Deforestation

Introduction

Many developing economies are converting forests and other natural habitat mainly into agriculture. Shifting cultivation is practiced over large areas of land worldwide, raising concern about the efficacy of its practice. Deforestation is defined as the complete removal or logging of trees in forested areas. It constitutes a serious threat to human civilization and forest ecosystems because tropical rainforests especially maintain the structure and function of the earth system and deliver services from biogeochemical cycling to biotic diversity.

Discussion

Deforestation contributes to global warming and is one of the major causes of the greenhouse effect. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, deforestation mainly in tropical areas, accounts for up to 20 percent of the total anthropogenic emissions of carbon, a greenhouse gas that is released during burning and decay. The water cycle is also affected by deforestation. Trees extract groundwater through their roots and release it into the atmosphere; when removed, trees no longer evaporate this water. Deforestation therefore reduces the content of water in the soil, as well as in the atmospheric. Furthermore, soil cohesion is reduced, so that erosion, flooding, and landslides may occur. Deforestation has also, if not most importantly, resulted in reduced biodiversity. (Richards, 46)

It has been said that rainforests once were covering 40% of the whole earth surface which has now decreased to only 6%. According to experts, the last remaining rainforests will be consumed in next 40 years. Every second, one and a half acre rainforest are consumed which is a tragic consequence for not only the industrial countries but also for the developing countries. The main reason behind this high consumption of rainforests is the value of timber as short sighted governments, land owners and multinational logging companies consume it to meet their needs. Deforestation is creating a threat for half of the world's species of animals, microorganisms and plants as these species are a part of rainforests and due to the deforestation they are decreasing day by day.

Several experts from all over the world have estimated that we are losing 137 species of microorganisms, plants and animals every day. This means that we are losing 50,000 species every year. These species are responsible for possible cures of threatening diseases. It has been said that 121 prescribed drugs sold all over the world came from plant sources of rainforests. Although 25% of pharmaceuticals sold in western countries have ingredients of plants which are a part of rainforests. However, it must be noted that only less than 1% of plants of rainforests have been tested by scientists.

World giant's multinational companies such as Mitsubishi Corporation, Unocal, Texaco and Georgia Pacific are clearing rainforests with the help of bulldozers, fires and chainsaws just to obtain timber. More than ten million Indians were living in the rainforest of Amazon about five centuries ago. While, according to current stats, there are only 200,000 Indians left in this rainforest. It shows that the life of forests has become difficult for them and they are not feeling secure ...