Deforestation is the clearance of forests by cutting down trees and not replanting them. It can involve the conversion of forest land for agriculture, logging, urban development, or infrastructure projects. Effects of deforestation include soil erosion, climate change, desertification, biodiversity loss, food and fuel shortage, disruption of the water cycle, effect on human health and extinction of species. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation report around 420 million hectares of forest were lost between 1990 and 2020. The annual rate of deforestation has slowed down but was still 10 million hectares per year between 2015 and 2020.
Table of Content
What is Deforestation?
Deforestation is the process of permanently clearing large areas of forest land for human activities. It can be caused by natural disasters, such as fires or storms, but it is often caused by human activities including agriculture, logging, mining, and urban development. According to the World Wildlife Fund(WWF), forests cover more than 30% of Earth’s land surface and are home to around 80% of Earth’s terrestrial species. These forests are a source of food, shelter, fuel and medicine for more than a billion people.
Today, most deforestation is taking place in the tropical rainforests. It has been reported that since 2000, the world has lost about 10% of its tropical tree cover and in total about 3.9 million square miles (10 million square km) of forest have been lost. NASA predicts that if deforestation continues at the current rate then the world’s rainforest may be completely wiped out in the next 100 years. According to the Down to Earth report India’s deforestation rose from 384,000 hectares between 1990 and 2000 to 668,400 hectares between 2015 and 2020, making India the second highest contributor to deforestation among countries worldwide between 1990 and 2020. The highest and third largest contributors to deforestation are Brazil (1,695,700 hectares) and Indonesia (650,000 hectares).
Causes of Deforestation
Deforestation can be intentional, natural or caused due to human activities. The various causes of deforestation are as follows:
- Agriculture expansion: Large area of forest land is converted into agriculture land including large-scale commercial farming and small-scale subsistence agriculture. It is a major driver of deforestation. Subsistence farming is responsible for 48% of deforestation, while commercial agriculture is responsible for 32%.
- Industries: Industries mainly soy, beef, palm oil (mainly in Indonesia) and logging are major cause of forest clearance. It resulted in loss of 950,609( oilseeds) and 678,744(palm oil) hectares of deforestation.
- Urbanization: To meet residential and industrial requirements, forests are being cleared on a large scale.
- Climate change: Extreme weather events like wildfires, droughts, and storm surges destroy millions of hectares of forest every year. Brazil has lost 1,695,700 hectares of forests between 2015 and 2020, with climate change.
- Wood Extraction: Logging is responsible for 14% of deforestation, and fuel wood removals make up 5%.
- Livestock ranching: 14% of global deforestation is believed to be caused due to livestock rearing. The production of meat and livestock has been one of the main contributors of deforestation in the Amazon. An annual destruction of 2,105,753 hectares has been attributed to cattle.
- Exapnding Human Settlement: India with the world’s largest population has to compensate for the increasing demand for residential through clearing of forests.
- Infrastructure Expansion: Large amount of forests are cut down to build the roads, highways, dams, and other infrastructure projects.
Effects of Deforestation
The effects of deforestation are wide ranging including habitat loss, desertification, climate change, aridity, displacement of population, extinction of species,etc. It influence various aspects of the environment, climate, biodiversity, and human life. The various effects of deforestation are discussed below:
Loss of Biodiversity
Forest provide habitat for wildlife and support 80% of world’s known biodiversity, especially the tropical rainforests. Deforestation can directly result in loss of biodiversity as the animal species that live in the trees no longer have their habitat.
- According to ICUN’s red list deforestation is a major threat to 85% of species.
- Deforestation also results in habitat fragmentation that prevents animals from dispersing from one area to another and isolates their populations in the region.
- Many species are unable to adapt to the rapid changes in their environment, ultimately facing extinction due to the destruction of their natural habitats.
- In the next 25 years due to deforestation up to 28,000 species could go extinct.
Climate Change
Forests absorb and store carbon dioxide (CO2) acting as a carbon sink. Deforestation releases this stored carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to increased greenhouse gas emission and global warming.
- Deforestation alone contribute to about 12%-20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it the major contributor to climate change.
- Changes in land cover due to deforestation can disrupt local and regional weather patterns, leading to shifts in temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric circulation.
Disruption of Water Cycles
Deforestation can disrupt evaporation levels resulting in reduced rainfall and altered precipitation patterns. It can also lead to changes in river flow and water volume.
- Without trees, the area will lack moisture and become a dry, arid desert. In the absence of rain, these areas will less freshwater sources.
- Without the trees absorption of water decreases and runoff can increase. It will lead to soil erosion, increase the risk of floods and increases sedimentation in water bodies.
Soil Erosion and Degradation
According to the United Nation definition deforestation is the permanent removal of trees until there is less than 10% of the forested land remaining. Trees and their roots binds the soil and protect it from wind and rain. Without forests or plant cover, the topsoil gets eroded by wind and flowing water.
- Deforestation decreases the soil’s ability to hold water, which can lead to increased run off and more risk of flooding. It can also contribute to landslides.
- Cutting down of trees lead to depletion of nutrients in the soil. It also reduces the soil fertility and have a negative impact on agricultural productivity.
- Can lead to flood and drought.
Social and Human Impact
IUCN estimates that around 25% of the global population depend on forests for their livelihoods, such as hunting, gathering, farming, or forestry. When forests are cut down, these communities lose access to the resources they need to survive.
- Deforestation can create conditions for pathogens like Nipah and Lassa viruses, and the parasites that cause malaria and Lyme disease to spread to people.
- According to a 2020 World Economic Forum report, 31% of new and emerging disease outbreaks are linked to deforestation.
