Deforestation has many negative effects on our environment. Deforestation is when an area is cleared of all forests or trees. This has been proven harmful to our environment because it destroys natural habitats for animals and living creatures to live. It also limits bio-diversity in the area because it destroys where certain creatures once lived. Some of the main reasons deforestation occurs is to have wood for energy, for houses, buildings, and so the cleared land can be used by humans to settle. It is proven to be a huge factor in the greenhouse effect. When we remove trees and forest we are adding to the amount of carbon in the air. Trees and plants take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and release oxygen back into the atmosphere, when we get rid of the forests they can not do this and therefore we have no way of recycling the carbon dioxide in our air; causing more pollution.
Forests contribute to the climate in many ways. They also help to reduce erosion, flooding, and landslides If deforestation occurs all of the roots from trees and plants no longer act cohesively around the soil to hold it together. The roots hold and store water that is released into the atmosphere causing a moist climate. When the forests are destroyed it causes the climate to be much more arid. This affects the plants and animals because it alters their natural environment.
Deforestation has a devastating affect on the World we live in. The government needs to find a way to globally stop or severely decrease the deforestation rates or our environment will be changed forever. The US Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack to protect water resources and help to fight climate change. Vilsack is trying to help people understand the importance of decreasing deforestation and preserving aquifers that forests and natural resources provide. Although, deforestation is starting to slow, recent reports state that in Brazil deforestation rates have fallen twenty-five percent from May 2009- june 2009. We must continue on these positive trends.
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