Reserach Paper on Deforestation

Criteria

State why deforestation occurs

State the impacts of deforestation it has on the environment/people

What can be done to improve deforestation

State why people need to be aware of the issue of deforestation

Bibliography

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/various-deforestation-facts.php#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20United%20Nations,forest%20are%20lost%20each%20year.

https://greentumble.com/15-strategies-to-reduce-deforestation/

https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/forests/solutions-to-deforestation/

What is deforestation? 

Deforestation refers to the permanent, intentional clearing of trees in forestry areas in which are lost for many different reasons. The main reasons for deforestation can include agriculture, mining, land clearing, commercial logging, and many more human activities. Deforestation has been greatly accelerated by human figures and is commonly known to negatively affect our environment, biodiversity, natural habitats, and natural climate. 

Why deforestation occurs. 

Research has shown that the use of deforestation has grown significantly over the past decade on account of the growing demand for a variety of products. This can be displayed in the fact that we approximately lose 7.3 million hectares of forest every year! Because rainforests have the potential to provide a wide variety of resources it is hard for people to resist using their natural resources and area. Rainforest deforestation is heavily relied on to provide for people, but especially for people in poverty. This is because people who live in more developing countries have very limited access to choosing another area and materials they can use for their own benefit. Therefore rainforest deforestation is being used for economic gain. There are many reasons which add to the increase of deforestation, however, agricultural uses are known to be the biggest culprit. Causes of deforestation include farming, mining, agricultural land clearing, etc. 

Impacts of deforestation on environment/ people. 

The effects of deforestation are very threatening, however, we do not realise the destruction we are causing. Deforestation causes disruption to our natural environment as well as people.  The cutting down of one singular tree can cause bigger damage we might not be able to realise. Deforestation has a dramatic impact on the environment in which the regulating effect on the planet is lost and carbon dioxide is released into the Earth’s atmosphere accelerating the rate of global warming. The loss of trees and other additional vegetation can also consequence in soil erosion. The action of deforestation weakens and decreases the quality of the soil. This is commonly a consequence because the trees provide the soil shelter from supplementary wind and rain, however, when trees are removed the land becomes exposed, resulting, in the soil becoming dry and unhealthy. This also leaves more vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods or landslides. Biodiversity is also notably affected by the action of cutting down trees on a large scale. The loss of natural environments is the primary reason why species are becoming endangered and extinct. Biodiversity loss is the direct lead from deforestation. Animal species that rely on trees become vulnerable to extinction when trees are cut down. They no longer have their habitat and often do not have the chance to relocate, therefore, becoming extinct. The action of clearing forests creates smaller islands of vegetation, making it more difficult for animals to breed and communicate with each other. People are also affected by the removal of rainforests. Indigenous people feel the effects of deforestation first, others also experience negative consequences. Once forest land is cleared a new group of people also known as occupiers move into the area. The indigenous people who owned that land prior often are replaced by the occupiers, therefore, resulting in their cultures and their traditional ways of life disappear. Diseases such as the flu or measles can also be transferred from outsiders, and because they do not have natural immunity entire populations are extremely vulnerable to being wiped out. 

What can be done to improve deforestation? 

Despite our losing fight against deforestation, there are many ways to help conserve and decrease the extinction rate of many vulnerable rainforests around the world. Some strategies to help reduce deforestation include; 

Reducing your consumption of wood and paper products

Buying and using recycled products

Reducing your red meat consumption

Raising awareness 

Neglecting products containing palm oil 

Supporting organisations fighting against deforestation

Respecting the rights of indigenous people 

Buying sustainable timber 

Planting a tree

All of these strategies are very important if we want the best chance to conserve our wildlife and defend the rights of forest communities. These solutions are also very effective, cost effective and the quickest way to restraint the rate of global warming. These solutions are also very good possible constituents that you can do by yourself at home. It may not seem like it, but these strategies do have a very positive effect on the environment and do make a change! 

Why people need to be aware of deforestation

Deforestation is so permanent that people must be informed on this or if not the future generations will be impacted, not knowing what is coming. Studying deforestation can help us predict what will happen in the near future. Future generations will have to rely on our current knowledge to expand more on their understanding of deforestation, and if we aren’t aware of this the future generations would not know how to cope with this undergoing battle of deforestation. Having a good understanding of deforestation will also make you think more about the choices you make and the consequences that they have. This will also decline the rate of deforestation. If people are not aware of their actions and deforestation and do not think about how deforestation can be improved more than 50 percent of our animal and plant species will become extinct!