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Causes & Effects of Deforestation

Trees are organisms that take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and give off oxygen. Life as we know it could not exist without trees and photosynthesizing plants. Forests provide atmospheric control as well as materials for human consumption, from food to building materials. Deforestation has many causes, but is increasing with the human population, with potentially negative results. As of 2011, approximately half of the world's forests are gone, and more disappear each year.

  1. Deforestation Statistics

    • According to the University of Michigan, the Earth loses approximately 16 million hectares of its forests each year. Old-growth forests, or original forests that remain intact, are now restricted to roughly three areas in the world -- the Canadian and Alaskan boreal forest, the boreal forest of Russia and the tropical forest of the northwestern Amazon basin and the Guyana Shield. These areas represent approximately 22 percent of the earth's original forest cover. Most of the world's remaining forests are in the tropics, just over 50 percent, with the rest being temperate or boreal zones.

    Causes of Deforestation

    • Many of the causes of destruction of the Earth's forests are linked to human population growth and poverty. As the population grows, so does the need for food. Forests are often cleared to make room for farming and livestock. Logging for building materials, fuel and other industrial products also occurs. Dams and hydroelectric projects can contribute to loss of wooded habitat. In poorer nations, governments sometimes sell areas of land to pay debts. Development and industry are often seen as the only ways to bring in capital, both for governments and individuals.

    Environmental Impacts

    • Much of the debate regarding ozone and climate change centers on the warming of the atmosphere due to greenhouse gases. Trees keep down the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, too much of which is linked to global warming and other climate-related phenomenon. Trees also protect soil, giving it nutrients and shade, which keeps it fertile and moist, preventing desert or arid conditions. Forests all over the world provide habitat for animal and plant species; over 70 percent of all animal species live in forests. The Amazon rain forest may hold undiscovered plant and animal species, some of which may be helpful to humans.

    Unknown Impacts

    • Although many effects of deforestation can be seen or experienced immediately, according to NASA, tropical deforestation can have far-reaching impacts on the human species. Trees help the planet hold on to water, cool down air temperature and provide adequate soil for food. Cutting down trees and forests can kill off animal, plant, bacteria and fungi species that may be critical for improving food quality or discovering cures for diseases. Maintaining planetary diversity is crucial for life on Earth.

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