Sustainability

As humans we take many things for granted. There are steps we can take in order to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Sustainability is defined as, "the ability to endure, but in ecology it is defined as how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time("Sustainability", Wikipedia)." Deforestation is posing a major threat to Earth's sustainability.

Deforestation affects both geography and climate. In many cases areas that have experienced deforestation turned into wasteland. Wasteland is not arable and has virtually no value. In most instances deforestation increases the erosion of soil. A tree's roots hold soil in place by binding with the underlying bedrock; when a tree is removed the soil becomes very vulnerable and erosion will take place. Runoff is a major contributor to soil erosion as well. Global climate change is impacted greatly by deforestation. Most everyone has heard about greenhouse gases. Deforestation has been mentioned as a major contributor to the greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere. It has been said that the deforestation of tropical rain forest accounts for roughly 20 percent of these emissions. "Forests are able to remove carbon dioxide and pollutants from the air, thus contributing to biosphere stability("Deforestation", Wikipedia) ."

Deforestation also affects the water cycle. Trees take in water from the ground using their roots, and eventually the water is evaporated back into the atmosphere. Without this process we could be looking at a much drier climate in regions that have experienced heavy deforestation. In a process called canopy interception, tree canopies intercept a proportion of precipitation and then release, evaporate, it back into the atmosphere. Tree leaves control humidity due to a process called transpiration. Transpiration is the evaporation of water from the aerial parts of plants, mostly leaves but also stems, flowers, and roots.("Deforestation", Wikipedia) With deforestation all these processes would be non existent and our water cycle would be greatly disrupted.

There are solutions to help aid in the rehabilitation of forest as well as eliminate the everlasting effects of deforestation. Selective cutting is a huge solution to this problem. The practice of selective cutting designates various amounts of mature trees for harvest, allowing for more trees to grow and younger trees to mature. In Paraguay a law, Deforestation Zero Law, has been initiated to help rehabilitate forest in the Eastern Region. Planting trees after logging is another solution in aiding with deforestation. Sustainability is a major issue in today's world.

Citation and Hyperlinks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation

Brennan W.