Ecosystems at Risk: Rainforests Under Threat!

Welcome back, eco-adventures! This week, we are going to discuss the impact of deforestation on climate change. Deforestation is of great significance in this last chapter. It leads to climate change and all that entails. Moving deeper into the core of these bio-rich environments confronts us with the perils it is facing, the impact of deforestation, and the complex factors that brought about this environmental dilemma.

The Looming Threat: Deforestation

The process of tree removal is known as deforestation, and it stands as one of the most significant threats to these precious ecosystems (National Geographic 2023).

Logging in Tropical Rainforests (National Geographic 2023).

A report made in 2022 shows that 13.8% of the original Amazon forest biome has been deforested and contributed to by other factors. The scientists worry that the rainforest may be headed towards a tipping point beyond which it turns into a dryland habitat. At this stage, the tipping point is predicted to happen after losing at least a quarter of the forest. In addition, much of this denuded soil is also a barrier to the regeneration of rainforests thus making it doubly hard on the rainforest (Let's Talk Science 2022).

Unleashing the Carbon Beast

However, the worst thing happens when the rainforest is burnt until nothing remains – releasing huge quantities of stored carbon dioxide. Through photosynthesis, this carbon dioxide is absorbed and retained in these towering trees. Nonetheless, when they are cut and burnt this carbon comes out into the atmosphere worsening the greenhouse effect and raising global warming. It should never be overlooked that carbon release has an overwhelming effect (WWF 2019).

The Culprits: Logging and Agriculture

Over centuries, tropical forests have been extensively cut down to pave the way for crop production and grazing of livestock. Trees are also cut down to supply wood for firewood, making, and building materials. For example, forested lands in the regions of Malaysia and Indonesia are burned for palm nut and it is the major resource in making products like shampoo, saltine crackers, etc. While in the Amazon, cattle ranching and mass plantations of soybeans are its main determinants (National Geographic 2023).

On the other hand, annual tree removal is vital for the global world’s supply of wood and paper by logging operations. Some loggers engage in criminal behaviour and make new roads into deeper forests, which makes the problem worse. Furthermore, urban sprawl also involves the felling of forests as urban areas expand leading to the construction of residential and commercial housing (National Geographic 2023).

Here's a short video from National Geographic which I hope can help you understand the key points of this blog.

That's the end of this sad topic and I hope you are prepared to see the last blog about tropical rainforests & climate regulation which will be released next week. Stay tuned!