Consequences of Deforestation by Ritika Agarwal

 ‘Deforestation’ describes the complete long term removal of tree
cover. The loss forest cover influences the climate and contributes to
a loss of biodiversity. The economic activity is adversely affected by
siltation, flooding, soil degradation and reduced timber supplies.
Thus, in turn, threatens the livelihood of people.
 Deforestation is one of the major causes to the environmental
degradation which is affected by the agents like small farmers,
ranches, loggers and plantation companies. There is a broad
consensus that expansion of cropped areas and pastures are a
major source of deforestation.
There are an estimated 300 million people all over the world living
as shifting cultivators who practice slash and burn agriculture and
are supposed to clear more than 5 lakh ha of forests for shifting
cultivation annually. Conversion of forests to agricultural land to
feed growing needs of people. .
In India, we have this practice in North-east and to some extend in
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and M.P. which contribute to nearly half of
the forest clearing annually.
2. Commercial logging
(Which supplies the world market with woods such as meranti, teak,
mahogany and ebony) destroys trees as well as opening up forest for
agriculture. Cutting of trees for fire wood and building material, the heavy
lopping of foliage for fodder and heavy grazing of saplings by domestic
animals like goals.
3. Mining:
This causes environmental impacts like erosion, formation of sinkholes,
loss of biodiversity, and contamination of soil, groundwater and surface
water by chemicals from mining processes.
4. Increase in population:
The needs also increase and utilize forests resources. To meet the
demands of rapidly growing population, agricultural lands and
settlements are created permanently by clearing forests.
5. Urbanization and industrialization:

Since Industrialization and Urbanization needs land to grow, so major
amount of forest lands are cut in order to promote Industrialization and
Urbanization. This creates harmful effect on environment and forest
ecological balance.
For building big dams, large scale devastation of forests
takes place which breaks the natural ecological balance of
the region. Floods, droughts and landslides become more
prevalent in such areas. Forests are the repositories of
invaluable gifts of nature in the form of biodiversity and by
destroying these we are going to lose these species even
before knowing them. These species could be having
marvelous economic or medicinal value. These storehouses
of species which have evolved over millions of years get lost
due to deforestation in a single stroke.
Overgrazing occurs when plants are exposed to intensive grazing
for extended periods of time, or without sufficient recovery periods.
It can be caused by either livestock in poorly managed agricultural
applications, or by overpopulations of native or non- native wild
animals.
Overgrazing reduces the usefulness, productivity, and biodiversity
of the land and is one cause of desertification and erosion.
Overgrazing is also seen as a cause of the spread of invasive
species of non-native plants and of weeds .
Depending on the needs of the social groups concerned, deforestation has made it
possible for communities to be built. Forest makes way for residential houses,
office buildings and factories. Governments are able to built reads to make trade
and transport easier and therefore more convenient to residents.
Deforestation can also mean the conversion of forest land to productive land for
agricultural uses. This results in better and more abundant production of food and
materials, virtually eradicating periods of want and lack. Economically,
deforestation has contributed much in giving many communities the opportunity to
make positive changes in their times. Unfortunately, the negative consequences of
deforestation for outweigh its positive effects.
Here are few of them.
 Non suitability of deforested area for
conservation. Most of the area that has
undergone deforestation is actually unsuitable
for long-term agricultural use such as ranching
and forming. Once deprived of their forest cover,
the lands rapidly degrade in quality, losing their
fertility and arability.
 The soil in many deforested areas in also

unsuitable for supporting annual crops. Much of
the grassy areas are also not as productive
compared to more arable soils and are therefore
not fit for long-term cattle grazing.
The occurrence and strength of floods and
droughts affecting the economy. It also leads
to loss of future markets for economism. The
value of a forest is often higher when it is left
standing than it could be worth when it is
harvested.
GLOBAL WARMING & CLIMATE CHANGE
It is a major affect of deforestation endangering the survival
of life on earth
According to the United Nation's Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), the 33 million acres of forestland that are lost
annually around the globe are responsible for 20% of human-
caused greenhouse gas emissions. Deforestation also contributes
to air and water pollution, a loss of biodiversity, erosion, and
climatic disruption.
So what can you do about deforestation?
One easy way to combat deforestation is to plant a tree. But you can
take it one step further by making sure the choices you make at
home, at the store, at work, and on the menu don’t contribute to
the problem. Here’s what you can do about deforestation.
1. Plant a tree.
2. Go paperless.
3. . Recycle and buy recycled
products
4. Look for Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC)
certification on wood and
wood products.
5. Eat vegetarian meals as
often as possible.
NAME- RITIKA AGARWAL
CLASS- 9TH ‘B’
ROLL NO.- 920
SUBMITTED TO- R/S Mrs.

SANDHYA KHANNA

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 ‘Deforestation’ describes the complete long term removal of tree

5. Urbanization and industrialization:

 The soil in many deforested areas in also

SUBMITTED TO- R/S Mrs.

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