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Satellite image of the world shows the land covered by the forests. The forests were said to cover 30 % of the land on the earth surface which has decreased through the years and human beings are officially know to the cause of these changes. The technological advancement has excited humans in developing new systems irrespective of their affect on the ecosystem. During the 20th century as per the record the forest covered 31 million square miles of the land around the world. Human activities have caused to reduce these number to 25 million square miles.
The detailed information on the affects of global warming on the ecosystem gives various important aspects as to prevention and conservation of the forests around the world.
Global Warming
Global Warming
Global warming is the rise of the average temperature in the Earth's atmosphere mainly caused by human activities. The important aspect of global warming is the climatic change which affects the precipitation. The Earth's surface temperature increases which rise the sea level and rain but with this also comes the drought and the wildfires.
Emission of Carbon dioxide and other toxic gases in the atmosphere
Emission of Carbon dioxide and other toxic gases in the atmosphere
The Greenhouse gases and other gases like CO2, Sulphur dioxide etc. are emitted into the atmosphere rising the temperature of the global environment. Countries like United States, Germany, Luxembourg,28 Countries in the European continent and Asian countries contribute the majority for the global air index.
The carbon dioxide emission is approximately 36 billion tonnes per year and is predicted that these figures might increase in the future because of the uncontrolled burning of fossil fuel and other factors. It can be seen that as the humans exploitation increased the amount of carbon emission into the atmosphere also increased through the years. The climatic change is correlated to the global warming. As carbon dioxide is the heat-trapping element it blocks the heat from the earth's surface to escape into space in-turn rising the global temperature.
Since the 21st century the global temperature is increasing by almost 1 degree and the figures are likely to change if the CO2 emission rate is not maintained. As mentioned the rise in temperature not only affect the sea level and the precipitation cycle but also brings in the drought seasons and the wildfires.
Global Wildfires
Global Wildfires
Wildfires and climate change are strongly interlinked. The wildfire conditions are changing dangerously around the world as the atmosphered hotter and drier. Fire being the essential component of the ecosystem has become dangerous to the ecosystem by burning down acres of forest land due to climatic changes.
Wildfires in the United Sates
Wildfires in the United Sates
The wildfire in the United States has burned a millions of acres of the forest land. The temperature rise increases the snow-melts, the soil dries up due to extensive evaporation. This dried weather leads to dangerous wildfires.
Since the 1983 the wildfires have increased from 18,229 to 71,499 during the recent years. The fires rise immensely from the year 2005 where the global temperature had start rise.
In the year 2017 the fires became uncontrollable in the Western region of the United states.
Wildlife Endangered due to Wildfires
Wildlife Endangered due to Wildfires
Wildfires not only burn down acres of forest land but kill the wildlife within these forest lands. The wildlife habitation is the most affected by the human exploitation of the global environment. The fires has endangered the life of more than 11 species of animals and plants around the globe.
Wildfires burnt thousands of animals and plants which have become extinct or are critically threatened by the constant climatic change. Germany has ranked top in the endangered wildlife with 12,550 species being affected by the fires. The United States wildfires have affected approximately around 12,010 animals and plant in the proximity of the fires. The animals trapped in these fires die every year leading the extinction of the species or they adapt themselves to the fires and stay protected in different ways.
The detailed endangered species list is shown below by International Union of Conservation of Nature(IUCN):
International Union of Conservation of Nature says that studies have shown that nature based climatic solution like conservation, restoration, improved pathways for carbon storage ect. are cost-effective. If the nature-based climatic solution is considered then within 2030 the global warming could be held below 2 degrees.
Conservation of the Forest Land across the Globe
Conservation of the Forest Land across the Globe
Countries have taken various measures like protecting the forest lands, critical animal reservations and afforestation activities in the aim to save the species and the land which complete the ecosystem. The forest lands being the most important aspect of the ecosystem is now being protected and Greenland has protected approximately 42% of the forest land. Namibia, Botswana and other South African countries have protected 37.89%, 29.14% and 21-40% respectively.
Measures taken to reduce the pollutants in the Earth's atmosphere by different countries has initiated the process of saving the nature.
The few measures taken are:
Tax on carbon consumption automobiles and other machines.
Government ban on the industries which contribute to the emission of toxic gases into the atmosphere.
Alternate solutions for the energy consumptions
Limit the number of pollutants allowed into the atmosphere.
Plantation events on the World Environment Day
Ban on specific fuels etc.
Various measures taken to save the ecosystem has started to show results in the year 2018-2019 where the wildfires have decreased in the United States. The fires from 71,499 has gradually reduced to 58,083 and 50,299 in the year 2018 and 2019 respectively. Initiates taken play an important role in restoring the burnt lands.
Each Individual should consider it as their duty to play a part in the conservation of the environment and follow the measures taken by their respective countries.
Source : International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN), NASA Global Climatic Change, Union of Concerned Scientists, Visual Capitalist, NBC News, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), National Geographic, US Geological Survey (USGS)
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