4. Impacts of deforestation

Let's look at how deforestation impact on the Xingu tribe in the Amazon:

tinyurl.com/deforestationxingu

Watch the videos below to understand the impacts of Deforestation

Visit this website

http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherewework/amazon/index.html

Environmental Impact

· Loss of biodiversity

o Loss of the variety of plants and animals

o Millions of plants and animals have become extinct due to deforestation.

o We can obtain many resources from the forest such as food, medicine and timber would be lost.

o Plants of medicinal value are lost.

o Deforestation increase mosquito population by reducing predators of the insects or give the mosquitoes more breeding grounds. This increase the occurrence of insect-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.

o The soils of deforested areas lack nutrients so they may not be able to support the species that once existed in the rainforest.

· Loss of water catchment

o Forests enable water to be collected and stored within a water catchment area.

o The Amazon Basin produces half of its rainfall through the transpiration.

o Deforestation disrupt the water cycle and lead to a drier climate and drier soil. Thus the ground no longer contains and receives as much water.

o Loss of water catchment areas results in a decrease of water supply and higher water prices. E.g. In Tanzania, deforestation is predicted to reduce half of the water catchment areas by 2020 and cost of water is expected to rise by 4 times.

· Increase risks of flooding, soil erosion and sedimentation

o When rain falls, forests intercept the rain and allow the rainwater to seep into the ground. When trees are cleared, the ground is left bare and there were be more water flowing on the ground as surface run-off. The surface run-off will flow into the river quickly causing flooding in the surrounding area.

o The roots of tree hold the soil to the ground and keep the ground stable. Moreover rain is intercepted by the different forest layers before hitting the ground. When the trees are removed, the land is exposed and the water washes the soil away when it rains.

o Eroded soil is often washed into rivers and increased the sediments in the rivers. This affects the water quality and the aquatic and marine life. Increased sediments smothers fish eggs and results in lower hatch rates. It turns water cloudy and prevents sunlight from penetrating the water. Coral reefs which require sunlight to grow will be suffocated.

· Enhanced greenhouse effect

o Deforestation increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it as a carbon. When the trees are cut, the stored carbon is released into the atmosphere.

o Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases which traps heat leading to an increase in global temperatures.

o Increased temperatures can cause ice caps to melt, resulting in the rise in sea levels and flooding. Low-lying islands such as Kiribati and Vanuatu located in the Pacific Ocean may be submerged and disappear into the sea.

Economic Impact

· Depletion of natural resources

o Tropical rainforests provide important natural resources such as timber, food and water which are essential for many industries.

o Rapid deforestation will result in the depletion of the natural resources e.g. timber trade where timber is used to make furniture. As trees are cut down at a faster rate, younger ones cannot grow as quickly in its place.

Social impact

· Effect on indigenous people

o Cutting down rainforests to create land for plantations or mining affects the life of indigenous people.

o When the indigenous people lost their homes, they are forced to adapt to a new way of living. Traditionally, they obtain everything they need such as food and shelter from the forest but now they have to find other ways to survive.

o Displacement from their homes also often causes indigenous tribes to disperse and culture to disappear.