- Can have a negative impact on human health.
Economic Implications
Forests are sources of raw materials, fuel, and medicine. A lack of these resources can cause economic and environmental instability over time.
- Deforestation can provide short-term profit in term of agriculture. Long-term consequences may include decreased soil fertility, changes in local climate and increased vulnerability to pests. Overall it will affect the crop yields.
- Deforestation can deprive a country of potential renewable resources.
- Can lead to the displacement of populations.
- It can degrade land of the country and damage its climate.
Desertification
Deforestation can lead to increased desertification. Desertification is a type of land degradation that occurs when a relatively dry region becomes increasingly arid. It is caused by human activities and frequent changes in temperature.
- With the cutting down of trees, soil becomes vulnerable to erosion by wind and water. It leads to the gradual degradation of fertile topsoil.
- Deforestation, such as improper agricultural methods and overgrazing can accelerate soil degradation and contribute to the desertification process.
- Deforestaion removes the top soil which exposes the rocky layer underneath. It leads to a loss of humus making the land less fertile.
Government of India Initiatives
The 2021 India State of Forest Report (ISFR) found that India’s forest cover is 7,13,789 square kilometers, which is 21.71% of the country’s geographical area. This is an increase from 21.67% in 2019. The report also found that the country’s total forest and tree cover is 80.9 million hectares, which is 24.62% of the country’s geographical area.
Forests are included in the Concurrent List of the Constitution of India and are currently governed by the National Forest Policy, 1988. Various schemes are being implemented by the Central and State Government/Union Territory Administration for increase in forest and tree cover in the country. These includes
The National Afforestation Programme (NAP) and Green India Mission (GIM)
National Afforestation Programme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for regeneration of degraded forest and adjoining areas in the country. Now NAP scheme has been merged with Green India Mission. National Mission for a Green India (GIM) is one of the eight Missions outlined under the National Action Plan on Climate Change. It aims at protecting, restoring, and enhancing India’s forest cover and responding to Climate Change by means of plantation activities in the forest and non-forest areas.
- Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act
Enacted in 2016, this legislation ensures that industries compensate for the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes. The money is used to conserve, regenerate, or improve forest resources and provide green cover. 90% of the fund is used by the states and remaining 10% by the Centre.
Forest Conservation Act
The Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 was enacted to protect forests and their resources. It also aims to prevent forest lands from being converted for other purposes without the prior approval of the Central Government. It also permits only unavoidable use of forest land for various developmental purposes. The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, recognizes the importance of forests in achieving national targets of Net Zero Emission by 2070.
National Action Programme to Combat Desertification
Enacted in 2001 it aims to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought and land misuse. It also aims for the sustainable development of dry, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas. It works towards rehabilitating partially degraded lands and mitigating the effects of drought and land misuse.
Other steps taken by the Government includes:
Other steps includes:
- Joint Forest Management (JFM): Protection and management of forests are jointly undertaken by the Forest Department and the local communities.
- Protected Areas: The government has established 1014 Protected Areas including 106 National Parks, 573 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 115 Conservation Reserves and 220 Community Reserves covering a total of around 5.32% of geographical area of the country.
- Awarness Programs: Various awareness programs like “Vanmahotsav” are conducted by the government to conserve forests.
Preventive Measures of Deforestation
According to the 2022 Forest Declaration Assessment, globally the deforestation rates declined in 2021 by 6.3 per cent only as compared to the 2018-20 baseline. To stop the deforestation completely by 2030, an annual reduction of 10 % is needed. At the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow (2021) around 145 countries affirmed their commitment to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. Some preventive measures for deforestation includes:
- Reforestation: Areas that have been cleared can be regrown by replanting more trees. It can provide other benefits like reducing soil erosion degradation and improving water quality.
- Afforestation: Plant trees in area that where there are no trees, creating a new forest or ecosystem. Reducing the demand on these forests. Buy certified wood products.
- Reducing meat consumption: Reducing meat consumption can save land and water and increase biodiversity. It can help reduce deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions.
- Better policy implementation: Proper implementation of policy can reduce deforestation by 50–53%. From land-use change carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by 84–87%.
- Reduce paper use: One of the simplest ways to help the fight against deforestation is reducing and recycling paper. Maximize the use of the digital technology.
- Raise awareness regarding the negative effects of deforestation and benefits of reforestation or afforestation.
- Reduce consumption, Reuse and recycling forest products and spread awareness about the importance of forests.
FAQs – Effects of Deforestation
1. What are the 5 effects of deforestation?
Deforestation causes various negative effects including soil erosion and degradation, desertification, increase in the greenhouse gas emission, loss of biodiversity, etc.
2. What are the 5 main causes of deforestation?
The main causes of deforestation includes expansion of agriculture, urbanization, livestock ranching, climate change, industries logging, etc.
3. What is the biggest cause of deforestation?
Agriculture is considered as the biggest cause of deforestation. Subsistence farming is responsible for 48% of deforestation, while commercial agriculture is responsible for 32%.
4. What are the environmental effects of deforestation?
Deforestation leads to various negative effect on the environment including global warming and climate change. Around 12-20% of the greenhouse gas emission are contributes by the deforestation alone. It also causes soil erosion and loss of biodiversity.
5. How can deforestation affect the water cycle?
Trees plays an important role in regulating the water cycle in the atmosphere. Cutting down of trees disrupt evaporation levels resulting in reduced rainfall and altered precipitation pattern.
6. How can I as an individual help reduce deforestation?
As an individual we can follow the following practice to reduce deforestation: recycle, reuse and reduce consumption of paper and wood products, replant more trees, reduce consumption of meat and raise awareness about benefits of reforestation.