The effects of deforestation

How is the world being affected by the destruction of habitat and natural forests?

Leo Robles (he/they)

Deforestation leads to the loss of natural habitat. There are multiple factors to deforestation like forest fires, droughts, and climate change, amongst others. But it is human activities that are among the leading causes of global deforestation and habitat loss. Agricultural expansion, cattle breeding, mining, and oil extraction are some examples of these human activities. The simple approach to hold back the alarming effects of deforestation and habitat loss is through education. Environmental education is core to fixing the effects of human actions.

If we conserve the forests, we are not only guaranteeing the survival of many other habitats but also the survival of humanity.

Despite the circumstances and the alarming signs, many countries around the world are still destroying natural forests, especially rich countries. The poor countries have lower deforestation rates because the money available is limited. As the income of these countries rises, more lands are being destroyed for development.

What is deforestation?

Deforestation is defined as the clearing or thinning of forests by humans. About half percent of Earth’s forest front (some of over 8,000 years) have gone extinct as a result of deforestation.

Forest degradation

Forest degradation is a process that impacts negatively the functional characteristics of a forest. Forest degradation is usually the result of human activities which are heavily influenced by political, demographic, and institutional factors.

This does not happen suddenly. It is a process that can take a long time before it’s noticeable. The degradation of a forest can also happen because of increased disturbance resulting in loss