B.

Ed Upper Primary Math and Science

English for Academics Essay

Title: A Discussion of the Effects of Deforestation and

Semester 1

Slot: P slot

Name: Tauhulupo Tati TL

Student Number: 219374152

Lecturer: Mr Masule
Introduction
Forests cover 31% of the land on our planet. They help people thrive and survive by for example,
purifying water, air and providing people with jobs. Jeanna (2018) argues that, “There was a time
when the earth was full of forests. But, as man progressed gradually, the covered area of forests
has reduced drastically. This reduction in the number of forests and trees is called deforestation”.
Deforestation has had a severe impact on all life on the earth. The change in climatic patterns,
global warming and all such patterns which have affected the climate are all effects of
deforestation. It is important for students to understand the importance of trees and the harmful
effects of deforestation. Therefore we have come up with a short essay for students which shall
enlighten them on this sensitive topic.

Deforestation has a lot of negative effects on our planet and environment.

A few of the areas where it negatively affects our environment are discussed below:

Disrupted Livelihoods

Billions of People around the world rely on forests for shelter, livelihoods, water, fuel, and food
security. And some people (approximately one-fifth of total rural population) live in forests. This
includes millions of indigenous people. Kerry (2019) argues,“But deforestation disrupts the lives
of billions of people in different areas in the world, sometimes with devastating consequences. In
the Greater Mekong in Southeast Asia, where land tenure systems are weak, deforestation has
contributed to social conflict and migration. In Brazil, poor people have been lured from their
villages to remote soy plantations where they may be abused and forced, at gunpoint, to work
under inhumane conditions.”

Increase in tropical diseases

According to Butler (2019),”The emergence of tropical diseases and outbreaks of new diseases,
including nasty hemorrhagic fevers like ebola and lassa fever, are a subtle but serious impact of
deforestation.” With increased human presence in the rainforests, and exploiters pushing into
deeper areas, humans are encountering microorganisms. Primary host of these pathogens are
possibly eliminated or reduced through forest disturbance and degradation, disease can break out
among humans (Butler, 2019).

Destruction of renewable resources

Deforestation can rob a country of potential renewable revenues while replacing valuable
productive lands with virtually useless scrub and grassland. Tropical forests provide important
renewable resources that can significantly contribute to economic growth (Butler, 2019).
Hydrological Effect

Various researches have shown that deforestation greatly affects water cycle. According to
Sophia (2019),”Groundwater is extracted by trees through the help of their roots; the water
extracted is then released into the surrounding atmosphere. If we remove a part of the forest,
there will not be transpiration of water like it should be and this result in the climate being a lot
drier. The water content of the soil is heavily reduced by deforestation and also atmospheric
moisture as well as groundwater. There is a reduced level of water intake that the trees can
extract as a result of the dry soil. Soil cohesion is also reduced by deforestation and this can
result in landslides, flooding and erosion.”

Alteration of rainfall

Deforestation has had a huge impact on the environment. Lack of trees has led to less release of
water vapour in the air. Jeanna (2018) says, “Deforestation leads to the alteration of rainfall
patterns in different regions. India is a country which is dependent on monsoon rains for
agriculture. Frequent droughts and floods caused due to deforestation have affected the lives of
many in different parts of the country.”

Atmospheric Effect:

Global warming has deforestation as one of its major contributing factors and deforestation is
also a key cause of greenhouse effect. About 20% of all the emission of greenhouse gases is as a
result of tropical deforestation. The land in an area that is deforested heats up quicker and it gets
to a temperature that is higher than normal, causing a change in solar energy absorption, flow of
water vapour and even wind flows and all of these affects the local climate of the area and also
the global climate (Sophia, 2019).

Also, the burning of plants in the forest in order to carry out clearing of land, incineration cause a
huge amount of carbon dioxide release which is a major and important contributor to the global
warming.

Effect on Soil:

As a direct result of the plant litter on the surface, there is a minimal and reduced erosion rate in
forests largely undisturbed. Deforestation increases the erosion rate as a result of the subsequent
decrease in the quantity of cover of litter available. The litter cover actually serves as a
protection for the soil from all varieties of surface runoff. When mechanized equipment and
machineries are used in forestry operations, there can be a resulting erosion increase as a result
of the development of roads in the forests (David. G, Nancy. H, Frances. S, 2018).
Effect on Biodiversity:

There is a biodiversity decline due to deforestation. Deforestation can lead to the death and
extinction of a lot of species of animals and plants. The habitats of various animals are taken
away as a result of deforestation (Sarah, 2019).

Based on the serious impact of deforestation, it is only safe if solutions are sought to end
this problem.

Some ultimate possible solutions are as follows:

Forest Landscape Restoration:

Nature-based solutions such as forest landscape restoration (FLR) can help countries reverse the
effects of deforestation and degradation and regain the ecological, social, climatic and economic
benefits of forests.

