Stopping deforestation before it reaches a critical point will play a key role in avoiding the next zoonotic pandemic. Climate change has accelerated the rate of ice loss across the continent.
The groundbreaking promise of cellular housekeeping. About 17 percent of the Amazonian rainforest has been destroyed over the past 50 years, and losses recently have been on the rise. This, in turn, contributes to destroying forests, intensifying deforestation even more. These uncontacted tribes live by the rules of nature but are becoming increasingly vulnerable to deforestation, which has forced many of them to migrate. Explore WebHabitat destruction is the issue most often cited for the problems now facing Florida wildlife. The closer humans are to animals, the greater the opportunity for zoonotic spillover, where a pathogen jumps from animal to human. Through land erosion, the soil is depleted of its nutrients, a huge source of nourishment for animals and plants. Learn about conservation and open space in your state. The scientific consensus on deforestation is that it intensifies climate change at a dramatic rate. To answer the question of how deforestation affects the environment, it is important to look at why humans need forests in the first place. A man sprays to kill the Aedes mosquito that carries the yellow fever virus in Matadi, Democratic Republic of the Congo. What if we could clean them out? Many replanting and reforestation efforts are led and funded by the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations. All told, deforestation causes a triple-whammy of global warming: We lose a crucial ally in keeping excess carbon out of the atmosphere (and in slowing global warming), Even more emissions are created when felled trees release the carbon theyd been storing, and rot or burn on the forest floor, and This water replenishes clouds and maintains rainfall. For instance, in Liberia forest clearings for palm oil plantations attract hordes of typically forest-dwelling mice, lured there by the abundance of palm fruit around plantations and settlements. EarthTalk is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Eighty percent of Earths land animals and plants live in forests, and deforestation threatens species including the orangutan, Sumatran tiger, and many species of birds. If trees are removed, the area can become much warmer and drier, which may result in desertification, which is a transformation of once fertile land into desert. The REDD program has channeled over $117 million in direct financial aid and educational support into national deforestation reduction efforts in 44 developing countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America since its 2008 inception. , Ice. 59% occurs in Latin America, with a further 28% from Southeast Asia. One way some tropical countries are reducing deforestation is through participation in the United Nations Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) program. Water sources in deforested areas were shown to have higher nitrate levels, lower dissolved oxygen levels, and somewhat higher temperatures (from 20 to 23 degrees Celsius on average) than in forested areas. Yarborough morosely added: The water used to be so clear you could see the seagrass move back and forth. To meet the needs of the rapidly growing human population and protect global food supplies, agricultural expansion has occurred on a massive scale, accounting for 90% of deforestation Deforestation also affects nearby rivers, streams, and other water sources as nutrients from the soil are removed through leaching, which happens when water (e.g., Deforestations effects reach far beyond the people and animals where trees are cut. Deforestation deprives the land of its cover, leaving the soil exposed to wind and rain. Bats and agaves make tequila possibleand theyre both at risk, This empress was the most dangerous woman in Rome. The destruction of trees may, therefore, encourage global warming. Deforestation refers to the intentional clearing of forest lands for urban expansion, cattle farming, agricultural cropland, and other human purposes. Forests cover about 30 percent of the planet's land mass, but humans are cutting them down, clearing these essential habitats on a massive scale. In the South Asian Monsoon region, the reduction in rainfall is even higher, with around 18% less rain recorded in India in a single year. It was the first known emergence of Nipah virus in people, which has since caused a string of recurrent outbreaks across Southeast Asia. In humans, the virus causes hemorrhagic feverthe same kind of illness triggered by Ebola virusand in Liberia killed 36 percent of infected people. https://www.britannica.com/science/deforestation, Academia - Deforestation: Causes, Effects and Control Strategies, LiveScience - Deforestation: Facts, Causes and Effects, deforestation - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), deforestation - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Mexican avocados shipped for Super Bowl named in complaint. When does spring start? WebIn 2010, United States had 252Mha of natural forest, extending over 29% of its land area. Trees transpire, or release water into the atmosphere, during photosynthesis. The 'extreme cruelty' around the global trade in frog legs, What does cancer smell like? Among the main reasons for this damaging practice are agricultural expansion and cattle breeding as well as to obtain raw materials such as palm oil, a key ingredient in cosmetics and food products widely used around the world, and timber used for fuel, manufacturing, and infrastructure development. It has been shown that the deforestation of the Amazon contributes to a decline in pasture productivity of about 39% as well as a drop of soy yields of nearly 25% in over half of the Amazon region and of a staggering 60% in a third of the area. Along with Indigenous tribes, animals are some of the biggest victims of deforestation. Organizations and activists are working to fight illegal mining and loggingNational Geographic Explorer Topher White, for example, has come up with a way to use recycled cell phones to monitor for chainsaws. Roads serve as barriers, confining many species of wildlife within restricted areas. Estimates based on current growth rates suggest Florida could lose an additional seven million acres of rural and natural lands to urban uses within the next 50 years. Figure 1: Tropical primary forest loss between 2002 and 2020. These animals can sniff it out. Virus-carrying rodents have also been spotted in deforested areas in Panama, Bolivia, and in Brazil. