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THE EFFECTS OF DEFORESTATION
Deforestation is the act of felling of trees in a forested
area or in an area whose vegetation is forest. This act is at times purposely done by man. Man needs land to rehabilitate, i.e. build homes or carry out agricultural activities or even build industries for production of goods for human consumption.
At times a natural phenomenon can cause deforestation. This could be when there is a volcanic eruption, earthquake or fire.
Deforestation has both positive and negative effects.
a. Positive effect
1. After a deforestation activity the land is left bear with only shrubs. This is the first effect of deforestation. People can use the land to construct houses, carry out agricultural activities or even build industries for the production of goods for consumption. Roads and other social facilities can also be constructed in a deforested area.
2. After deforestation the trees that are being felt are being use as a source of fuel especially in the developing countries. The trunks and branches are left to get dry and is sold for use in local bakeries and private homes.
3. Again deforestation has a multiple effect. It provides wood for the production of furniture. Like the tropical rain forest of Africa, trees like mahogany , sapelle, voakanga, ebony etc provide a lot of timber which is not only used in African, but is also exported to foreign countries. Thus deforestation is a source of income hence increasing the international relation.
b. Negative:
1. Deforestation causes a lot of negative climatic effects. It causes a fall in the rate of transpiration and evaporation of moisture into the atmosphere which consequently reduces the amount of rainfall in the area. This is because the number of trees for transpiration to occur is reduced and the absolute penetration of the sun into the soil that leaves the soil dry respectively.
2. Deforestation also increases soil erosion that leads to soil impoverishment. This is because the rain that falls in the deforested carries away the fertile soil and leaves the soil with little or no soil nutrients. Or soil diffusion whereby the soil nutrients are carried right into the depth of the soil leaving the surface with little soil nutrients.
3. The immediate effect of deforestation caused by fire is pollution.
Published: February 15, 2008
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