Deforestation-A cause of concern

What Is Deforestation ?

Deforestation : It is the cutting down of trees from an area with no intention of establishing a future stand of trees. Deforestation is when humans remove or clear large areas of forest lands and related ecosystems for non-forest use. These include clearing for farming purposes, ranching and urban use. In these cases, trees are never re-planted. Deforest -ation basically is clearing Earth's forests on a massive scale, often resulting in damage to the quality of the land.

Causes Of Deforestation

Why are trees cut down mercilessly by us human beings? What is the reason to the ruthless cutting down of trees?

Agricultural Activities: Agricultural activities are one of the major factors affecting deforestation. Due to overgrowing demand for food products, huge amount of tress are chopped down every day to grow crops and for cattle gazing

•Logging: Apart from cutting down trees for agricultural purposes and grazing, paper industries, match-stick industries and even industries which manufacture wooden furniture also need a substantial amount of wood supply. Wood is used as fuel both directly and indirectly, therefore trees are chopped for supplies. Firewood and charcoal are examples of wood being used as fuel. Some of these industries thrive on illegal wood cutting and felling of trees.

Urbanization: Further in order to gain access to these forests, there is a massive amount of construction of roads; here again trees are chopped to create roads. Overpopulation too directly affects forest covers, with the considerable growth in population relatively with expansion of cities more land is needed to establish housing and settlements. Therefore forest land is reclaimed

•Desertification of land:  Some of the other factors that lead to deforestation are also part natural and part anthropogenic like Desertification of land. It occurs due to land abuse making it unfit for growth of trees. Many industries in petrochemicals release their waste into rivers which results in soil erosion  and make it unfit to grow plants and trees on the land.

•Mining:  Oil and coal mining require considerable amount of forest land. Apart from this, roads and highways also have to be built for transportation of goods. Mining is extremely harmful to the land as well as atmosphere. Excessive mining can cause land degradation as well as soil erosion. This disables the growth of plants on land.

•Forest Fires:  Another example would be forest blazes; Hundreds of trees are lost each year due to forest fires in various portions of the world most prominently, the Sumatran islands of Indonesia... This happens due to extreme warm summers and milder winters. Forest fires can be manmade or natural. Fires, whether causes by man or nature result in huge loss of forests and trees are excessively burnt along with land which reduces the fertility of that particular area.

Effects Of Deforestation Some of the effects of deforestation are listed below

Increase in Global Warming: Trees play a major role in controlling global warming. The trees utilize the greenhouse gases, restoring the balance in the atmosphere. With constant deforestation, the ratio of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased, adding to our global warming woes

Soil Erosion:  Due to the shade of trees the soil remains moist. With the clearance of tree cover, the soil is directly exposed to the sun, making it dry. This results in dry land without adequate moisture, nutrients for the growth of plants. It in turn leads to soil erosion.

Climate Imbalance: 

Deforestation affects the climate in numerous number of ways. Trees release water vapour in the air, which is compromised on with the lack of trees. Trees also provide the required shade that keeps the soil moist. This leads to the imbalance in the atmospheric temperature further making conditions for the ecology difficult. Flora and fauna across the world are accustomed to their habitat. This hazardous clearance of forests have forced several of these animals to shift from their native environment. Due to this several species are finding it difficult to survive or adapt to new habitats. This is also one of the main reasons for the endangerment of species.

•Floods: When it rains, trees absorb and store large amount of water with the help of their roots. When they are cut down, the flow of water is disrupted and leads to floods in some areas and droughts in other. 

•Wildlife Extinction: Due to massive cutting down of trees, various species of animals are rendered homeless. They lose their habitat and are forced to move to new locations. Some of them are even pushed to extinction. They are sometimes unable to adapt /acclimatize to the sudden changes and often die leading to their endangerment.

•The dodo bird and the dinosaur are examples of endangered species

Movements Against Deforestation

World Rainforest Movement:

It is a network of International NGO’S and peoples’ Associations that are fighting against the forces which are destroying the tropical forests.

It was created in 1986 and was quite successful in achieving it’s goals. It played an important role in championing the rights of Forest-Dwelling Communities.

Chipko movement :

Chipko movement in the Garhwal Himalayas, shoved aside urban armchair naturalists.Led by Chandni Prasad Bhatt and Sunderlal Bahuguna, it was a people’s revolt against mindless deforestation.And they did it simply. By hugging trees when the woodmen came to axe them.

Narmada Bachao Andolan :-

Narmada Bachao Andolan announced the arrival of the India Greens, protesting against destructive development.

“One of the largest and most successful environmental campaigns, Narmada Bachao Andolan began with a wide developmental agenda, questioning the very rationale of large dam projects in India

Conservation Of Forests

•In a country the forests can be protected only if the government takes right step towards it.

•Also, if people do not waste paper  and try  using as least as possible, they can save a lot of trees.

•If there are strict punishments  given to all those who are illegally trading with forest goods.

People should be made aware of value of forests

Follow ‘TREES'

•Teach others about the importance of the environment and how they can help save rainforests.

•Restore damaged ecosystems by planting trees on land where forests have been cut down.

•Encourage people to live in a way that doesn't hurt the environment.

•Establish parks to protect rainforests and wildlife.

•Support companies that operate in ways that minimize damage to the environment

Fascinating !

•Is agriculture being the main cause of deforestation?

•Why is it considered that planting more trees is not the only solution for deforestation

•How is the world going to change over in 10 years?

•How can we use less paper?

•Who would play a better part in stopping deforestation, the youth or elderly?

•Do you think just studying pages and pages about deforestation would contribute in saving trees?

•If deforestation is stopped now then would the at present reserves be enough for the basic needs of World’s population?

•Do you think the whole world’s population is aware about deforestation?

•Whom is deforestation going to affect mostly?

Message

Deforestation is seen to be a great issue or a cause of concern today. But, people have understood the value of nature and have reacted to protect the it. Especially the forests , trees and plants  play a vital role in the ecological systems. Humans have understood the trivia they are facing and have come up with various plans to protect nature.  So the main focus of environmentalists and other nature-related people who are concerned about the nature is on creating an awareness among the common people about the effects of deforestation. Thus ,if humans together take a step towards saving the forests and nature. We can make sure that our future generations would be happy with what we have handed over to them.

LET’S ALL TAKE A STAND,AND UNDERSTAND THAT TREES HAVE LIFE TOO
IN THIS LAND!