DEFORESTATION AND ITS CAUSES

 

Greatly accelreated by human activities since 1960, deforestation has been negatively affecting the natural ecosystems, biodiversity and the climate. Deforestation is the decrease in forests across the world that are lost for other uses such as urbanization, agriculture, croplands or mining activities.

Deforestation includes the conversion of natural forests into barren lands, like the clearance of tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia. 

Multiple factors including human intervention and of natural origin, cause deforestation. The expansion of Agriculture caused nearly 80% of global deforestation, followed by construction of infrastructures such as roads, dams, mining activities, etc...

1. AGRICULTURE

Commercial or industrial agriculture causes about 40% loss of the forest cover with respect to searching for space to grow food, fobers or biofuel. The livestock raised in the farm is responsible for 145 of global deforestation. 

 

2. CONSTRUCTIONS

Around 10% of the deforestation is driven by the construction of human infrastructures. The main ones include: Transportation, energy generation and trasnformation. 

Due to colonization from all over, the trees are cut down as primary source of fuel. These tres are used for cooking food and other daily needs which require fuel.

3. URBANISATION:

The populational shift that is leading people to move from rural areas to urban areas is also contributing to deforestation approximately 5% of it. As cities become larger, so that they can host more people, they challenge the natural boundaries surrounding them, ofetn leading to deforestation.