The videos posted above are a brief overview of how deforestation has effected the diversity of living things. It shows us just how much ONE human activity, is branching out to many other negative factors that are contributing to the harm of other living species.
INTRODUCTION
In short, deforestation is the process in which forests or an abundant amount of trees are cleared from the area. The results of this activity, have created large barren land, and is often converted to non-forest use. The effects of deforestation causes loss of habitat, loss of renewable resources, loss of ecological services, and effects global climate, as well as the biodiversity of rain forests.
With the current rate of deforestation, the world's rain forests could completely vanish in 100 years time.
FACTS: reason & aftermath
Since the 19th century, industrial demands have risen the need for timber and land which has led to be one of the main reasons to deforestation (others include farming, agriculture, ranches, and urbanization). According to United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, an estimate of 26 million acres of rainforest were destroyed yearly between 2000-2005. (Reference 4) As well, the deforestation rates have also increased over the decade as before the 2000-2005 range, rates were below 8.5, but has from then increased drastically.
Some of the top contributing countries involved in deforestation include: Malaysia, Brazil, Mexico, Cambodia, Burundi, Togo, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Sudan.
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Through the years, deforestation has grown rapidly, and more forests are being cleared away one by one. The aftermath of this activity is overwhelming:
- The rainforests are homes to roughly half of the world's animal species. From this we can say that we are driving half of the species into extinction
- Global carbon dioxide levels increase due to fires used to clear forests ( estimated to have an annual release of 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere)
- Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, meaning that it is contributing to global warming and climate change
- Interrupts the cycle of resource renewability, causing loss of timber, charcoal, and medicinal plants
- Increases soil erosion due to soil loss, which increases water runoff
- Soil cohesion increases rates of flooding
- With less tree evaporation, climates become more arid
Photograph by Michael Nichols
A burned clearing stands in grim contrast to surrounding rain forest in Brazil
© 1996-2003 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.
GOING IN DEPTH :
The large mass of tropical rainforests stretch along, near the lines of the equator. Tropical forests, include closely packed rainforests, and has an abundance of rain all year round; there are seasonal moist conditions, as well as drier woodland conditions.( Reference 2) Either way, tropical forests of all kinds are following the momentum of disappearing: this is due to human actions that are being made to clear trees in these rainforests to create buildings, farms, to harvest timber and construction for oil, and the building of roads, all and all it is urbanization that is taking over the reason of transformation to the rainforests. These forests contain high amounts of biodiversity which include plants, trees, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and and insects. What does that mean? Well, let's think about it this way. Tropical rainforests are a massive biome to many plants and animals; meaning that it also contains many different habitats = the destruction of the forests, is not only destroying trees, but animals as well. By destroying the forests, humans are also destroying the multitudes of animals, and insects who depend on the biomes that the forests provides to them, for survival. This action has resulted, and are leading to many extinctions of animals and plants that we might have known, and those that we have never heard of.
The acts of deforestation have led to so many branches of where other life forms are affected. Speaking of animals and plants are only one of the few effects, but there are living things that are interrupted from this disturbance. These include: climate change, global warming, greenhouse gases, and soil erosion. Now, we have moved up to a point of where animals, plants, and environmental changes are being affected. So we can ask ourselves, is deforestation really worth it for all these other negative changes in the diversity of living things?
THE POSITIVES OF TROPICAL FORESTS
The acts of deforestation have led to so many branches of where other life forms are affected. Speaking of animals and plants are only one of the few effects, but there are living things that are interrupted from this disturbance. These include: climate change, global warming, greenhouse gases, and soil erosion. Now, we have moved up to a point of where animals, plants, and environmental changes are being affected. So we can ask ourselves, is deforestation really worth it for all these other negative changes in the diversity of living things?
THE POSITIVES OF TROPICAL FORESTS
- play a critical role in absorbing greenhouse gases that fuel global warming
- help perpetuate water cycle - return water vapour back into the atmosphere
- canopy lowers temperature rates, and protects living things from the sun
- a large scale of approximately 50% of the world's animals depend on the tropical forest (live in them as well)
- provide homes to animals and plants
The tropical forest has all these positive effects, and yet deforestation is eliminating these effects, and instead transforming them into negative effects.
WHAT CAN BE DONE
One of the quickest solutions to end deforestation would be to stop cutting down trees.