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Long COVID patients turn to unproven treatments, Why evenings can be harder on people with dementia, This disease often goes under-diagnosedunless youre white, This sacred site could be Georgias first national park, See glow-in-the-dark mushrooms in Brazils other rainforest, 9 things to know about Holi, Indias most colorful festival, Anyone can discover a fossil on this beach. Greatly accelerated by human activities since 1960, deforestation has been negatively affecting natural ecosystems, biodiversity, and the climate. Obviously, Florida's native Decades of often poisonous politics have pushed the Everglades, one of the largest and perhaps best-known wetlands in the world, down the path of entropy and potential collapse. Thanks to the program, Brazil has slowed deforestation within its borders by 40 percent since 2008 and is on track to achieve an 80 percent reduction by 2020. Wildlife habitat has declined and even disappeared during the past 100 years as natural lands were converted to agriculture, range lands, and expanding urban areas. Which travel companies promote harmful wildlife activities? Ron DeSantis with his wife Casey. Deforestation is a major cause of soil erosion, perhaps the main cause. Which travel companies promote harmful wildlife activities? The tourism industry, worth about $67bn annually to Florida, trembled. The patient is on life support at the moment, said Steve Davis, senior ecologist at conservation not-for-profit Everglades Foundation, describing what was once a prime fishing area in the western portion of the bay. Indeed, millions of people living in these areas depend almost entirely on agriculture and are thus extremely vulnerable to the impact of deforestation on food security, struggling to grow enough food and prevent crops from damage. Where humans once used sticks and stones, they have since developed technology that dramatically accelerated the speed of erosion, Wilkinson said. Deforestation: Which countries are still cutting down trees?Brazil: Illegal logging continues. Some 60% of the Amazon rainforest is in Brazil, and it plays a vital role in absorbing harmful CO2 that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere.Congo basin: Agriculture and mining. The Congo forest basin is the second-largest rainforest in the world. Indonesia: Palm oil plantations. maintaining Although most of the areas cleared for crops and grazing represent permanent and continuing deforestation, deforestation can be transient. Long COVID patients turn to unproven treatments, Why evenings can be harder on people with dementia, This disease often goes under-diagnosedunless youre white, This sacred site could be Georgias first national park, See glow-in-the-dark mushrooms in Brazils other rainforest, 9 things to know about Holi, Indias most colorful festival, Anyone can discover a fossil on this beach. Which is worse deforestation or desertification? While deforestation may occur locally, its effect is global. Our water and natural resources are the foundation of our economy and our way of life in Florida, DeSantis said. Brazil is among the countries embracing REDD among other efforts to reduce carbon emissions. DeSantis has called for the resignations of the entire South Florida Water Management District board, which controls water policy for the region, and has appointed two members Ron Alligator Ron Bergeron and Chauncey Goss who both have strong green credentials. That disruption leads to more extreme temperature swings that can be harmful to plants and animals. Forests around the world are home to more than, 80% of all terrestrial animal, plant, and insect species. Participating nations can then accrue and sell carbon pollution credits when they can prove they have lowered deforestation below a baseline. The scientific consensus on deforestation is that it intensifies climate change at a dramatic rate. According to a 2010 congressional study, 17 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation, from both burning trees and the resulting loss of photosynthesis, which removes carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) from the atmosphere. Typically, the land produces for only a few years and then must be abandoned and new patches of forest burned. A wedge-shaped expanse of water between the Everglades and the Florida Keys, it is a clean, sun-dappled 1,000 sq mile playground for reddening tourists, grizzled fishermen and loud-shirted locals. Hand-picked stories once a fortnight. Eco-friendly burial alternatives, explained. Knowing how deforestation affect the environment more than one way and its catastrophic effects on the planet, it is crucial that people around the world take action to mitigate its impact. The Everglades faces the threat of salty inundation on all sides, with the sea level at its edge rising by about 5in since 2001. While some of them move into areas occupied by other tribes, straining the lands resources, others are forced to relocate to urban settings and completely change their way of living. . Statistics show that deforestation in the tropics reduces precipitation over the Amazon by around 10%, or 138 millimeter, every year. By 1999, 265 people had developed a severe brain inflammation, and 105 had died. Whether you need help solving quadratic equations, inspiration for the upcoming science fair or the latest update on a major storm, Sciencing is here to help. But the consequences of Floridas century-long attempt to bend the environment to its will arent hard to find. Deforestation is the purposeful cleaning of forest land for other uses. Clearing patches of forest appears to create ideal habitat