestation destroys the natural habitat of animals and leads to a significant loss of biodiversity.
Deforestation contributes to global warming, droughts, and mass extinctions of animal species. Cutting down and burning trees increases the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. The process of transportation is disrupted and the amount of rainfall in the area is reduced. Animals living in the forests are deprived of their natural habitat and become extinct because the land is repurposed for human use. Deforestation is having debilitating long-term effects on the planet and thus should concern every human being on the planet, regardless of nationality or political affiliation. Governments should place forests under national protection and offer financial incentives, such as tax breaks, for the construction industry to find alternatives to wood that are friendlier to the environment.
References
Bennett, L. (2017). Deforestation and climate change. The Climate Institute.
Giam, X. (2017). Global biodiversity loss from tropical deforestation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114(23), 114-116.
Pearson, T. R., Brown, S., Murray, L., & Sidman, G. (2017). Greenhouse gas emissions from tropical forest degradation: An underestimated source. Carbon balance and management, 12(1), 1-11.