Effects of Deforestation

The issue of deforestation and its effects on the environment are in constant debate for years. It is believed that the environmental effects caused due to deforestation are devastating and will become permanently disastrous in the years to come. Deforestation is harmful to the environment and leads to severe changes in climate, decline of wildlife and loss of soil.

The loss of forests means the loss of habitations for many species. Statistics show that nearly 100 species become extinct every day with a large portion being extinct due to deforestation.

This unnatural extinction of species endangers the world’s food supply, threatens many human resources and has deep implications for biological diversity. Another negative environmental impact of deforestation is climatic changes all over the world. Plant life is essential for the existence of life of other living organisms as it produces much of the oxygen that is required for humans and other organisms to respire.

The massive destruction of trees adversely affects the quantity and quality of the air we breathe. This has direct consequences on the quantity and quality of life among both humans and animals alike. With the reduced amount of plants, there is increase of carbon dioxide levels in the Earth’s atmosphere. Moreover, deforestation would cause decrease in rainfall. The average temperature of soil will rise. This adds to the phenomenon called, `global warming’, which is also directly related to the declining amounts of forest areas on the Earth.

Soil erosion caused by deforestation is also a major concern among most environmentalists. The removal of wood causes loss of nutrients in the soil, especially if the period between harvests is not long enough. The removal of tree roots can cause serious landslides and unpredictability that can be seen in the tropical rain forests. However, the recent techniques related to logging have decreased the amount of soil erosion under most circumstances but it is nearly impossible to stop erosion from happening.

Forests are an important part of maintaining the Earth’s biological and ecological diversity. They lead to economic wellbeing of many regions. If we can maintain a balance between the two and take part in the reforestation efforts, than the negative environmental effects would be greatly reduced. Irrespective, the negative environmental effects do exist and their causes, impact and measures will be discussed for many years to come.