Have sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide also
Haveyou ever wondered what a world without trees would look like? Close your eyes,and try to imagine a desolate earth. Yet on such a dry, lifeless world, no onewould be left to experience the disastrous consequences of deforestation. It isestimated in one hundred years later, there will be no rainforests at all.There are several adverse effects of deforestation that can destroy theecosystem such as global warming, soil erosion and loss of habitat.Global warming is the increase in temperatureof the earth’s surface and atmosphere. According to Naseem (2011), the dirty that is caused by airborneparticles and pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogendioxide also may cause warmer air up to 11.1 C.
Trees balance the amount ofcarbon in the atmosphere through the photosynthesis process. According toHilderman (2012), disruption of the photosynthetic activity which will resultin the increase amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may occur due to theabsence of the trees. Deforestation has an effect on the carbon cycle, alsoknown as the greenhouse gas effect. Deforestation cause the increasing quantityof greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which lead to global warming. MichaelDaley, the associate professor of environmental science at Lasell College inNewton agrees that the top trouble when humans keep cutting down the trees isthe effect on the global carbon cycle (Bradford, 2015). When abnormally highlevels of greenhouse gases accumulate in the air, the temperature increased.According to Asdrasko, about 25% of carbon dioxide released from combustion offossil fuels is equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide released due toglobal deforestation (Chakravarty, Ghosh, Suresh, Dey Shukla, 2012).
Destructionof trees may speed the process of soil erosion. Due to deforestation, millionsof hectares of land have become unproductive and barren. The land will yieldcrops for only a few years and they will become waste land when the nutrientsare no longer sufficient to be used if deforestation occurs for cropland(Hilderman, 2010). Next, soil erosion may affect the downstream waterways wherethe soil that is carried away is deposited. According to Bradford (2015), soildisintegration could additionally prompt residue entering those lakes, streamsand also other water sources. The carried soil will result in siltation of thewater storage and watercourses.
When the plants are planted in that area, soilerosion carries them away leaving the soil bare.Since 1960, the WWF states that scientists estimatethat due to deforestation about a third of the world’s arable land has beenlost (Bradford, 2015).Due to cut down of trees, the soil will lose its protection since the soilexposed directly to the harmful substances. According to Naseem (2011), withouttrees there is no filtration that could lead to the accumulation of dangeroustoxic substances and pollutants. Hence, the soil erosion will become moreprevalent due to the low soil structure and quality. Lastly,deforestation may contribute to the loss of habitat in the world.
As we know,rainforests contain the highest level of biodiversity in the world, and withouta diverse world, life will be unable to thrive. Absence of forests’cover and loss of biodiversity could trigger unexpected, irreversible andnegative changes towards the environment (Chakravarty, Ghosh, Suresh, Dey , 2012). Tropic forests are responsible as storehouses of biodiversitybut deforestation, fragmentation and degradation will damage the wholebiodiversity and habitat for migratory species including the ones whichseriously at risk of extinction and some of which have still to be list (Chakravarty,Ghosh, Suresh, Dey & Shukla, 2012). Many statistics show that deforestationis one of the causes of loss of habitat.
According to National Geographic,deforestation caused about seventy percent of the world’s plants and animallive in forest losing their habitat (Bradford, 2015). If we not take actionfrom now, Sumatran Tiger, Orang utan, Rhinoceros, Malayan Sun Bear, GiantPandas, Rhinos, the Asian Elephant, Orchids and Rafflesia are few of hundredsof endangered species due to deforestation. Hilderman (2010) reckon that by thefirst part of 21st century, about 50% of the remaining rainforestand about 5% to 10% of all species on the planet will be lost due to thecontinuation of deforestation.
Thus, deforestation is animportant issue to be discussed. It has adverse effects on each living beings’life. Deforestation has become a huge concern in today’s life as there has beena rise in the decline of forests. If major steps towards afforestation are nottaken, then even the great adaptability of human beings may not be enough tocope up with the harsh climate of the future. Deforestation does havesolutions.
It’s just that the people must step forward. The safe keeping of ourprecious planet lies with each and every member of its human population.
