Endangered Species in the Amazon Rainforest | Causes & Examples
There are millions of species that live in the Amazon Rainforest. Some of these species are endangered, mainly due to habitat loss. The Giant River Otter is ...
Deforestation
Similar to many other animals that live in the Amazon Rainforest, the Brazilian Three-Toed Sloths populations are suffering due to habitat loss. <anchor>Deforestation</anchor> has led to only ten percent of their original habitat remaining.
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[Environmental Science 101: Environment and HumanityCourse](/academy/course/environment-and-humanity.html)

# Deforestation \| Definition, Causes & Effects

- Lesson
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Kelly Carroll, Rebecca Gillaspy


- Author

Kelly Carroll
Kelly earned a PhD in Microbiology and immunology from the University of Louisville. She has experience doing scientific research as well as teaching.

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- Instructor

Rebecca Gillaspy
Dr. Gillaspy has taught health science at University of Phoenix and Ashford University and has a degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic.

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Learn what deforestation is and understand the harmful effects of deforestation. Explore the causes of deforestation and different solutions to curb it.


Updated: 11/21/2023


## Table of Contents

- [What is Deforestation?](#section---WhatIsDeforestation)
- [Effects of Deforestation](#section---EffectsOfDeforestation)
- [Causes of Deforestation](#section---CausesOfDeforestation)
- [Deforestation Examples](#section---DeforestationExamples)
- [Deforestation Solutions](#section---DeforestationSolutions)
- [Lesson Summary](#section---LessonSummary)

Show

Frequently Asked Questions

#### What is deforestation its causes and effects?

Deforestation is the elimination of forests and treed areas. Deforestation can be due to natural events like parasitic infections of trees and forest fires or human activities. The effects of deforestation are varied and important and include a loss of biodiversity, soil impairment, and greenhouse gas emissions.

#### What is the biggest effect of deforestation?

There are several substantial effects of deforestation. Biodiversity is reduced, ecosystems are damaged, water and soil quality is impaired, and greenhouse gas emissions and climate change are enhanced. Additionally, people lose work to deforestation.

#### Why is deforestation a problem?

Deforestation is a problem because forests are a vitally important part of the planet for many species and people. Forests provide livelihood, are a carbon sink, combat climate change, improve soil and water quality, and foster biodiversity.

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## Table of Contents

- [What is Deforestation?](#section---WhatIsDeforestation)
- [Effects of Deforestation](#section---EffectsOfDeforestation)
- [Causes of Deforestation](#section---CausesOfDeforestation)
- [Deforestation Examples](#section---DeforestationExamples)
- [Deforestation Solutions](#section---DeforestationSolutions)
- [Lesson Summary](#section---LessonSummary)

Show

**What is Deforestation?**

**Deforestation** is defined as the elimination of trees and forest areas. This includes the clearing of trees intentionally by people, and via natural events. Various commercial reasons lead people to desire land free from trees: people remove trees to raise livestock, to create agricultural farms, or to create timber.

**Biodiversity** refers to the array of life forms in an area, including various species and ecosystems. Deforestation is a threat to biodiversity. Currently, forests cover more than 30% of the world's land and provide a home to approximately 80% of the world's land-dwelling species. The loss of forests eliminates the homes of species, and after losing their habitat, a species may not be able to find another suitable home and could become extinct.

Additionally, forests reduce air pollution. Trees also produce oxygen that people and other species breathe. Forests also serve as a natural rainwater filtration system that helps purify water and even function as a **carbon sink**, absorbing carbon dioxide from the environment. Removing forests thus has a secondary effect of generating greenhouse gas emissions; in fact, deforestation is responsible for almost 20% of the greenhouse gases produced.

Photo of a deforestation scene

![Image of a deforestation site](/cimages/multimages/16/deforestation_site_184180584864335008690764092149.jpeg)

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**Effects of Deforestation**

What are the effects of deforestation? There are many consequences of deforestation, including:

- Threatened biodiversity
- Damaged ecosystems
- Impaired water quality
- Worsening droughts
- Increased emissions of greenhouse gases
- Loss of work for people
- Impaired soil quality
- Contributing to climate change

As stated earlier, the removal of forests affects the biodiversity and ecosystems of the areas destroyed. Additionally, as trees remove carbon dioxide from the air and deforestation eliminates this process, deforestation thus advances climate change, worsens water quality, increases land and air temperatures, and worsens drought. Many people worldwide utilize forests for their livelihoods, and deforestation impairs their ability to work and provide for their families. As forests are rich in organic substances, deforestation can damage the quality of soil. Hence, nature loses some natural protection from erosion, and human beings find themselves in peril of natural disasters such as mudslides or landslides.

