Rainforest Depletion
The effects of rainforest depletion are large and widespread. Its effects move
beyond just global climate and loss of biodiversity; deforestation plays a cen-
tral role in the global economy, cultural diversity, and potentially the future of
medicine. A problem that plays such a complex role in our world will need to
be addressed with careful analysis. Study of the causes and consequences of
this loss will provide us with the knowledge to propose numerous ways to con-
front the rapid destruction of our rainforest here on Earth
What are the causes of rainforest depletion?
Logging - Logging is a multi-billion dollar industry which plays a central role in the economies of some devel-
oping countries. Logging can occur sustainably; however, sustainable logging rarely takes place in many of these
countries. Illegal logging often takes place in countries where logging was restricted, and illegal logging is hard to
detect. It is difficult to discourage illegal loggers by not purchasing their products because corporations are usually
unable to determine whether or not the lumber that they are purchasing is illegally harvested or not.
Farming and Cattle Ranches - In order to clear land for farming, farmers often use the slash and burn tech-
nique. Although the resulting ash can be used as fertilizer, the soil is infertile, and, as a result, the farmer repeats
the process somewhere else. In some places, this technique is necessary to destroy parasites and other life. The
slash and burn technique as a result of farming is seen as one of the greatest causes of rainforest deforestation.
Forests are also cleared in order to support cattle ranches. Because of the increasing demand for red meat in coun-
tries like the United States, cattle ranching is becoming an increasingly profitable industry. Consequently, much if
the rainforest is cleared in order to provide space for cattle.
Dams - Projects funded by international organizations such as World Bank play a large role in deforestation.
Dams destroy large amounts of rainforest due to flooding, and rotting roots release carbon into the atmosphere. In
addition, dams can greatly alter aquatic ecosystems, leading to the destruction of many underwater species and
less biodiversity.
What are the consequences of rainforest depletion?
Biogeochemical impact
- Nitrogen Cycle Rainforest destruction releases massive amounts of nitrogen that had been fixed in the plants
and animals back into the atmosphere. In addition, the destruction of legumes lessens nitrogen fixation, result-
ing in disruption of the nitrogen cycle.
- Carbon Cycle Deforestation removes large carbon sinks, such as the Amazon basin, from the Earth’s surface.
This increases CO2 levels in the atmosphere, disrupting the carbon cycle and altering global climate due to ac-
cumulation of greenhouse gasses. Deforestation is responsible for 20% of the world’s carbon emissions.
Economic impact
- US$10 Billion lost annually in countries plagued by illegal logging.
- Billions of US Dollars lost due to the destruction of ecotourism
- US$90 Billion lost annually with the destruction of forest products such as nuts, fruit, and iguana.
Jeffrey Woodham October 27, 2008
- European buyers pay US$35/ton in carbon offsets, while loggers earn anywhere from ten cents to five dollars
per ton of carbon.
- Deforestation is only a short-term economy booster; not only will the country run out of timber, they will lose
many of the valuable forest products and ecosystems that went along with it. Through deforestation, they de-
stroy many potential profitable products.
- Hardwood revenue from tropical rainforest is decreases - since 1980 it has decreased by over 25%.
Long-Term Sustainability impact
- Deforestation leads to increases in both carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. These
two greenhouse gasses can lead to:
- Climate change. The world will grow warmer, and the likelihood of major catastrophes and severe
storms will increase. Dry seasons as a result of this climate change will prevent reforestation from easi-
ly taking place.
- In addition, deforestation will result in infertile soil, which will:
- Lessen chances of reforestation, harm efforts to farm there, and lead to soil erosion. Whatever nutrients
that are left in the soil will be lost in the water, bodies of water will be filled in by soil, and aquatic
ecosystems will be destroyed.
Personal Livelihood impact
- Many of us rely on paper and use it thoughtlessly throughout our days. In order to lessen rainforest
deforestation, we can use recycled products to minimize destruction of our rainforest.
- The destruction of our rainforest destroys many potential medicines which could have helped us. The
cures to cancer, AIDS, and MS could potentially all be found in the rainforest, but we’ll never find
them if we destroy them first.
For the interested reader...
http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/deforestation.htm
Great description of the economical effects of deforestation, the economic potential of more sustainable forest products and possible ways to ap-
proach the situation.
http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/fieldcourses02/PapersCostaRicaArticles/Deforestation.WhatisitWho.html
Good description of the effects on biogeochemical cycles by deforestation - especially the nitrogen and carbon cycles
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0813.htm
Good source exposing many of the causes of deforestation and some of the effects - a couple of them may be surprising.