Impact of Deforestation on the Earth Essay - 1375 Words

Deforestation is the elimination of existing trees from the earth; attributable factors include urbanization, logging, ranching, and farming and to some extent land speculation. Land speculation can be included as cleared land is more valuable than forested land. Deforestation, done in the name of progress, and the long-term, devastating effects of it, is killing our planet. To understand the effects of deforestation one must understand the reasoning behind the decision to clear forestlands. Only in recent history, have studies been conducted to measure the impact that deforestation has placed upon the Earth. Urbanization, or the clearing of land to build, is deforestation done in the name of progress. Land has been cleared for†¦show more content†¦Another cause of deforestation is ranching and farming. Land must be cleared in order to cultivate crops or to raise livestock. Grazing land is needed to sustain cattle herds, sheep and goats. Also roads, highways and railroads are needed to transport crops once they are marketed and to transport livestock to slaughterhouses. Philip Fearnside also reports that much of the deforestation done by agriculture in Brazil in scale to the size of the operation, â€Å"The association of major swings in deforestation rate with macroeconomic factors such as money availability and inflation rate is one indication that much of the clearing is done by those who invest in medium to large cattle ranches, rather than by small farmers who use family labor† (Fearnside 682). Among the negative effects that deforestation has on the earth are global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, soil erosion and weather pattern changes. Global warming is the cause of more severe storms due to the warming of the ocean. The last few years of Atlantic hurricanes have increased in intensity due to warmer waters. The storms of the last decade have been more destructive than ever before. In addition, torrential flooding is also attributable to global warming; and with flooding, comes mudslides. In direct contrast to flooding are the many lakes, rivers and other bodies of water that are shrinking or have disappeared. The removal of trees is allowing for extraShow MoreRelatedDeforestation Is A World Without Trees?1486 Words   |  6 Pagesyou imagine a world without trees? Deforestation is one of the leading causes of environmental catastrophes, loss of biodiversity, climate change and soil erosion. â€Å"Over half of the world’s rainforests have been destroyed in the last 10,000 years or so,† according to the World Wild Life Fund (WWF). The majority of this loss has happened in the last 50 years, occurring simultaneously with a massive increase in the human population. Deforestation is hurting our earth, and therefore, we must demand forRead MoreDeforestation Is A Global Issue1630 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest is the cutting or burning down trees. Two main reasons the Amazon rainforest is being cleared is for raising cattle and growing crops (Figure 1). This is because the production of beef and soy has increased.1 The Amazon rainforest is located in countries throughout South America. The area this report will look at is Brazil, which is the largest country in the region. The majority of deforestation in the Amazon takes place in Brazil.2 There areRead MoreThe Industrial Revolution 1405 Words   |  6 Pagescontinued to increase and the need for natural resources also increased. Human populations used resources readily without worrying how their use could become harmful . Many impacts have been made to earth’s ecosystems due to human involvement and human alterations. The ecological problem at hand is that human actions are harmful to the Earth in various ways, and addressing these potential risks is crucial. One of the first to address the ways humans have come to dominate the biosphere was Vitousek et alRead MoreExplain Why Is Anthropogenic Activities Surrounding Deforestation The Primary Drive Of Global Climate Change839 Words   |  4 Pagesfrom several different perspectives. There is evidence to support both opinions on this topic it is created by natural or humans activates. So, is anthropogenic activities surrounding deforestation th e primary drive of global climate change? Carbon cycle Carbon is an important part of all living things on earth. The carbon cycle is a way for nature to recycle and store this important element. The carbon cycle works when humans breathe in the oxygen and breathe out carbon called CO2. Plants workRead MoreThe Effects Of Deforestation On The Earth756 Words   |  4 Pagesaudience to make a change to help the earth. Please, stop deforestation. Attention- Did you know that in approximately one-hundred years forests will be a thing of the past? Due to deforestation, it is estimated that forests will be extinct by 2116. Deforestation is when large amounts of trees, such as forests, are cut down or removed. This practice has a negative effect on the Earth overall. It has, for example, a negative impact on the land because deforestation harms the soil. In effect, it mayRead MoreDeforestation Is The Real Consequences Of Deforestation1231 Words   |  5 Pagesof time. What can be conceived as just a patch of land is really an immense part of life on earth. The plants in a forest produce oxygen for humans as well as all other creatures. This land also provides a home for natural wildlife. But what would Earth look like without these forests? If the rate of deforestation continues to increase then we may have to find out the answer to that question. Deforestation is a recurring global problem which is the act of tearing down a forest to use the land forRead MoreWhat ´s Deforestation?1049 Words   |  4 PagesDeforestation is defined in the dictionary as the â€Å"removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is converted to a non forest use.† Common examples of deforestation include turning forestland to farms, ranches, or for urban use such as malls and housing. Forests still cover about thirty percent of the world’s land area, but according to National Geographic, â€Å"swaths the size of Panama are lost each and every year.† The world’s rain forests could completely vanish in a hundred  years at the currentRead MoreEssay about The Impact of Deforestation668 Words   |  3 PagesDeforestation is a serious issue in today’s world. What once was a green Earth is now becoming a desolate land mold that is losing one of its main attributes: forests. Similar to Rachel Carson’s perception, the Earth was once full of lavish forests and is slowly deteriorating into empty, unappealing land. Centuries ago, Earth was covered in forests. â€Å"†¦The whole country, full of woods and thickets...† (Bradford) was the average for settlers in the 1800s. They had grown accustomed to the full lushRead MoreEssay on The Effects of Deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest1093 Words   |  5 Pagesof the earth is approximately thirty percent (â€Å"Deforestation†). That is about nine percent of the world’s total surface. The largest rainforest is the Amazon River Basin, located in South America. The Amazon is home to many species of animals, insects, plants and trees. Many of the trees and plants in the Amazon produce about twenty percent of the oxygen on earth, and absorb carbon. However, the Amazon is decreasing in size every day due to the ongoing deforestation of the land. Deforestation is whenRead MoreGlobal Warming Is A Big Problem1320 Words   |  6 PagesChandler Easter Mrs. Gallos English 3 Global Warming Global warming is a big problem and impacts our environment in a negative way because it is heating the Earth. Global warming impacts all of the life around us even though not many people recognize it. There are many problems that global warming will make to our environment and it has already impacted it over time. Although, there are many problems, there are also solutions to stop global warming. Climate change is most closely related to global