Deforestation - Its Effects on the Environment and How to Control It
Deforestation is the process of clearing or removal and destroying greenery through natural or human intervention in a specific area. Deforestation in India and other areas may occur where there is a massive presence of plant life. Removal or depletion of trees results in climatic changes, the disappearance of wildlife, soil erosion, and greenhouse gases emissions, etc.
The loss of trees adversely affects every biological life in all possible ways. With time, these become more prominent to humankind, as well as other species inhabiting this planet. If you want to learn about the causes and effects of deforestation, the below pointers will give you a clear insight.
Deforestation means cutting or clearing trees or forests on a high scale over a large area for the facilitation of human activities. Deforestation disturbs the ecosystem and the ecological balance in nature. It leads to unpredictable changes in the weather and climate patterns across the world. It is a severe environmental concern since it can result in the loss of biodiversity—disturbances in the water cycle, damage in natural habitats, and soil erosion. Deforestation is also a significant contribution to global warming and climate change.
Trees can be cut to provide land for cultivation and housing. People cut trees to provide land for houses, buildings, roads, and factories fuel. However, to meet the constantly increasing demand for wood and timber overgrazing by animals, cutting trees for mining activities, the adverse effects of deforestation are reduction in the forest area, reduction in the population of wild animals, imbalance in environmental conditions, soil erosion and loss of soil fertility increase in atmospheric temperature fall in groundwater level.
Effects of Deforestation
Reduction in greenery does not just increase pollution levels but also hinders the ecological balance on Earth. Read below about some of the effects of deforestation.
Loss of trees results in the extinction of wildlife. It also results in the loss of their habitat. Around 70 percent of the Earth’s wildlife resides in the forests, and loss of their surroundings results in their disappearance.
Also, it results in temperature imbalances in nature, as these trees act as a canopy regulating temperature, and a shelter for animals and birds. Therefore, deforestation in India and other portions of the Earth results in drastic temperature changes.
Trees help to maintain water cycle balance in nature through evaporation, precipitation, and condensation of water particles. In areas lacking greenery, there is less rainfall and an increase in soil erosion. It is because less water returns to the soil, causing dryness, and retarded plant growth.
As you know, trees play a vital role in the generation of oxygen in the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 is a greenhouse gas that increases if trees are cut down at a massive rate. It hampers the balance of the environment resulting in global warming.
Among the other effects of deforestation, soil erosion is the most common one. The plant’s roots actively engage in maintaining the topsoil and retaining moisture in it. Without forest life, the erosion of soil becomes evident, and it further hampers the water cycle causing unexpected climatic imbalances.
You may know forests are home to many dwellers along with plants and animals. The indigenous people residing in such forest lands, depend on these resources to run their livelihood. Destruction of trees causes a threat to the people residing over there.
Due to industrialization and construction projects, a large section of forests gets cleared every year. Due to such activities, not only do animals lose their habitat, but there is also a potential threat to the indigenous people who depend on these forests.
Deforestation has put the entire ecosystem at risk. However, governments have taken multiple measures to stop the removal of plant life. Similarly, you should also spread awareness to discourage deforestation.
Ways to Restore Forests
Deforestation also occurs due to natural causes like forest fires, floods, climate change, and drought. We should try to stop deforestation, here are some ways to restore deforestation: planting new plants, growing more and more plants are helpful and useful for many ages, and it is one of the least we can do to help save our planet, even if it is by little.
Stop printing unnecessarily and try to avoid printing files. You really need to prefer buying recycled goods and products; a recycling icon on the product means it was made from renewable resources. Cattle breeding requires millions of tons of food to plant origin. Do not use firewood for a fireplace to make sure you feel comfortable and luxurious.
Do not harm the whole environment. Avoid buying any products and goods produced by companies that are responsible for deforestation. Cooperate with NGOs that fight against deforestation. Population control is another indirect method to save trees and forest trees to ensure a greener environment. You all must join the efforts in reducing deforestation.
FAQs on How Does Deforestation Affect the Environment
1. What are the main points to remember about deforestation in the environment?
Deforestation is a very vast concept that deals not only with human beings but also impacts every factor around the globe, which in the end affects the living standards and behaviour of humans. Deforestation is favoured only when the trees extracted are getting too grown to nourish further. However, excessive deforestation ultimately affects the respiratory activities of living things, removes lodging for other organisms, and many more problems that can lead to global disasters. Hence, in order to live on earth, we should take care of the environment.
2. What are the rules of protecting the environment?
We humans are in the majority that coexists in the environment. As responsible human beings, we are supposed to take care of the surroundings around us, which is the environment we live in. Some of the things to do to protect the environment are not to abuse anything, not throw trash anywhere, not harm any living organism in any aspect, and try to plant as many trees as possible. These tips might seem small but together they contribute to the welfare of the environment.
3. What is wildlife conservation?
Wildlife conservation mainly involves the protection of wildlife habitats by developing specially protected areas; these include national parks and sanctuaries and biosphere reserves of land declared and owned by a national government protected from most human activities. These are specifically created so that the wildlife can be protected by humans, for humans, as humans should not try to endanger any of the natural species. Trees are cut down so that the wood it provides can be chopped down for the convenience of humans, such as fuel for the purpose of cooking and furniture for decorations. Trees are cut to obtain wood from trees, trees are used to make furniture and paper.
4. Why do humans indulge in deforestation activities?
Deforestation is the removal of large portions of trees and plants from an area. Deforestation in India and other parts of the world occurs for various reasons, such as logging, agriculture, urbanisation and industrial developmental purposes, etc.
5. Who are mostly affected by deforestation?
Through removal of larger sections of greenery on the plant, we humans along with other biotic species get affected even worse. It is because deforestation hampers the ecological balance of Mother Nature. As a result, pollution and extinction of animals become a common phenomenon since they rely on plants for survival.
6. What is the primary difference between afforestation and deforestation?
In simple words, afforestation means planting of trees for a universal benefit, whereas deforestation refers to the process of removal of greenery from the environment. It is what the difference between afforestation and deforestation primarily implies.
7. Which countries are most impacted due to deforestation?
Due to continuous depletion of trees or plants, major portions of the world have got affected. Countries like The United States, Australia, Nigeria, India, The Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, etc. have wide impacts from deforestation.