53 Views

causes and effects of deforestation


Laxman Thangallapally 7th Oct, 2021
Answers (2)

Hello,

I hope you are doing good,

The Cause of Deforestration:

1. Agriculture is the No. 1 cause of deforestation (~ 80%)

According to the FAO, agriculture accounts for about 80% of deforestation. According to the same report, 33% of deforestation caused by agriculture is the result of subsistence agriculture - as is the farming of local farmers in developing countries.

Commercial or industrial agriculture (field crops and livestock) cause about 40% of forest losses - in search of space to grow food, fiber or biofuel (such as beans, palm oil, beef, rice, maize, cotton and sugarcane). It is particularly interesting to note that livestock are believed to be responsible for about 14% of the world's deforestation. The main reasons why they are related to large areas require both animal husbandry but also the development of their diet (soybean-based).


2. Deforestation caused by new construction (~ 15%)

The construction of human infrastructure has also contributed to deforestation. Specifically, 10% of deforestation can be attributed to new infrastructure that serves the current human lifestyle in four main ways: transportation, transformation and energy generation.

On the other hand, roads, railways, ports or airports have been built to transport all kinds of goods - from grain and fruit to spices, minerals or fossil fuels - either directly to commercial centers or transition areas. So when at first there were only fruit trees, the roads came quickly to allow the distribution of fruit to other regions. And while some goods are collected and collected by hand, others such as coal, oil, natural gas, biomass, but also meat, milk or spirits, required the construction of a major extraction, distribution and / or transformation infrastructure.

3. How Urban Living Causes Deforestation (~ 5%)

The shift in population from rural to urban areas also contributes to deforestation (5%, according to the FAO). This urbanization - where 68% of the world's population is expected to live in cities by 2050 - has led to significant growth in residential and commercial use. And as cities become larger enough to accommodate more people, they challenge the natural boundaries around them, often leading to deforestation. This is one of the reasons why deforestation is happening.

The Environmental Impact of High-Forests Deforestation

Loss of Habitat

One of the most dangerous and unfortunate consequences of deforestation is the loss of species and the loss of species. 70% of the world's species of animals and plant species live in forests. It is not only deforestation that threatens the species we know, but also those that do not.


The trees of the forest that provide shelter for some species also provide a bed that controls the temperature. Deforestation is causing widespread fluctuations in temperature, such as in the desert, which can kill many residents.


Increased Global Warming

In addition to the loss of habitat, the lack of trees also allows a large amount of greenhouse gases to be released into the air. Healthy forests absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, acting as carbon dioxide. Deforested areas lose that ability and release more carbon.


Water in the Atmosphere

Trees also help control the water level in the atmosphere by helping to regulate the water cycle. In forested areas, there is little air in the air that should be returned to the soil. This in turn creates dry soil and inability to grow crops.

THANK YOU!!!

Nitin Mereddy 7th Oct, 2021

Deforestation refers to the decrease in forest areas across the world that are lost for other uses such as agricultural croplands, urbanization, or mining activities. Greatly accelerated by human activities since 1960, deforestation has been negatively affecting natural ecosystems, biodiversity, and the climate. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the annual rate of deforestation to be around 1.3 million km 2 per decade.

The construction of human infrastructures has also been driving deforestation. More specifically, 10% of deforestation can be attributed to new infrastructures that serve the current human lifestyle in four main ways: transportation, transformation and energy generation.

On one hand, roads, rails, ports or airports have been built to move all sorts of goods – from cereals and fruits to spices, minerals or fossil fuels – either directly to trade centers or to transformation sites. So while at first there were only fruit trees, roads soon arrived to allow transporting fruit to other regions. And while some goods were and are collected manually, others such as coal, oil, natural gas, biomass, but also meat, dairy or spirits, required the construction of large extraction, transportation and/or transformation infrastructures.

Related Questions

UPES Integrated LLB Admission...
Apply
Ranked #28 amongst Institutions in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in India for Academic Reputation by QS University Rankings | 16.6 LPA Highest CTC
Jindal Global Law School Admi...
Apply
Ranked #1 Law School in India & South Asia by QS- World University Rankings | Merit cum means scholarships | Application Deadline: 30th Nov'24
Chandigarh University Admissi...
Apply
Ranked #1 Among all Private Indian Universities In QS Asia Rankings 2025 | Scholarships worth 210 CR
Great Lakes PGPM & PGDM 2025
Apply
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024
ICFAI Business School-IBSAT 2024
Apply
9 IBS Campuses | Scholarships Worth Rs 10 CR
Nirma University Law Admissio...
Apply
Grade 'A+' accredited by NAAC
View All Application Forms

Download the Careers360 App on your Android phone

Regular exam updates, QnA, Predictors, College Applications & E-books now on your Mobile

150M+ Students
30,000+ Colleges
500+ Exams
1500+ E-books