Forest Landscape Restoration brings people together to identify and implement the most
appropriate restoration interventions in a landscape. It seeks to accommodate the needs of all
land users and multiple land uses.

Forest Landscape Restoration is not just about planting trees, it includes multiple activities like
agroforestry, erosion control and natural forest regeneration. It also addresses the underlying
drivers of forest loss. For example, it provides farming communities living in and around forests
with knowledge on sustainable agricultural methods that do not rely on destroying forests
(IUCN, 2011).

Assessing restoration opportunities

With IUCN’s support, 26 countries are applying the Restoration Opportunities Assessment
Methodology (ROAM), a framework that assesses the extent of degraded and deforested
landscapes in a country or area, and identifies the best strategies for restoring them. ROAM helps
governments and decision makers use FLR interventions to meet multiple national priorities and
international goals on climate, biodiversity and land degradation. For example, a ROAM
assessment in Malawi helped the government introduce sustainable agricultural systems to
address food insecurity. In Colombia, FLR interventions have supported the rehabilitation of
landscapes after decades of conflict (IUCN, 2011).
Creating Sustainable Infrastructure

Valuing the forests by charging their removal can be one of the understandable solution, this is
also important for reasons for removing to be important or valid like mostly for infrastructure.
Kerry (2019) suggests that “To address infrastructure-related drivers of deforestation, we seek to
influence the financing of roads, mines, and other infrastructure in the developing world, largely
by ensuring that the value of forests are factored into decisions about where to create or expand
infrastructure.”

Influencing Policy:

Effective policies help stop deforestation. According to Kerry (2019),”That's why WWF helps
countries, like Myanmar and Belize, assess the value of their natural resources and the services
they provide, such as forests that absorb carbon and provide habitat for endangered wildlife.
Decision makers use the assessments in a variety of ways, including promoting a green economy
approach—one in which the sustainable use of natural capital is integrated into a country's new
plans and policies for the economy, agriculture, energy, and more.”

Promoting Sustainable Bioenergy

Humans have used forests for fuel for thousands of years, and 2.6 billion people today still use
biomass mainly wood and charcoal, for example for cooking. According to Kerry (2019),”WWF
works to promote bioenergy from scrap wood, oil and fats, sugar and starch crops, residues and
wastes, and even algae to reduce reliance on forests and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
WWF’s vision is that by 2050, 100% of the world’s energy will come from sustainable,
renewable sources, including bioenergy.”

Afforestation

The jungle is an essential natural reserve for any nation and deforestation slow down a nation’s
growth. Sophia (2019) stated that “To encounter the necessities of the growing population,
simple resources might be attained only with the help of afforestation. It is actually the
arrangement of implanting plants for food and food growth. Moreover, the nurseries have a
significant part in increasing the coverage of the forest area.”

Forests Fires:

Natural fires in tropical forests tend to be rare but intense. Human-lit fires are commonly used to
clear land for agricultural use. First, valuable timber is harvested, then the remaining vegetation
is burned to make way for crops like soy or cattle grazing. Sarah (2019) says, “In 2019, the
number of human-lit fires in Brazil skyrocketed. As of August 2019, more than 80,000 fires
burned in the Amazon, an increase of almost 80% from 2018, National Geographic reported.”
Educate people

The best way to handle the problem of deforestation is by making sure that we educate the
masses regarding the importance of green cover. When people understand as to how
deforestation is leading to grave consequences, they will get the incentive to plant trees rather
than uproot them (Sophia, 2019).

Conclusion
In conclusion, deforestation is a human activity that is destructive and should be discouraged. As
listed and mentioned above, most of the effects are based on human activities and these human
activities are continuously being practiced due to human needs and wants. But researchers and
scientists have brought up some solutions and still will be discovering new solutions to
deforestation to save life for life. Environmental conservation is our responsibility because we
have only one earth to live in.
Reference list
Butler. A. Consequences of Deforestation. The impact of deforestation. Retrieved April 01,2019,
from https://www.ainforests.monogaby.com

David, G. Nancy, H. & Frances, S. The Value of Tropical Forests in the Climate change
Equation. Retrieved October 04, 2018, from https://www.wri.org/blog/2018/10/numbers-
value-tropical-forests-climate-change-equation

Jeanna, B. (2018). Effects of Deforestation. Article: Facts about Deforestation. Retrieved June 14
,2018, from https://www.livescience.com/62824-about-us.html

Kerry, C. (2019). WWF Statement on 2019 Amazon Deforestation Data. Retrieved November 18
, 2019, from https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation-and-forest-degradation

Sarah, D. (2019). Deforestation: Facts, Causes & Effects. Retrieved November 06, 2019, from
https://www.livescience.com/27692-deforestation.html

Sophia, E. (2019). Essay on Deforestation. Team the WisdomPost. Retrieved August 08, 2019,
http://www.thewisdompost.com/

The International Union For Conservation of Nature. (2011). Deforestation and Forest
Degradation. Issues Brief. https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/deforestation-
and-forest-degradation