However, this wealth of minerals originates many problems such as social, economic and particularly environmental issues. The aim of this literature review was to scrutinize and summarize only the environmental impact of ASM activities on the rainforest ecosystem in the Congo Basin. Based on different case studies of the last decade, direct and indirect environmental impacts relating to ASM could be tracked down. Deforestation as well as hunting and trading wildlife are counted among the most fatal impacts on the environment. Deforestation, as part of the initial step in mining, has a negative effect on dependent species.
Deforestation can occur quickly especially in the Blue Mountains, through fire or clear-felling to make way for plantations, crops or pasture. Deforestation can also happen gradually over time. For example, as a result of unsustainable logging or climate change. In Sydney, deforestation is predominantly caused by agriculture, more intense and frequent fires and mining and infrastructure projects. New roads are being built and forests are demolished and destructive logging practices and unsustainable wood collection can eventually lead to a spiral of degradation.
Air pollution is the source of acid rain, which weakens and damages trees and poisons the soil in the forests. Farmers also impact deforestation. Famers move to the forest in search of land for growing crops and burn trees to produce ash for fertilizer. In the tropical forests the soil is too poor to sustain agriculture, hence farmers move on to another area of the forest, leaving behind a patch of deforested land that is degraded of nutrients. Ranching and large-scale agriculture leads to deforestation because raising cattle and crops has resulted in the clearing of forests to free up
Deforestations impact on Earth is exceptionally greater than what people perceive it to be. There are copious amounts of reasons as to why deforestation takes place and several side effects of deforestation. One cause of deforestation is the utilization of wood people receive from cutting down forests to make several different types of appliances. The need for wood as a heat source is also a factor in deforestation. Another cause of deforestation is the high demand for land that people need for putting up homes.
The resistance to invasion increase with the plant biodiversity. Moreover, the diversity of plant species increases carbon of the soil, biomass production, nutrient mineralization and soil organic matter. Therefore, impacts on biodiversity can have strong effects on ecosystem services (Cardinale, 2012). Traditional agroforestry system, contain many trees minimizing nutrient leaching and soil erosion and restore key nutrients (Marten, 1986). Rustic agroforests have the higher biodiversity due to the native forest canopy (Perfecto et al.
Either way, it’s a lose-lose situation for all who are involved. Deforestation kills more than just trees; it affects everyone and everything, from people to plants to insects and animals. It is taking a toll on the Earth’s environment and population. Around 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihood, and forests cover nearly 31% of the planet’s land area. Protecting life on land is a much broader concept than one might think.
This means that as we destroy these plants, we destroy the potential to cure life-threatening illnesses and diseases. Deforestation comes in many forms. It is cleared by chainsaws, bulldozers and unsustainable logging for its timber value as well as fires and degradation due to climate change. This is followed by farming and ranching operations. Increasing proportions of deforestation is because of industrial activities and large scale agriculture.
What exactly is deforestation and why does the economy have a need for it, even though it has an adverse effect worldwide? Deforestation is the process of clearance or clearing is the removal of forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use. A forest stand is a close community of trees sufficient in size, composition and location to distinguish it from other nearby communities. Deforestation affects our environment by reducing biodiversity, changing the water cycle, affecting soil erosion and plays a part in the ongoing phenomenon of global
‘Deforestation refers to the cutting, clearing, and removal of rainforest or related ecosystems into less bio-diverse ecosystems such as pasture, cropland, or plantations.’ -Kricher (1997) Deforestation is the permanent effect of the destruction of forests to make space and land for other uses. Deforestation is the removal of all or most of the trees in a forest or forested area. It can damage the environment by causing many consequences. Around the size of 36 football fields is being cut down in this minute. The world 's highest rates of deforestation, a significant cause of global warming, are happening in the key emerging economies of Nigeria, Indonesia and Brazil.
2007, Naeem 2006). Although enhancing species diversity is a goal in many restoration projects, sometimes the goal of restoring ecological function takes priority (del Moral et al. 2007, Palmer et al. 2007, Palmer 2009). To deal with degradation of soil health usually provides the major up heal task but for each problem, there are immediate and long-term treatments available (Dobson et al,1997) see below