Deforestation

  Slash-and-burn agriculture is one of the most destructive forms of agriculture that results in large-scale deforestation. It involves the burning of a large area of forest land and the subsequent plantation of crops in the same soil (which is now fertilized by the ashes of the burnt trees). Despite the practice being abandoned by several developed countries, it is still followed in some Southeast Asian countries.

  Causes of Deforestation What are the Human Activities that Cause Deforestation? Agriculture – small-scale and large-scale farming Logging – cutting of trees for use as raw material Mining and urban expansion – clearing of forest area for the construction of infrastructure. According to the secretariat of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), agriculture is the root cause of 80% of deforestation. Logging accounts for another 14% and the cutting of trees for use as wood fuel account for 5%. A pie-chart detailing the driving cause of the deforestation of tropical forests between the years 2000 and 2005 is provided below.

The Data behind Deforestation Forests cover approximately 31% of the total land surface of the Earth. Tropical forests harbour over half of all land-based animal and plant species in the world. Between the years 2000 and 2012, over 568 million acres of forest have been claimed by deforestation. Approximately 9 million acres of virgin tropical forest were cut down in the year 2018. The Amazon rain forest, which is the source of 20% of the world’s oxygen supply, loses approximately 1.32 acres of its area  every minute  due to deforestation .

  Why are Forests Important? Forests combat climate change by absorbing greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide) and acting as a carbon storehouse. They are a source of oxygen, food, clean water, and medicine. They play a vital role in the water cycle – they work to add water to the atmosphere via the process of transpiration. Forests help mitigate the disastrous effects of floods by acting as a floodwater sink. Therefore, deforestation also increases the vulnerability of the landmass to certain natural calamities. The large mass of trees in forest areas combats  soil erosion  by providing mechanical support to the soil. Forests are home to over 50% of all known species on the planet. They account for over 80% of the land-based biodiversity. Globally, forests are home to approximately 30,00,00,000 human beings. They are also a source of raw material for many commercially important products such as paper, wood, and fabric. Approximately 1.6 billion jobs are forest-depende...

  What is Deforestation?     Deforestation can be defined as the large-scale removal of trees from forests (or other lands) for the facilitation of human activities. It is a serious environmental concern since it can result in the loss of biodiversity, damage to natural habitats, disturbances in the   water cycle , and soil erosion. Deforestation is also a contributor to climate change and global warming.