The positive and negative consequences of deforestation
The Earth and the life of everything that depends on it, from the smallest bacteria to the largest sea creatures, rest on a delicate matter and that is balance. A single seemingly harmless disturbance in this balance has both beneficial and disadvantageous consequences. One of them is deforestation.
Deforestation has always been a practice of many developing communities and has greatly contributed to civilization as we know it today. Unfortunately, much of the harmful effects of deforestation are caused by greed, poor farming practices, and government neglect.
Why forests are important –
Aside from their beauty, forests are highly responsible for maintaining and sustaining global ecosystems. In fact, much of the quality of life we enjoy is due to forests. It is also home to more than half of all the creatures and organisms on this planet. From food to life-saving medicine, forests provide humanity with a variety of gifts that greatly contribute to our quality of life.
The positive consequences of deforestation –
Depending on the needs of the social group in question, deforestation has allowed the construction of communities. The forests give way to residential houses, office buildings and factories. Governments can build highways to facilitate trade and transportation and thus make them more convenient for residents.
Deforestation can also mean the conversion of forest land to productive land for agricultural uses. This results in better and more abundant production of food and materials, virtually eradicating periods of need and want. Economically, deforestation has done a lot by giving many communities the opportunity to make positive changes in their lives.
The negative consequences of deforestation –
Unfortunately, the negative consequences of deforestation far outweigh its positive effects. Here are some of them:
1. Expose the soil to heat and rain. When forests are cut down, the ground cover, which consists mainly of vegetation, is also removed. This exposes the bare soil to extreme conditions produced by the heat of the sun and rainwater.
By alternating these activities, the soil compacts rapidly. As rainwater flows, it will wash away nutrients and other organic materials that make the soil rich and fertile. Add to that the frequent plowing, cultivation and grazing activities that gradually result in the degradation of soil quality.
These practices are of particular concern in areas where forest zones are drier. Agricultural practice in addition to deforestation can result in the desertification of many areas. Desertification is also a direct result of the demand for the soil to produce more (as a consequence of the increase in human population), which greatly reduces the carrying capacity of the land.
2. Floods. Deforestation can result in watersheds that can no longer support and regulate water flows from rivers and streams. Trees are very effective at absorbing amounts of water, keeping the amount of water in watersheds at a manageable level. The forest also serves as a cover against erosion. Once they are gone, the excess water can cause downstream flooding, many of which have caused disasters in many parts of the world.
As fertile topsoil erodes and floods in lower regions, many coastal fisheries and coral reefs suffer from flood-induced sedimentation. This results in negative effects on the economic viability of many businesses and deaths in the wildlife population.
3. Non-suitability of deforested areas for conversion. Most of the areas that have suffered from deforestation are actually unsuitable for long-term agricultural use, such as ranching and farming. Once stripped of its forest cover, the quality of the land rapidly degrades, losing its fertility and ability to grow crops.
The soil in many deforested areas is also unsuitable for supporting annual crops. Much of the pasture areas are also not as productive compared to more arable soils and therefore not suitable for long-term cattle grazing.
4. The displacement of indigenous communities and their traditional way of life. When governments decide to offer forests for deforestation primarily to open up areas for ‘civilized’ communities, access to forest resources by indigenous peoples is ignored. In fact, indigenous peoples are barely included in the economic and political decisions that directly affect their lives. This usurpation ignores their rights as much as it takes away the resources that their ancestors have granted them.
5. The loss in the number of biodiversity. This is probably the most serious consequence of deforestation. Simply put, it means the destruction and extinction of many species of plants and animals, many of which remain unknown and whose benefits will remain undiscovered.
Every year, as deforestation continues, much of the nature that we benefit from and would have benefited from will be lost forever. With it are the millions of opportunities in the form of plants and wildlife that could provide us with many economic and medical solutions to the pressing problems we currently face.
While it is true that deforestation has brought with it opportunities to improve our lives, we have not mastered the right kind of responsibility that comes with having control over our planet’s resources. As a result, we and all other creatures on this planet suffer greatly from the consequences of our actions.
