The importance of the sustainability of the forest and the consequences of deforestation

For thousands of years trees have been a vital source of wood, providing an essential material for building homes. Forest are natural areas which are used as habitats for many animals, they have a crucial role in the balance of the water cycle, absorb greenhouse gases which assists in combating climate change, prevent soil erosion, mitigate effects from flooding. And the forest is a resource used to obtain food, water, oxygen and medicine. Although cutting or clearing trees from an area proved to be beneficial it eventually indulged deforestation, the mass removal of trees.

The primary causes of this event are anthropogenic. Human activities including logging, where the trees are used as raw material. Agriculture where the trees are being removed to undertake large- and small-scale farming and urban expansion and mining. Secondary factors of deforestation usually involve over population which increases agriculture and the construction of roads, dams, homes, and other infrastructure. And natural causes such as forest fires and hurricanes cause deforestation.

With deforestation on the rise carbon dioxide levels have increased. The biodiversity usually found in forest have decreased, where species are forced to relocate or either have become extinct or endangered. An example is the St Helena redwood, a tree that became extinct in the 50s due to deforestation.

Deforestation can also affect human health directly and indirectly; this promotes the spread diseases. This can occur when soil erosion, a direct consequence of deforestation could promote breeding grounds of stagnant water. Vectors such as mosquitoes are then able to breed and populate. Deforestation also causes a loss of habitat. An economy can also suffer where rainforest is a country’s main source of economic income attracting tourism. The rate at which trees are being cut is greater than they are being grown or planted. The output of harvesting trees declines inducing a negative consequence.

The consequences from deforestation over the years has increased however there are strategies used to assist in its overall control hoping that it grants time for the slow regeneration of the forest. These strategies include government legislations against illegal logging, forest protection and alternatives to wood. Enforcement methods such as fines, community service or imprisonment and the implementing preservation techniques such as reduce, reuse, and recycle.