In our Article today we will be writing about the effects of deforestation.
A considerable amount of the earth’s surface has forests covering it. These forests are home to almost 80% of wildlife. The rainforest occupies just 2% of the land mass, but it houses 50 % of wildlife.
Forests are quite important for the ecosystem because they rid the planet of CO2 and push out oxygen. A lot of trees go down yearly, almost 8 billion trees and with this number, scientist have projected that there will be no trees in the next 100 years. This prediction is alarming, and this is why we are sharing with you the effects of deforestation on wildlife
But first, what is deforestation?
Deforestation is cutting trees down permanently to space way for something else. Converting forest to ranches and farms is also deforestation. Natural fires cause deforestation. Humans too, fell trees themselves.
Why Do People Cut Trees?
One of the main reasons why people cut trees is for the timber. The timber is sold. Construction workers use the timber to build houses and furniture. Another reason why people fell trees is because of agriculture. Commercial farming requires a large expanse of land and so farmers cut trees to make space for cultivating other plants.
The grazing of animals, drilling and mining also cause of deforestation. Trees are also instrumental in the making of papers.
The Effects of Deforestation on Wildlife
Deforestation first off has devastating effects of the ecosystem. If it keeps going unchecked, then we will have an unimaginable global warming time. Why? Because trees trap CO2 and if there are no trees to trap them, they hang in the atmosphere and prevent heat from leaving the earth, causing a rise in the temperature of the earth. This heat is detrimental to both plants and animals.
Forests are the homes of many species of animals and plants. When you destroy them, you automatically render many life forms homeless. And one of the leading causes of extinction is habitat loss. The plants felled by man is also a species that dies as it is cut down and uprooted.
Amazon rainforest in South America is so important that it determines the weather condition of the places around it. This rainforest has an influence over rain cycles in South America. This makes rain available for farmers. When the forest clears either by human action or natural causes, it will be hard for these rain cycles to be maintained and this could spell doom for food production.
Some people don’t cut plants, they simply set the whole thing on fire and this burning emits greenhouse gases. Remember that greenhouse gases are the cause of global warming.
In Conclusion
The effects of deforestation on wildlife is much. Is there a solution? We think that there might be. One of the surest ways to fight deforestation is by afforestation-that is the planting of trees. When trees are planted again, the ecosystem will start a recovery process.
And for every tree you plant, you are saving not just the plant but also any animal the tree supports. Government and NGOs should also educate the public on how best to manage that forest resources for a better, greener earth.
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