along forest edges for the mosquito Anopheles darlingithe most important transmitter of malaria in the Amazonto breed. WebHabitat destruction is the issue most often cited for the problems now facing Florida wildlife. Clearing like this is linked to the spread of infectious diseases like malaria. , Wind. Abstract and Figures. Photograph by William Daniels, Nat Geo Image Collection. the environment more than one way and its catastrophic effects on the planet, it is crucial that people around the world take action to mitigate its impact. Scientists just confirmed a 30-foot void first detected inside the monument years ago. The effects of soil erosion go beyond the loss of fertile land. The organization Amazon Conservation reports that destruction rose by 21 percent in 2020, a loss the size of Israel. In fact, 60 percent of new infectious diseases that emerge in peopleincluding HIV, Ebola, and Nipah, all of which originated in forest-dwelling animalsare transmitted by a range of other animals, the vast majority of them wildlife. WebDeforestation affects the world in a negative way, with the most dramatic impact being the loss of habitat for millions of species. Such processes arent limited to tropical diseases. Old cells hang around as we age, doing damage to the body. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe. However, the rapid destruction of forests is contributing to a decline in biodiversity never seen before. Human interaction The destruction of forests and the splitting up into smaller areas makes them more accessible to humans. Animal agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation. Alfonso Rodriguez-Morales, a medical researcher and tropical disease expert at Colombias Universidad Tecnolgica de Pereira, fears that their ranges will increase following the resurgence of fires in the Amazon this year. Its one of many infectious diseases usually confined to wildlife that have spilled over to people in areas undergoing rapid forest clearing. One of the most dangerous and unsettling effects of deforestation is the loss of animal and plant species due to their loss of habitat. What is the difference between deforestation and logging? Deforestation is the mass destruction of trees in a forest. Often in an effort to clear a large area of land and convert it to a non-forest use. While logging is simply the act of cutting down trees for the purpose of making timber. The Amazon rainforest is home to over one million Indigenous people, mostly of Indian descent, divided into more than 400 indigenous tribes. There, a number of diseases transmitted by a wide range of animalsfrom blood-sucking bugs to snailshave been linked to deforestation. Florida has even thrown itself into a legal battle to halt a controversial oil drilling project in the north-eastern reaches of the Everglades. Studies show that 15,3 billion trees are chopped down every year and over the past 12,000 years, nearly 50% of the worlds trees have been purposefully cleared by humans. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. for achieving the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. Yet the mass destruction of treesdeforestationcontinues, sacrificing the long-term benefits of standing trees for short-term gain of fuel, and materials for manufacturing and construction. Large scale tree cutting can lead to deforestation, a transformation of an area from forest to terrain with little vegetation. But its hard to convince the poor residents of the Amazon basin and other tropical regions of the world to stop cutting down trees when the forests are still worth more dead than alive. Along with Indigenous tribes, animals are some of the biggest victims of deforestation. Boost this article Forestry practices, wildfires and, in small part, urbanization account for the rest. All rights reserved. The extent to which forests have become Earths grazing lands is much more difficult to assess. . Some is caused by a combination of human and natural factors like wildfires and overgrazing, which may prevent the growth of young trees. Removing plants removes the stabilizing effects of the roots on the soil. Forests are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet. Less certain are the humid tropical forests and some drier tropical woodlands that have been cleared for grazing. Photograph by Paul Nicklen, Nat Geo Image Collection. On average, they found that the Malaysian government spends around $5,000 to treat each new malaria patient in the regionin some areas much more than they spend on malaria control, Zambrana-Torrelio says. Sign in with your username (email address) and password. A mans world? Explore our digital archive back to 1845, including articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners. Cutting down trees can disrupt the cycle by decreasing precipitation and affecting river flow and water volume. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. Significance. We'll be adding other personal features soon. With nearly 17% of the forest lost already, the Amazon is currently at its tipping point. There is also the imminent danger of disease caused by deforestation. On a governmental level, the consequences of deforestation can be mitigated by introducing policies that protect natural forests and regulate mining and logging operations as well as other operations that require the destruction of tree plantations. We cut down forests to build our homes and feed our growing population, while destroying the homes and food of our native wildlife. However, deforestation is turning these sinks into huge net emitters, something that can have huge implications for slowing the pace of climate change and contributing to a steep rise in global temperatures. The Amazon Rainforest is the largest remaining block of humid tropical forest, and about two-thirds of it is in Brazil. Oliver Milman traveled to the Everglades as a guest of the Everglades Foundation. Since different species eat different foods and live in different types of habitats, a diverse set of vegetation can enable a greater variety of animals to live in an area.
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