Forests still cover about 30% of the world’s land area, but forests the size of Greece are lost each and every year. At this constant rate of deforestation, the world’s rain forests could entirely be wiped out in a hundred years. It is not just humans that will experience the consequences of deforestation, as for many plants and animals it will be the catalyst for their education. In Asia alone, deforestation is expected to result in the extinction of 13%-42% of the regional species population (“Introduction: Global Deforestation Issues” 2). Deforestation happens for numerous reasons, some are that trees are cut down to be used or sold as fuel or timber. The removal of trees without adequate reforestation caused harm to habitat, biodiversity loss and aridity. In many countries, deforestation, both naturally occurring and human induced, is an ongoing issue. Deforestation causes extinction, changes to climatic conditions, desertification, and displacement of …show more content…
One of the worst effects is a loss of habitat for millions of species; 70% of Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive the deforestation that destroys their homes. Other effects include an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, disruption of water cycles, an increase of soil erosion, disruption of livelihoods, and climate change. Forests are multifarious ecosystems. They are important to the carbon and water cycles, and are vital to sustain life on earth. So when forests are destroyed, it can ignite a destructive chain of events both locally and everywhere in the world. Deforestation also initiates climate change. Forest soils are moist, but without the sun-blocking trees’ protection they will quickly dry out. Also, trees help propagate the water cycle by returning water vapor back into the atmosphere. If there are no trees to fulfill these imperative responsibilities, countless former forest lands can quickly become arid deserts. Eradicating trees deprives the forest of its shelter, which prevents the sun’s rays during the day and stores in heat at night. This disturbance precedes to more dangerous temperatures swings that can be injurious to plants and animals (“Deforestation: Modern-Day Plague” 2). Loss of habitat can lead to species extinction; this is not only a biodiversity tragedy but also has deleterious consequences for