-Clearing of forests to make way for land used for cultivation of cash crops, farming as well as for building urban infrastructure.
-Wood from the trees is used as a source of fuel and for making paper.
-Removal of forests leads to loss of habitats and this reduces the biodiversity.
-Trees are important carbon sinks as they store large quantities of carbon in their biomass. When large areas of forests are cleared and burnt, this store of carbon are released in the form of carbon dioxide. This release of carbon dioxide leads to warming effect.
Watch the following videoes and answer the following questions.
1. Why does deforestation occur?
2. How is deforestation carried out?
3. What are some effects of deforestation on (i) biodiversity and the (ii) environment?
4. What are some ways to reduce the effects of deforestation?
URL: http://youtube.com/watch?v=5VgybjZOLnc
INTERESTING WEBSITE
FAO URL: http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/ac836e/AC836E03.htm
Visited on 30 June 2014.
Question
A tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year, and can sequester one ton of carbon dioxide by the time it reaches 40 years old. How is the carbon dioxide absorbed by trees used?