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'''Deforestation''' is the removal of trees, often as a result of human activities. Deforestation has been practiced by humans for thousands of years chiefly in order to collect firewood, clear land for growing crops and to provide land for animals. The rate of clearance increased during the second half of the ninenteenth century due to agricultural expansion in Europe and there has been massive increases since then. Currently major worries concern the loss of tropical ], one fifth of which was destroyed between 1960 and 1990. 12 million hectares of tropical forest are lost each year, a land approximately the size of England. '''Deforestation''' is the removal of trees, often as a result of human activities. Deforestation has been practiced by humans for thousands of years chiefly as a result of clearing land for commercial and industrial development, intensive collection of firewood, clearing of land for growing crops and to deveop passture for grazing animals. The rate of clearance increased during the second half of the ninenteenth century due to agricultural expansion in Europe and there has been massive increases since then. Currently major worries concern the loss of tropical ], one fifth of which was destroyed between 1960 and 1990. 12 million hectares of tropical forest are lost each year, a land approximately the size of England.


This is often cited as one of the major causes of the enhanced ]. Trees remove carbon (in the form of ]) from the ] in the process of ]. Burning of the wood releases this stored carbon ] back in to the atmosphere. Deforestation is often cited as one of the major causes of the enhanced ]. Trees remove carbon (in the form of ]) from the ] during the process of ]. Both the rotting and burning of the wood releases this stored carbon ] back in to the atmosphere.


Large scale clearance has been made possible due to the mechanisation of ]. Pressure has been exerted by the worldwide demand for wood and also to a lesser extent by local people. The forests provide wood for fuel, they are mined for valuable ]s and harvested for food. Modernisation of developing countries has seen the building of roads and ]s. Ranching of cattle has encroached on forest land and overpopulation has necessitated space for houses. Pressure has been exerted on forests by the worldwide demand for wood and by local people who clear forests in their quests to establish an agrarian land base. Clearing of forests for the development of pasture for cattle has also resulted in deforestation as has the encroachment upon forests due to increasing human populations.


Deforestation promotes ] of soil. Under normal circumstances trees and bushes act as a 'sponge' for rainfall, holding it and releasing it slowly through ]. Without this effect, rain hits the soil directly and runs off, often causing flooding. Nutrients in the soil tend to be leached off, and microorganisms which replenish these nutrients are disturbed. Tropical soil is typically not very high in nutrients, these being locked up in trees. A natural cycle of decomposition passes on nutrients to new generations. This can not occur after deforestation has taken place. Deforestation promotes ] of soil. Under normal circumstances trees and bushes and the forest floor act as a 'sponge' for rainfall, slowing its' overland and underground flow and releasing it back into the atmosphere through ]. Without the buffering effect of forest cover, rain impacting bare soil runs off, often causing flooding. In this environment, nutrients in the soil are leached off and the microorganisms which can replenish these nutrients are disturbed.


Forests are rich in ] of both plants and animals, many of the latter including thousands of undiscovered species. Deforestation causes the destruction of habitats. Some animals adapt or move to new locations but thousands do not survive. The gene pool is important to western agriculture as it can extend the variety of domesticated animals. Many plants are also promising sources of new medicines. Forests are rich in . Deforestation causes the destruction of the habitats that support biological diversity.


Some efforts have been made to stop deforestation. In China, where large scale destruction of forests has occurred, it is obligatory for all citizens over 11 to plant three trees a year. Roadside checks have been introduced to curb logging. The future looks ] of forests and schemes such as ]. Some societies are making efforts to stop or slow deforestation. In China, where large scale destruction of forests has occurred, each citizen must plant at least 11 trees every year. In western countries, increasing consumer demand for wood products that have been produced and harvested in a sustainable manner are causing forest landowners and forest industries to become increasingly accountable for their forest management and timber harvesting practices.


See also: ], ] See also: ], ]

Revision as of 04:37, 22 July 2003

Deforestation is the removal of trees, often as a result of human activities. Deforestation has been practiced by humans for thousands of years chiefly as a result of clearing land for commercial and industrial development, intensive collection of firewood, clearing of land for growing crops and to deveop passture for grazing animals. The rate of clearance increased during the second half of the ninenteenth century due to agricultural expansion in Europe and there has been massive increases since then. Currently major worries concern the loss of tropical rainforest, one fifth of which was destroyed between 1960 and 1990. 12 million hectares of tropical forest are lost each year, a land approximately the size of England.

Deforestation is often cited as one of the major causes of the enhanced greenhouse effect. Trees remove carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) from the atmosphere during the process of photosynthesis. Both the rotting and burning of the wood releases this stored carbon carbon dioxide back in to the atmosphere.

Pressure has been exerted on forests by the worldwide demand for wood and by local people who clear forests in their quests to establish an agrarian land base. Clearing of forests for the development of pasture for cattle has also resulted in deforestation as has the encroachment upon forests due to increasing human populations.

Deforestation promotes erosion of soil. Under normal circumstances trees and bushes and the forest floor act as a 'sponge' for rainfall, slowing its' overland and underground flow and releasing it back into the atmosphere through transpiration. Without the buffering effect of forest cover, rain impacting bare soil runs off, often causing flooding. In this environment, nutrients in the soil are leached off and the microorganisms which can replenish these nutrients are disturbed.

Forests are rich in . Deforestation causes the destruction of the habitats that support biological diversity.

Some societies are making efforts to stop or slow deforestation. In China, where large scale destruction of forests has occurred, each citizen must plant at least 11 trees every year. In western countries, increasing consumer demand for wood products that have been produced and harvested in a sustainable manner are causing forest landowners and forest industries to become increasingly accountable for their forest management and timber harvesting practices.

See also: desertification, forestry