Global warming and its adverse effects are making headlines all over the world; we’re already seeing some of the consequences like climate changes and an increased number of natural disasters like hurricanes and tidal waves. Those who care about the environment are doing their part to raise awareness about this danger, not just for the future generations to come, but for the present day humankind as well. Deforestation is one environmental aspect that hasn’t received the amount of publicity it deserves – man is rapidly destroying the greenery that nature has provided in order to make way for concrete jungles. The consequences of wiping out forests and cutting trees are more deadly than we imagine, because deforestation:
* Destroys entire species: Millions of animals, birds and insects make their home in forests, and by cutting down trees and wiping out entire forests indiscriminately in the quest for modernization, we are contributing to the rapid extinction of a variety of species.
* Increases pollution: Trees are a blessing in more ways than one – they take in carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the air and make it cleaner for us to breathe. By destroying trees, we’re adding to our air pollution woes in a big way.
* Decreases the amount of rainfall we receive: Rainfall is the only way of replenishing our natural water resources, and trees determine the rainfall in a particular region. If they no linger exist, then drought sets in, bringing with it its own set of problems.
* Increases temperature: Trees replenish the atmosphere with water and help in the formation of clouds that help cool the earth. They prevent temperatures from rising by regulating the climate of a region.
* Erodes the soil and its nutrients: The roots of trees are instrumental in holding the soil together and preserving the nutrients and microorganisms that make the land fertile. By cutting down trees, we’re dooming ourselves to a future that’s going to be plagued by landslides, floods and erosion.
* Pollutes and/or destroys water resources: Slash and burn methods of deforestation involve cutting down trees and then burning the residue. This process not only destroys the soil and strips it of all nutrients, but also ends up polluting rivers, streams, ponds and other natural water resources in the vicinity.
Population explosion, the need for adequate living space, and the extension of cities have contributed in a large way to deforestation. And therefore, to address this environmental issue effectively, we need to take care of the roots of the problem first. Environmentalists are doing all they can to encourage people to plant more trees to replace the ones that are being cut. But the sad and simple fact is that while it takes just a few minutes to cut down a full-grown tree, it takes years to grow one that’s just as big. The question that we need to answer then is this – are we doing enough to repair the damage caused by deforestation, or is time running out for the Earth?
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