Many of the effects of deforestation lead to a process called **desertification**. Desertification occurs when land regions that were once suitable for growing are perpetually impaired. Depleted soil, drought, unrestricted agricultural practices, and climate change contribute to land degradation.

Example of deforestation in Brazil

![Image of deforestation in Brazil, where deforested area meets forested area.](/cimages/multimages/16/hillside_deforestation_in_rio_de_janeiro3552916378194010768.jpeg)

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**Causes of Deforestation**

There are several causes of deforestation, some of which are naturally occurring. For example, forest fires are a common natural cause of deforestation. Additionally, parasites and other disease infestations in forests are natural sources of deforestation. Weather events such as strong storms and tornados can also contribute to deforestation.

However, human enterprises are the primary causes of deforestation, however. Even some natural causes, like forest fires, can be sparked by human activity. Human causes of deforestation include:

- Agriculture
- Construction
- Urbanization
- Mining

Forested areas being cleared for growing crops and raising livestock might actually result in there being less crops to grow in the long run as a result of the aforementioned effects of deforestation. The construction of roadways, along with other means of transportation and transformation systems, also can involve deforestation. As urbanization grows and more and more people move into cities and said cities then are forced to expand, forests around certain areas dwindle and even disappear. Additionally, housing structures and other buildings often utilize wood, which can lead to the felling of trees for timber.

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**Deforestation Examples**

The Amazon rainforest is an expansive forest and is a primary site of deforestation. The Amazon contributes significantly to the planet's biodiversity, carbon storage, and oxygen generation. Amazon rainforest deforestation has been done to make way for raising livestock and agriculture. The escalation of meat consumption has contributed to the need for more livestock generation in this area. It is estimated that about 17% of the Amazon rainforest has been deforested in the last half century. Some of the effects of the Amazon's deforestation are soil erosion, destruction of habitats, pollution, and hotter temperatures.

Indonesia is another site of deforestation, where deforestation is primarily linked to palm oil production. Two island regions that have experienced significant deforestation are Sumatra and Kalimantan. Tropical forests are being removed in Indonesia to make room for the generation of palm oil. Palm oil is used in food, makeup, and cleaning solutions, among other products. Once trees are removed, they are burned and release significant quantities of carbon dioxide.

Africa also has deforestation sites of not. For example, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the home of the planet's second largest rainforest. The growth of cocoa and palm oil and mining have been causes of deforestation in this region. Additionally, in western Africa, the years of 2001-2014 saw a significant percentage of the forests in the countries of Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana removed for the growth of cocoa.

Fruit of oil palm trees. Palm oil production contributes to deforestation.

![Picture of the fruit of oil palm trees, used to produce palm oil and contributes to deforestation.](/cimages/multimages/16/fruit_oil_palm8090678272170378691.jpeg)

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**Deforestation Solutions**

Finding solutions to deforestation is imperative to combat global warming and climate change. Several things can be done to ameliorate deforestation problems. These possible solutions include:

- Developing sustainable farming techniques
- Promoting agroforestry
- Replanting trees and reforestation
- Buying wood products generated through sustainable practices
- Limiting consumption of products containing palm oil
- Consuming less meat
- Purchasing fewer products in general
- Limiting paper usage
- Choosing products made from recycled paper

Sustainable farming practices use less land in agricultural practices and thereby reduce the need to remove trees. Agroforestry incorporates trees in the generation of agricultural products. Reforestation and the planting of new trees can help repair some of what has been lost. Consuming less meat and palm oil products can help combat deforestation. Additionally, using recycled paper products or less paper generally helps drive down the need for cutting trees.

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**Lesson Summary**

The **deforestation** definition is the practice of cutting down trees and eliminating forests. **Biodiversity** is the variety of life in a given area and can include the genes, species, and ecosystems present. Deforestation removes forests that aid in biodiversity and can serve as a **carbon sink** by consuming carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. Cutting timber also produces a significant amount of greenhouse gases. One deforestation fact is that 20% of greenhouse gas emissions result from deforestation practices. The effects of deforestation include drought, reduced soil and water quality, loss of work for people, and exacerbated climate change. **Desertification** can also result in the degradation and depletion of land that was once suitable for growing. Drought, unrestricted agricultural practices and excessive grazing are some causes of desertification.

Causes of deforestation include agriculture, construction, urbanization, and mining. One primary deforestation example is the Amazon rainforest, where trees have been removed to raise livestock and grow agricultural products. There are a variety of potential solutions for deforestation, including sustainable farming practices, reforestation and planting new trees, reducing consumption of palm oil and meat products, and using recycled paper products or fewer paper products overall.

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## Video Transcript

## Natural Environments

Imagine that you are out on a camping trip deep within the forest. During the day, you enjoy watching the animals and birds as they play among the trees and plants. Then, at night, you climb into your tent and fall asleep listening to the crickets, bullfrogs and other creatures of the night. But, as morning breaks, you step out of your tent to find that all of the plants and animals have disappeared and, in their place, is dry and barren land.

