An iceberg melts in the waters off Antarctica. Climate change has accelerated the rate of ice loss across the continent. Farming, grazing of livestock, mining, and drilling combined account for more than half of all deforestation. Forestry practices, wildfires and, in small part, urbanization account for the rest. In Malaysia and Indonesia, forests are cut down to make way for producing palm oil , which can be found in everything from shampoo to saltines.
In the Amazon, cattle ranching and farms—particularly soy plantations—are key culprits. Loggers, some of them acting illegally , also build roads to access more and more remote forests—which leads to further deforestation. Forests are also cut as a result of growing urban sprawl as land is developed for homes. Not all deforestation is intentional. Some is caused by a combination of human and natural factors like wildfires and overgrazing, which may prevent the growth of young trees. Deforestation affects the people and animals where trees are cut, as well as the wider world.
That disruption leads to more extreme temperature swings that can be harmful to plants and animals. Yet the effects of deforestation reach much farther.
The South American rainforest, for example, influences regional and perhaps even global water cycles, and it's key to the water supply in Brazilian cities and neighboring countries. The Amazon actually helps furnish water to some of the soy farmers and beef ranchers who are clearing the forest. In terms of climate change, cutting trees both adds carbon dioxide to the air and removes the ability to absorb existing carbon dioxide.
If tropical deforestation were a country, according to the World Resources Institute , it would rank third in carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions, behind China and the U. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Discover World-Changing Science.
Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. Sign Up. See more here. And they are being cut down fast. Imagine over large harvesters working non-stop.
Record breaking loss of forest in In , a record of Forests the size of India gone From to , a total of 3,, square kilometers of tree cover were lost globally. The countries with the highest loses of primary rainforest Brazil: 1. Destruction of natural habitat and loss of species Seventy percent of the world's plants and animals live in forests. We could be approaching a tipping point In the Amazon, the loss of a critical mass of rain forest could trick further dieback moving the forest into a vicious circle of self reinforcing destruction.
Deforestation mess up the water cycle Trees are essential to the water cycle. So when trees are cut down, the water cycle is destroyed as well.
Deforestation causes soil erosion Without the roots of trees to anchor the soil, it washes away including the nutrients contained in the soil. See more. Wildfires and deforestation Wildfires add to deforestation as well. The reason for deforestation: everyday products The main reasons for the loss of forests is production of timber, and making room for growing cattle, soy, and palm oil. What to do about deforestation? Support TheWorldCounts Spread the message.
Single Donation Monthly Donation. Blog USA. Protecting the nature we all rely on for food, fresh water and livelihoods. Americas Asia-Pacific Africa. Stay in touch. Thank you. Make a one time donation Make a monthly donation. Deforestation: 11 facts you need to know Agricultural expansion, illegal logging, mining and urbanization continue to drive deforestation around the world.
Globally, forests are under threat — large-scale efforts are needed to protect these ecosystems and the many benefits they provide. One Belgium, every year According to satellite data 1 , 2 , from through , global tropical forest loss averaged 3. Every six seconds In , the world lost an entire soccer field worth of primary rainforest every six seconds.
Brazil under siege Between and , Brazil lost , square kilometers , square miles of tree cover — an area larger than the state of California — to deforestation.
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