Although deforestation in the tropics is rapid and widespread, some people are making an increasing effort to mitigate potential disaster. Sustainable harvesting of native plants, shade farming, nature preserves, and management by indigenous peoples are techniques that help maintain a vital resource. (Photograph ©2006 Leo F. Freitas.) -- (Nasa Earth Observatory)
Governments and many non-government are working with forest communities to reinforce and encourage the sustainability of the forests. Organizations are encouraging people to participate in lower - impact agricultural activities : shade farming, sustainable harvesting of non-wood forests products such as rubber, cork, medicinal plants, and produce.
For employment concerns, parks and forests that are protected and draw ecotourism can provide employment and educational opportunities to locals -- will stimulate the service-sector economies.
On the national level, countries should integrate research on the forests research on human impact on the ecosystem. From this the government will need to create realistic scenarios and cooperate with scientists so that they would be prepared for any future deforestation, and be able to use their research to subside the effects.
As well, several scientists are encouraging the conservation of tropical rainforests . Also the global marketplace can encourage farmers and land owners to adopt more forest friendly practices. The government as well, can enforce forest preservation policies.
(Reference 3)
ANALYSIS OF ACCURACY, CREDIBILITY, & BIAS OF ARTICLE
The article "Deforestation & It's Effects It Has on a Global Scale" was written by author, Elizabeth Smith. Elizabeth Smith has been a scientific and engineering writer since 2004. Her work has appeared in numerous journals, newspapers and corporate publications. A frequent traveler, she also has penned articles as a travel writer. Smith has a Bachelor of Arts in communications and writing from Michigan State University (see Reference 1).
The article was posted on National Geographic which is a Science/History magazine. For information to be on this magazine, it would be informative and fact targeted. Other sources that I used were also from National Geographic (author is unknown), NASA Observatory and Ehow. The writers of these articles have studied these sciences throughout their education careers or have written for many years. NASA observatory was written by Rebecca Lindsey, this site would be considered trusted since it seems to be a research group. National Geographic is considered one of the most reliable and useful sources/magazines directing in the science sector -- therefore I would say that it has high credibility.
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Most of my articles come from well trusted sites, and are based on fact scenarios. Though all information written are by fact, I did find something bias. I noticed how the facts are used to trigger and explain to readers how deforestation gives a negative impact. But in reality, we need to remember that deforestation also upholds employment, resources and land for humans. The rapid industry that we have does not do justice to the forest. The article only mentions how it is negative, put does not suppress on how humans rely on the forest. From this we can see that the author's of these sources are mostly trying to target and improve deforestation, and not thinking in mind of reality and globalization of the workforce. The articles a contribution to a one-sided story, that only targets the negative effects and how humans are mostly at fault.
CONCLUSION
Like many of the writers from the article and my other sources, I also think that deforestation is causing great negative effects to the diversity of living things. From just one human act, we are able to destroy so many other more important aspects of life; which is not only affects others but sooner or later it comes back to affect us. The saying, " What goes around comes around," can be related to this human activity. What we are doing do the forests, animals, trees, and plants are all coming back to us, as we see the changes in our climate change and our health due to the results of our actions. Though I know that I'm kind of being bias here, I also understand that many people depend on deforestation for jobs to support families and to raise business. But asides from that, I also believe that we can find alternatives that can help support humans and the environment to keep life in balance. Everything is dependent of another, and it is from this that we need to cherish what we have before it's too late.
SOURCES :
1) Demand Media, Elizabeth Smith. "Deforestation & the Effects It Has on a Global Scale | National Geographic." Green Living | National Geographic. Demand Media. Web. 06 Oct. 2011. <http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/deforestation-effects-global-scale-2214.html>.
2) "Deforestation Facts, Deforestation Information, Effects of Deforestation - National Geographic." Environment Facts, Environment Science, Global Warming, Natural Disasters, Ecosystems, Green Living - National Geographic. National Geographic. Web. 06 Oct. 2011. <http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview/>.
3) Nasa Earth Observatory, Rebecca Lindsey. "Tropical Deforestation : Feature Articles." NASA Earth Observatory : Home. Nasa Earth Observatory, 30 Mar. 2007. Web. 06 Oct. 2011. <http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Deforestation/>.
4) Belhumeur, Kevin. "Negative Effects That Humans Have Had Upon a Rainforest | EHow.com." EHow | How
to Videos, Articles & More - Trusted Advice for the Curious Life | EHow.com. Web. 06 Oct. 2011.
<http://www.ehow.com/info_8413480_negative-effects-humans-upon-rainforest.html>.
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