| Forests are one of the most valuable | | | | to sudden and catastrophic wildfires. |
| eco-systems in the world, containing over 60 | | | | Deforestation can be the result of the |
| per cent of the world's biodiversity. This | | | | deliberate removal of forest cover for |
| biodiversity has multiple social and economic | | | | agriculture or urban development, or it can |
| values, apart from its intrinsic value, | | | | be an unintentional consequence of |
| varying from the important ecological | | | | uncontrolled grazing (which can prevent the |
| functions of forests in terms of soil and | | | | natural regeneration of young trees). The |
| watershed protection to the economic value of | | | | combined effect of grazing and fires can be a |
| the numerous products which can be extracted | | | | major cause of deforestation in dry areas. In |
| from the forest. For many indigenous and | | | | addition to the direct effects brought about |
| other forest-dependent peoples, forests are | | | | by forest removal, indirect effects caused by |
| their livelihood. They provide them with | | | | edge effects and habitat fragmentation can |
| edible and medicinal plants, bushmeat, | | | | greatly magnify the effects of deforestation. |
| fruits, honey, shelter, firewood and many | | | | |
| other goods, as well as with cultural and | | | | The most important direct causes of |
| spiritual values. On a global scale, all | | | | deforestation include logging, the conversion |
| forests play a crucial role in climate | | | | of forested lands for agriculture and |
| regulation and constitute one of the major | | | | cattle-raising, urbanization, mining and oil |
| carbon sinks on earth, their survival thus | | | | exploitation, acid rain and fire. However, |
| preventing an increase in the greenhouse | | | | there has been a tendency of highlighting |
| effect | | | | small-scale migratory farmers or "poverty" as |
| | | | the major cause of forest loss. Such farmers |
| Deforestation is the conversion of forested | | | | tend to settle along roads through the |
| areas to non-forest land use such asarable | | | | forest, to clear a patch of land and to use |
| land, urban use, logged area or wasteland. | | | | it for growing subsistence or cash crops. In |
| Historically, this meant conversion to | | | | tropical forests, such practices tend to lead |
| grassland or to its artificial counterpart, | | | | to rapid soil degradation as most soils are |
| grainfields; however, the Industrial | | | | too poor to sustain agriculture |
| Revolution added urbanization. Generally this | | | | |
| removal or destruction of significant areas | | | | Growing worldwide demand for wood to be used |
| of for forest cover has resulted in a | | | | for fire wood or in construction, paper and |
| degraded environment with reduced | | | | furniture - as well as clearing land for |
| biodiversity. In developing countries, | | | | commercial and industrial development |
| massive deforestation is ongoing & is shaping | | | | (including road construction) have combined |
| climate and geography. | | | | with growing local populations and their |
| | | | demands for agricultural expansion and wood |
| Deforestation results from removal of trees | | | | fuel to endanger ever larger forest areas. |
| without sufficient reforestation; however, | | | | Deforestation of all forms must be curbed by |
| even with reforestation, significant | | | | the developed and developing nations of the |
| biodiversity loss may occur. There are many | | | | world on a war footing. The forests are the |
| causes, ranging from slow forest degradation | | | | Earth's lungs and we need to keep breathing. |