Cause and Effects of Deforestation free essay sample

The cutting down of forest or deforestation can affect us and have serious effects on our environment as well. A few effects of deforestation are soil erosion, disruption of the water cycle, and possible even global warming When forest areas are cleared, it results in exposing the soil to the sun. Which would make the soil very dry and eventually, infertile, due to nitrogen being lost. In addition, when there is rainfall, it washes away the nutrients, which flow with the rainwater into waterways. Because of this, merely replanting trees may not help in solving the problems caused by deforestation, for by the time the trees mature, the soil will be lacking of essential nutrients. Eventually, cultivation in this land will also become impossible, resulting in the land becoming useless. Large tracts of land will be rendered permanently impoverished due to soil erosion. Trees contribute in a large way in maintaining the water cycle and by getting rid of them it could cause a disruption of the water cycle in the area. We will write a custom essay sample on Cause and Effects of Deforestation or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They draw up water via their roots, which are then released into the atmosphere. A large part of the water that circulates in the ecosystem of rainforests, for instance, remains inside the plants. When these trees are cut down it results in the climate getting drier in that area. The trees help in prevention of running off of water and help the soil absorb the flowing water. When there are no trees, water just runs off, leaving no chance for the groundwater tables to absorb more water. By doing so it could ultimately lead to reduction in water resources. The water cycle gets disturbed leading to floods and droughts. It is well-known that global warming is being caused largely due to emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, what is not known quite as well is that deforestation has a direction association with carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. Trees act as a major storage depot for carbon, since they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is then used to produce carbohydrates, fats, and proteins that make up trees. When deforestation occurs, many of the trees are burnt or they are allowed to rot, which results in releasing the carbon that is stored in them as carbon dioxide. This, in turn, leads to greater concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Global warming is another problem looming over our heads each and every day. These are just a few of the causes and effects of deforestation. The consequences are unpleasant as every form of life on earth is connected with one another. Not only do animals lose their homes, but humans dependent on the local ecology are also affected. People dependent on the forests for their survival lose their livelihood. The causes and its effects of this destructive practice can be stopped to some extent, if we all do our bit towards the environment. Remember, trees give us life, without them it will be impossible to sustain life.