The Impact of Deforestation

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Recommended: Review of literature on the topic deforestation and its effects

Deforestation is a serious issue in today’s world. What once was a green Earth is now becoming a desolate land mold that is losing one of its main attributes: forests. Similar to Rachel Carson’s perception, the Earth was once full of lavish forests and is slowly deteriorating into empty, unappealing land. Centuries ago, Earth was covered in forests. “…The whole country, full of woods and thickets...” (Bradford) was the average for settlers in the 1800s. They had grown accustomed to the full lush trees. Even in the 1900s there were the “…same beautiful trees…” (Fuller) and nature was a sight to see as people relished “passing through one of the fine, park-like woods, almost clear from underbrush and carpeted with thick grasses and flowers” (Fuller). However, as time has passed the ecosystem has changed. No longer are there “laurel, viburnum [a type of tree] and alder, great ferns…” (Carson). Instead, the once breathtaking forests are now sights to avert from. “The roadsides, once so attractive, were now lined with browned and withered vegetation…” (Carson). The roadsides used to be lined with green forests, but as deforestation has taken its impact, the roadsides now have become barren and lacked the greenery. Deforestation has caused a harmful influence on the once beautiful Earth. Deforestation can be caused by “fires, clear-cutting for agriculture, ranching and development, unsustainable bagging for timber, and degradation… (WWL). Today, many organizations are working to find ways to resolve the issues established by it. Although the forests provide human benefits such as paper, too much of the forests are being cut down to satisfy human needs. “Some 46-58 million square miles of forest are lost each year- equivalent to 36 f... ... middle of paper ... ... away the sense of protection those many woods provide animals with. It is as if their homes are being ripped away from them for the selfish use of humans. Deforestation also has an impact on the climate. “15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are the result of deforestation” (WWL). This is harmful to the climate as this leaves more carbon dioxide in the air. “Almost 200 tons of carbon dioxide can readily be stored on just on acre in a rain forest” (eHow). Imagine how much carbon dioxide we could rid the air of just by saving an acre of trees. Without the forests to protect soil and redistribute water in the air, the lavish forests can easily become barren deserts as time passes by. Deforestation is just a negative action that should be stopped. If not, our future of animals and climate is in trouble. Deforestation should cease to happen as it is ruining our Earth.

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