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“If we lose forests, we lose the fight against climate change” –GCP report Deforestation Anisa Amin & Fatima Anjum What is it? Deforestation refers to cutting , clearing and removal of rainforest or related ecosystem into less bio-diverse ecosystem such as pasture, cropland , or plantation. Deforestation is permanent destruction of indigenous forest and woodland s. the term does not include the removal of industrial forests such as plantation of guns or pines. Importance Forests play an important role in removing CO2 from the air due to photosynthesises Photosynthesis is a carbon sink Carbon sink : any process that takes CO2 and stores it. Forests need to remain intact or else the atmosphere will have too much CO2 Types There are 4 different types of Deforestation: i) Natural reasons (i.e volcanic eruption) these reasons are only occur for a small fraction ii) Land clearing to prepare for crops to be planted iii) Commercial logging and timber harvests iv) Slash and burn forest cutting for subsistence farming Causes 1. Logging 2. Mining 3. oil and gas extraction 4. Cattle ranching 5. Agriculture: Cash Crops. 6. Local, National, and International factors: development, land titles, government subsidies to attract corporations into developing countries, trade agreements (NAFTA, CAFTA), civil wars, debt, lack of resources, and lack of law enforcement. Effects/Consequences Environmental impact 1. Habitat fragmentation. This disturbs the animals' habitat and may force them to enter habitats which are already occupied. This can pose many problems such as territorial conflicts, homelessness (loss of habitat), lack of food availability, migration disturbances, etc. Environmental Impact 2. Soil erosion occurs when trees and plants are removed; the rain water washes the nutrients in the top soil away. 3. Climate change (more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, thus increasing the effects of global warming). 4. Pollution (ground, water and air pollution from oil extraction and mining chemicals Social impact Social conflicts and struggles over land and natural resources. Conflicts over racial and ethnic rights. Poisoning from oil and mining waste. Economic uncertainty (price fluctuations and high interest rates on outstanding international loans with The World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Climate Change Deforestation has a huge impact on global warming Causes 20% of the greenhouse gas emissions – more than all the automobiles in the world combined One of the main causes of climate change 2 million tons of CO2 enters the atmosphere because of deforestation (audit 2003) Solutions Corporations/Markets They can use forest products wisely Implement paper saving laws and policies Politics Politicians can implement national laws to help achieve zero deforestation Consumer Power As a consumer we can pressure the companies to implement paper saving laws and policies and be more eco friendly Largest rainforest worldwide list in descending order( from largest to smallest Amazon basin of South America Congo river basin of Central Africa S.E. Asia New Guinea Madagascar Before its too late…. Final Thought…. (video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo4WXly4 QYk References " Solutions to Deforestation | Greenpeace USA ." Greenpeace USA | Greenpeace USA . N.p., n.d. Web. 19 June 2011. <http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/campaigns/fo rests/solutions-to-deforestation/>. Deforestation: The hidden cause of global warming Climate Change, Environment - The Independent." The Independent | News | UK and Worldwide News | Newspaper. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 June 2011. <http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climat e-change/deforestation-the-hidden-cause-of-globalwarming-448734.html>. >. References Global warming facts: How does deforestation speed up climate change? : TerraCurve.com | Responsible Travel, Culture & Lifestyle. | Go Beyond Green.." TerraCurve.com | Responsible Travel, Culture & Lifestyle. | Go Beyond Green.. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 June 2011. <http://www.terracurve.com/2009/07/16/globalwarming-facts-how-does-deforestation-speed-upclimate-change/>. "WRM Briefing: The direct and underlying causes of forest loss." World Rainforest Movement. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 June 2011. <http://www.wrm.org.uy/public References Kids Connected to Conservation and Culture: Deforestation." Kids Connected to Conservation and Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 June 2011. <http://kidsandconservationblog.ty Europe, the end of the Middle Ages in, there were severe shortages of food, fuel, and building materials since most of the primordial forests had been cleared.. "Deforestation." Encyclopedia of Earth . N.p., n.d. Web. 19 June 2011. <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Deforestation?to pic=58071