Deforestation
How Deforestation
Effects environment
Dr. Abhinandan Bhardwaj PhD
Many of the
earth’s most delicate ecosystems have been
affected by rampant and irresponsible
deforestation. Although the dire effects are
well known and documented by researches around
the world, deforestation still persists by those
who still break the law and for illegal
business.
Deforestation happens when trees are cut down on
a wide scale. This leads to widespread
disruption of a forest ecosystem. When a forest
is cleared, the rich topsoil is exposed.
The rain that falls on the exposed soil converts
that rich topsoil into a sealed-off soil that is
moist and muddy. It causes the soil to be washed
easily into waterways. What is left behind is
poor subsoil that leaves the land vulnerable to
more natural erosion. In other words,
deforestation leads to massive soil and land
erosion.
What happens When
Deforestation happens?
When deforestation happens in tropical rain
forests the effects are more devastating. It is
because humus topsoil in tropical rain forests
is known to be very thin and lacking in
nutrients, so when deforestation occurs, the
topsoil that is left behind is very vulnerable
and will tend to wash away and erode easily.
After deforestation in tropical rain forests,
the only thing left is very poor nutrient, hard,
clay-like subsoil that is not rich enough to
sustain most forms of agriculture.
Sediments that are washed away eventually enter
our drains, streams and rivers. These eroding
sediments are often responsible for clogging up
water channel leading to the problem of
flooding. Soil erosion upsets surrounding
ecosystems and has been known to be responsible
for killing off the fishes and flooding
reservoirs.
However despite all the ill effects,
deforestation still happens around the world at
alarming rates, especially in developing
countries. A survey carried out by the United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
estimates that 33.8 million trees were cleared
between 1990 and 1995 in developing countries.
That area would be 3 times the size of France!
Why? What is happening? It is because forests
are ready source of timber and wealth and after
the forests are cleared, there’s room for
agriculture. Most of the agriculture is directed
the to the planting of cash crops and grass and
other crops to support greater beef promotion. |
