According to a 2024 Forest Declaration Assessment report, the world has lost 6.37 million hectares of forest cover, which almost equals 9.1 million soccer fields. These numbers are definitely alarming, making world leaders stress the need to take stronger actions towards curbing deforestation.
We have the example of Brazil before us, a country which has remained successful in reducing deforestation by about 9%. Owing to this, we at the Tribhuvan College of Environment and Developmental Sciences, ranked among the leading environmental science colleges in Delhi NCR, are striving to spread awareness about the importance of forest cover while forwarding examples like that of Brazil.
In today’s blog post, let us look at the environmental effects of deforestation while also assessing its global reach. So, let’s read on.
What is Deforestation?
Deforestation is a purposeful activity directed towards reducing the forest cover by large-scale removal of trees. This is an environmental concern that needs immediate attention, for it is responsible for bringing about the following:
- Disturbance in Ecosystems
- Biodiversity Loss
- Climate Change
- Rise in Natural Calamities
Agriculture, urban development, and industrialization are some of the triggers behind active deforestation. Let us now get to know of its environmental effects.
How Does Deforestation Impact the Environment?
- Biodiversity Loss:
One of the major problems we as a planet are fighting today is that of the extinction of a large number of animal species. We at the Tribhuvan College of Environment and Developmental Sciences would like to bring to your attention that deforestation is the number one cause behind the extinction of this nature.
Forests are home to 80% of the terrestrial species, the destruction of which leads to habitat loss, eventually aggravating their extinction. Let’s take the example of the Amazon rainforest. Most of you would know that about 10% of the known species of animals reside in these forests, with deforestation endangering species like the jaguar, giant otter, and the Amazonian manatee. It is time we take cognizance of this issue and act wisely.
- Climate Change and Global Warming:
We all are aware by now how rapidly the air quality on the planet is going from worse to worst. Look at how poor the air has become in our very own capital city, Delhi, and the surrounding regions! Moreover, climate change and global warming are dangerous environmental hazards staring us in the eyes. But do you know all this gets triggered with the start of deforestation?
The need of the hour is the regulation of greenhouse gases, something that forest covers make possible by acting as carbon sinks that take in carbon dioxide, keeping CO2 traces in the air under check.
Apart from this, deforestation also leads to other serious problems, such as rising temperatures, melting glaciers, hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires. To bring the already worsening situation under control, it is high time we become mindful of our forest cover and focus on its preservation.
- Soil Degradation and Desertification:
Agriculture continues to remain one of the leading occupations for the Indian population. For agriculture to thrive and attract the desired returns, it is important for the land to be fertile and the soil quality A1.
This is, again, something deforestation impacts by rendering the land infertile and unsuitable for agricultural purposes. You must have heard about regions like sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia where deforestation has led to degradation of the land quality, affecting agricultural productivity and leading to food insecurity. It is safe to say we must end deforestation if we wish to stall socio-economic challenges like poverty and migration.
- Disturbed Water Cycle:
We at the Tribhuvan College of Environment and Developmental Sciences would like you to know that deforestation disturbs the hydrological cycle as well. This is because forests play a vital role in absorbing and redistributing water.
Deforestation equally impacts the groundwater levels. This is a result of water runoff caused by the removal of forest covers. The direct result of this is reduced groundwater recharge, eventually ending up in water scarcity.
Global Impact of Deforestation:
We just looked at what deforestation really stands for and its impact on the environment. Let us now look at the same from the global lens.
While many of you may think this is an environmental problem prevalent in India alone, we would like to draw your attention to its global implications as well.
For instance, the Amazon Rainforest has gone under the axe for reasons like agriculture, logging, and infrastructural expansion. Canada, Russia, and Alaska are equally impacted, being on the edge in terms of logging, wildfires, and climate change.
Palm oil plantations and logging have caused deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia. For now, Europe and North America are comparatively less impacted, but urbanization and industrialization continue to catch up.
The Solution:
In this blog post today, we at the Tribhuvan College of Environment and Developmental Sciences, one of the leading environmental science colleges in Delhi NCR, have attempted to give you a holistic view of the problem of deforestation—not just in India but also across the globe. Let us now explore solutions to bring this environmental problem into control.
Speaking of India, we have introduced large-scale reforestation and afforestation programs, which involve carrying out tree plantation drives across the nation. If you look globally, there are international bodies like the Forest Stewardship Council that promote sustainable agriculture and logging practices. Likewise, there are international agreements, such as the UN’s REDD+ Program, that work on reducing deforestation.
It is time we all join hands and work collectively towards the greater good of the environment by saying no to deforestation. Are you with us?