How does deforestation affect humans

Illegal loggers in the country make the problem worse. Increasingly, we are finding many instances when this is not true. For example, Garg cites another of his papers that showed rapid expansion of rural roads in India had no meaningful effect on forest-cover loss. By Christine Clark. Apr 23, Search News Search Search. Search Faculty and Staff Search Search. Unconventional production practices that illegally take down trees and use dangerous chemicals threaten forests and wildlife.

In this way, exploiting crops such as palm oil, wood, coffee or avocados has side effects that affect the environment and the surrounding ecosystems. Some of the animals under greatest threat are:. How can we stop deforestation? According to OECD , the human population is expected to continue to increase and reach over 9 billion people by At the current rate of consumption, and with more people inhabiting Earth, the need for more space to grow food and extract natural resources is only likely to increase — depending, of course, on tech development such as artificial foods.

As the demand for food or raw materials like cotton or minerals increases, so does the need to turn forests into farmland, pastureland, or mining spots.

Under this broader perspective, how can we stop deforestation? According to the WWF , livestock-caused deforestation is responsible for the discharge of 3. In this way, reducing your meat consumption is also a big step to stop not only deforestation but also global warming on a larger scale. Remember: a lot of space is needed to grow both animals and the food they consume, while other nutritious foods could be grown and result in larger food quantities using the same space. Why not saving meat for important occasions only?

As consumers we can choose to buy less industrial and transformed products such as cookies, crips, noodles or cosmetics that use plenty of palm oil. Instead, we can go for a home-made approach with fewer chemicals and food preservatives which is better for both the planet and our health. However, if you are not willing to make such changes — because they are time consuming — you can still consume more responsibly while keeping your lifestyle.

To this regard, you can buy products from brands adopting eco-friendly business practices. When it comes to food, buying directly to small farmers using agroforestry practices is the best choice for the planet. Your smartphone, your laptop or your car, to name a few, are all made of aluminium, plastic and rare Earth minerals, among other materials. To get these, just like foods like coffee or cacao land was clear to build mining sites, roads and factories and where built to transport and transform them, powerplants provide them with energy….

Since diesel and petrol are mixed with biofuels, choosing other transportation methods such as walking, cycling or car-sharing can be good ways of reducing palm oil importations and production and to help stop deforestation. If you start adopting the behaviors mentioned above to help stop deforestation you can lead by your example. Teach your family, friends or colleagues what deforestation is and why it is happening, the causes and consequences of deforestation, and what solutions individuals, consumers and organizations can adopt.

What is being currently done do stop deforestation? Efforts to replant deforested areas are taking place every day. Unfortunately, some replanting is done with the goal of quickly growing trees to be exploited in the short-term by the logging industry.

These often consist of monotypic plantations less resilient, more appealing to harmful environmental management practices such as eucalyptus or pines. This is no small effort: there are 1.

Image credits to deforestation on Shutterstock , trees deforestation on Shutterstock and palm oil deforestation on Shutterstock. Log in and interact with engaging content: show how they matter to you, share your experience First Name. Last Name. What Is Deforestation? Then you should find out some examples of how Life is interconnected: 2 — The Effects of Deforestation on Local People and Their Livelihoods Healthy forests support the livelihoods of 1.

Understanding Deforestation In Video To understand the challenges of deforestation, check this National Geographic video. Where Is Deforestation Happening? The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines deforestation as the "permanent removal of standing forests. Deforestation is the clearing, destroying, or otherwise removal of trees through deliberate, natural, or accidental means. It can occur in any area densely populated by trees and other plant life, but the majority of it is currently happening in the Amazon rainforest.

The loss of trees and other vegetation can cause climate change, desertification, soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and a host of problems for indigenous people. It was only after the onset of the modern era that it became an epidemic. One of the most dangerous and unsettling effects of deforestation is the loss of animal and plant species due to their loss of habitat. Not only does deforestation threaten species known to us, but also those unknown.

The trees of the rainforest that provide shelter for some species also provide the canopy that regulates the temperature.

What is deforestation? Find out the causes, effects, and solutions. See all of National Geographic's videos on deforestation here. Share Tweet Email. Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants. This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city.

Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city Caracals have learned to hunt around the urban edges of Cape Town, though the predator faces many threats, such as getting hit by cars. India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big. Environment Planet Possible India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big Grassroots efforts are bringing solar panels to rural villages without electricity, while massive solar arrays are being built across the country.

Go Further. Animals Climate change is shrinking many Amazonian birds. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals This frog mysteriously re-evolved a full set of teeth. Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. Animals Wild Cities Morocco has 3 million stray dogs. Meet the people trying to help. Environment COP26 nears conclusion with mixed signals and frustration.