Okay, this is a bit extreme, and this drastic of an environmental shift could not happen overnight. However, with mismanagement of woodland and natural disasters, lush forests can be negatively impacted and can even turn into deserts over time. In this lesson, we will take a look at how these changes take place and how they impact the biological diversity of the ecosystems.

## Deforestation

**Deforestation** is the term that describes the cutting down or clearing of trees from a wooded area. There are a number of reasons woodlands or forests are cut down. In some cases, the trees themselves are the desired resource. Trees have been a source of fuel for many generations and continue to be used in this way today. They are also turned into timber for use in building and carpentry, as well as used in the production of paper products.

In other cases, trees are cleared because they are in the way of progress. Forests may be cleared to make room for farmland or for grazing land for cattle, or they may be removed to make room for new houses, neighborhoods or expanding cities. Some deforestation is not intentional and can result due to natural causes, such as wildfires.

Regardless of the cause, deforestation can be detrimental to the environment. A forest acts as a **carbon sink** because it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during the process of photosynthesis. When trees are destroyed, they release their stored carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, which contributes to the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is the phenomenon whereby atmospheric gases, like carbon dioxide, trap the sun's heat, causing the earth's surface to warm.

The harmful effects of deforestation can also be seen on land. Without trees to protect soil and hold it in place, soil erosion, or the washing away of soil, can occur during periods of rain. Trees also play a pivotal role in the water cycle, which is the constant movement of water between the earth and the atmosphere.

Tree roots absorb water from the ground and return water vapor back to the atmosphere. If trees are removed and can no longer contribute to the water cycle, the previously forested land can transform into a much drier climate. This dry environment can spread due to a decrease in atmospheric water vapor and results in a decline in precipitation levels in the area.

## Desertification

These factors all combine to create a warmer and drier climate and may result in **desertification**, which is the transformation of once fertile land into desert. Deforestation is not the only cause of desertification. Land can turn dry and barren due to drought, shifts in the climate or aggressive agricultural or grazing practices.

All of these causes, along with deforestation, lead to the loss of vegetation in the area. Without the vegetation, soil erosion accelerates and water does not easily absorb into the ground. The soil becomes dry and deplete of moisture and groundwater reserves go unfilled. The soil is left unfertile and barren with nothing to do but bake in the hot sun.

## Biodiversity

It's easy to see that deforestation and desertification have many detrimental effects on the environment, but one of the most devastating impacts is on the loss of biodiversity. **Biodiversity**, or **biological diversity**, is the variability of life forms within a given ecosystem. This is an easy term to recall if you remember that the word 'bio' refers to 'life' and the word 'diversity' refers to 'variety.' So, the term 'biodiversity' literally means a variety of life forms.

Forests support biodiversity by providing natural habitats for various plants and animals. Forests, and especially tropical rainforests, provide some of the greatest areas of biodiversity on the planet, and a decline in these environments means a decline in biodiversity.

Biodiversity is important for the proper functioning of all types of ecosystems and plays a role in recycling nutrients and providing healthy soil. A biologically diverse ecosystem is a stable ecological community, but if this diversity is compromised, by such things as deforestation, the natural balance of the ecosystem is disrupted. This leads to the loss of habitats for many lesser species.

It also destroys medicinal plants that have been used for hundreds of years to heal human ailments. The tropical rainforests are still the origin of medications used today for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. If deforestation continues at its current pace, the loss of biodiversity could compromise the existence of medicinal plants used for therapeutic purposes.

## Lesson Summary

Let's review. **Deforestation** is defined as the cutting down or clearing of trees from a wooded area. A forest acts as a **carbon sink** because it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When trees are destroyed, they release the stored carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, which contributes to the greenhouse effect.

Trees prevent soil erosion and play a pivotal role in the water cycle by absorbing water in the ground and returning water vapor back to the atmosphere. If trees are removed, the area can become much warmer and drier, which may result in **desertification**, which is a transformation of once fertile land into desert.

Deforestation and desertification have many detrimental effects on the environment, but one of the most devastating impacts is the loss of **biodiversity**. Biodiversity is the variability of life forms within a given ecosystem. Forests, and especially tropical rainforests, provide some of the greatest areas of biodiversity on the planet. If this diversity is compromised, it can lead to the loss of habitats for many plants and animals and destroy medicinal plants.

## Learning Outcomes

After you've reviewed this video lesson, you will be able to:

- Realize how forests acting as a carbon sink relates to the greenhouse effect
- Specify some of the effects of deforestation
- Assess the factors that can lead to desertification
- Expound upon the importance of biodiversity
- Detail the ways in which deforestation and desertification can have detrimental effects on it

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