|
Causes of Deforestation
|
|
Shifting Cultivation
|
- In this traditional farming technique, a plot of land is cleared and the existing vegetation is burned. The resulting ash enriches the soil with nutrients, making it suitable for crop cultivation.
- The land is typically used for growing low-yield crops over a span of two to three years. Once the soil’s fertility declines, the area is left to recover naturally, while the process begins anew on a different patch of land. This method relies on basic tools and involves minimal or no mechanization.
|
|
Development Projects
|
- With a significant increase in the human population and their needs, development projects such as hydroelectric facilities, large dams, reservoirs, and the construction of railway lines and roads are crucial but come with various environmental challenges.
- Many of these projects necessitate extensive deforestation.
|
|
Fuel Requirements
|
- The growing demand for firewood, driven by the expanding population, puts substantial pressure on forests, leading to an increased intensity of deforestation.
|
|
Raw Material Requirements –
|
- Various industries rely on wood as a raw material for products like paper, plywood, furniture, matchsticks, boxes, crates, and packing cases.
- Additionally, industries obtain raw materials from plants for drugs, scents, perfumes, resin, gums, waxes, turpentine, latex, rubber, tannins, alkaloids, and beeswax.
- This places tremendous pressure on forest ecosystems, and their uncontrolled exploitation for various raw materials is the primary cause of forest ecosystem degradation.
|
|
Other Causes
|
- Deforestation is also a result of overgrazing, agricultural practices, mining operations, urbanization, fire, pests, diseases, defense activities, and communication projects.
|
|
Impact of deforestation on Forests
|
|
Impact on Forests
|
- The reduction of closed forests, distinguished by a complete canopy, is a consequence of deforestation.
- This leads to an increase in the prevalence of degraded forests. The loss of closed forests alters the landscape and the composition of plant and animal species that depend on these ecosystems for their survival.
- This change in forest structure can have cascading effects on biodiversity and ecological balance.
|
|
Water Cycle Disruption
|
- Forests play a crucial role in the water cycle by recycling moisture through a process called transpiration.
- Trees absorb water from the soil and release it into the atmosphere. This moisture eventually condenses and falls back to the ground as rain.
- Deforestation disrupts this natural cycle, resulting in an immediate decline in groundwater levels and a long-term reduction in precipitation. The loss of trees also leads to increased runoff, reducing the ability of the land to absorb and retain water.
|
|
Mining and Soil Erosion
|
- Many mining activities, particularly in forested regions like India, contribute to deforestation and soil erosion.
- The extraction of minerals often requires clearing large areas of forests, impacting the biodiversity and ecosystem services that these forests provide.
- In addition, underground mining operations exacerbate deforestation, as timber is commonly used to support mine galleries. The removal of trees for this purpose further contributes to habitat loss and ecosystem degradation.
|
|
Abandoned Mines and Habitat Degradation
|
- The aftermath of mining operations, particularly abandoned mines, poses a threat to the environment.
- Abandoned mines often fall into disrepair and contribute to extensive gully erosion, negatively impacting the surrounding habitat. This erosion can lead to the degradation of ecosystems, affecting both flora and fauna.
- The altered landscape and disrupted soil structure make it challenging for the ecosystem to recover, exacerbating the negative consequences of deforestation.
|