What Causes Deforestation

Thirty percent of the earth is covered in forests and it plays an important role in providing food, fresh water, traditional medicine and shelter. Deforestation, which is clearing virgin forests or intentional removal of trees and other vegetation without replanting, has been aggressively executed. Nevertheless, these benefits are jeopardised as the level of deforestation is elevating drastically for the past few decades. This essay discusses the principle causes and effects of deforestation.

Firstly, population growth is a major factor of deforestation because the demand for basic commodities such as food and shelter is likely to increase. Deforestation begins with human settlement escalating in near-forest areas which they produce their own food through subsistence agriculture. The use of traditional farming methods, the slash and burn technique by small-scale farmers is deemed destructive as suggested by Golden and Miller (1994, p. 14). This can be dangerous because these fires could expand and burn the remaining forested territories that they border and the affected soil is no longer suitable for farming.

Klissinger (2002) suggests that when too much trees are cut down and not replanted, the soil loses its protection, as the roots are unable to act as anchors that hold the soil. Consequently, it may be susceptible to erosion or mudslide especially during raining and causing it to be unproductive. During rainy season, silt is deposited in rivers and lakes causing the water level to increase thus causing floods and mudslides, which might be lethal to living organisms. Evidence shown by Golden and Miller (1994, pp. 15-16) indicates that the flood caused about 200 fatalities in Honduras and in the recent storm occurred in Philippines, this phenomenon killed approximately 6000 people. Hence, deforestation shall be taken into consideration as it could influences people’s well being including animals and