DEFORESTATION AND ITS EFFECTS

What is the meaning of deforestation?

The process of converting forested lands into non -forest
sites that are ideal for crop raising, urbanization and
industrialization. Because deforestation is a
serious concept, there are also serious effects to the
surroundings .

Every year, vast areas of forests are cleared to make way

for agriculture and development.
Tropical rainforests have important ecological roles .
a) Rainforests are also called the carbon sink of the earth
because they absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide
during photosynthesis and release oxygen into the
atmosphere.
In general, deforestation results in :

a) soil erosion

b) flash floods

c) landslides

d) distruption to the carbon and nitrogen cycles

e) severe climatic changes

f) the loss of biodiversity

SOIL EROSION

a) When it rains for a long time especially during rainy

seasons, the top layer of soil loosens and slides down,
thus causing landslides.
b) Clearing of trees causes the loss of tree leaves that
protect the soil from a massive impulsive force of heavy
raindrops and also causes the loss of tree roots to hold
the soil in place.
c) The wide exposure to the raindrops’ forces, give arise
to soil erosion. Here, the top layer of soil is easily being
washed away by heavy rainfall. The eroded soil, is then,
deposited in rivers or streams.
d) During heavy rains, rainwater flows harshly into
rivers because there is a non-existence of retention of
water by plant roots as well as proper water catchments
areas.
e) Due to silting in the rivers, the water flow is blocked.
Thus, water flows inland and causes flash floods in low
areas.
f) In addition, soil erosion contributes in the depletion of
minerals in the soil, causing the land trouble to be used
as a place for cultivation.
FLASH FLOODS

a) Deforestation increases the surface run-off from rainfall

b) Without forests, a greater proportion ofrain falls to the
ground.
c) This ,together with depletion of water catchment areas,
causes flash floods during the rainy seasons.

LANDSLIDES
Definition
Landslides are simply defined as the mass movement
of rock, debris or earth down a slope and have come to
include a broad range of motions whereby falling,
sliding and flowing under the influence of gravity
dislodges earth material.
When there are are heavy rains for a long period of time,
the top layer of the soil crumbles and this leads to
landslides on steep hillsides.
DISTRUPTION TO THE CARBON AND NITROGEN
CYCLES

a) The removal of plants in the rainforests distrupts the

natural cycle of nutrients.

b) The level of atmospheric carbon dioxide rises as less

carbon dioxide in the air is removed by plants during
photosynthesis.

c) The level of atmospheric oxygen drops as less oxygen

is released by plants during photosynthesis.

d) The recycling of nitrates and other ions slows down.

e) Tree roots bind soil particles together, and the tree

canopy reduces the force of rain beating down on the
soil. Deforestation, therefore, causes the loss of
nutrients through leaching and run-offs.
 SEVERE CLIMATIC CHANGES

a) Deforestation disrupts the normal weather patterns,

creating hotter, drier weather and causing global climatic
changes.
b) The removal of trees reduces transpiration, rain fall and
the rate at which plants absorbs carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere during photosynthesis.
c) This leads to an increase in the carbon dioxide level in
the atmosphere. High level of carbon dioxide prevents heat
from escaping from the atmosphere. This is known as the
greenhouse effect which is believed to lead to global
warming.
c) Forest clearing and burning of wood results in air
pollution and released more carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere.
d) Burning of tree in the tropics adds about 25% more
carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
THE LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY

Deforestation has a devastating effect on the

biodiversity in the tropical rain forest, causing the
destruction of millions of species in the forest by
human activities, such as :