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Module 22
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A Ded-BEAM Distance Learning Program supported by the Australian Agency for International Development
To the Learner
Young tress takes up CO2 faster than old tress. But when old
trees are harvested, the roots and many branches are left to
decomposers or burn. Burning and decomposition turns the carbon
compounds that were in the tree into CO2. This increases the volume
of CO2 in the atmosphere.
Check all the effects of deforestation and cross out those that
are not.
Effects of Deforestation
There are three main reasons why our forests are denuded.
These are: (10) over harvesting of good timber by commercial
logging companies (2) setting down of smaller and usually young
tress by fuel wood gathers and (3) kaingin or the slash-and-burn
practice of upland settlers.
When trees are cut down, forest animals lose their homes.
Where else would our unique animals live? Four unique animals in
the world are found in our country. They; are tarsiers of bohol which
are thought to be the smallest monkey in the world; the mouse-deer
in Palawan which is the world’s smallest deer; the tamaraw of
Mindoro which looks like dwarf carabao; and the zebronkey, half
zebra, half donkey. Where else would our monkey-eating eagle, the
largest eagle in the world be found in its natural habitat-the jungles
in Luzon and Mindanao be deforested?
Forest is the sources of food for animals. As more trees are cut
down, more animals go hungry. Go hungry. When the forests
disappear, wildlife is displaced. Some go to other places but if they
cannot adapt to their new environment, they would soon die.
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Cutting of tress, especially in watersheds decreases our water
supply. Without tress, the soft top soil beneath containing nutrients
needed by plants will be washed out to the rivers and will make its
way to the ocean floor. The water will turn muddy and the coral
reefs, where the fish lives will be covered with soil, when the forest’s
water holding capacity decreases, there would be a reduced supply
of freshwater to towns and cities. The water supply of Metro Manila
mainly comes from the Angat watershed. But are there enough trees
in this watershed, today?
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Kaingin farming or slash-and burn method is one of the main
causes of forest denudation. This method is destructive because it
uses fire to burn tress in order to openabout a hectare of land. The
kaingero and his family settle on this land and cultivate crops on it.
Settling of kaingero in this area destroys humus and thereby sets in
motion two devastating events one after another. First, soil nutrients
are depleted, forcing the kaingeros to abandon their cleared patches
as soon as the fertility is weakened with the loss of humus. The
Department of environment and Natural Resources (DENR) estimates
that there are about 3 million individuals comprising the kaingin all
over the country.
Let’s Do This
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Let’s Do More
What is deforestation?
What to do:
A. B.
_________________________________________
• Floods
• Less supply of food
• Loss of soil fertility
• Soil erosion
• Decrease in water supply to towns and cities
• Displacement of loss of wildlife
• Sedimentation in water reservoirs
a. soil erosion
b. global warming
c. increases of plant variety
d. both a and b
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3. Which of the following is NOT an effect of deforestation?
a. it reduces his water supply
b. it causes floods to low-lying areas
c. it changes his lifestyle
d. it improves the quality to the top soil
a. deforestation
b. crop rotation
c. restoration
d. reforestation
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9. Which of these is an effect of deforestation?
a. illegal logging
b. destruction of habitats
c. accidental forest fire
d. better life condition
The penalties for those who violate the policy ranges from
confiscation of materials filing of administrative and criminal charges
and the cancellation of permits. However the Department allows
cutting and harvesting when these would be necessary consequence
in the process of road construction.
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Answer Key
1. x
2. /
3. /
4. /
5. /
6. /
7. /
8. /
9. x
10. /
Let’s Do this:
Answer Vary
Let’s Do More:
1. B
2. deforestation in the cutting of tress without replanting
1. d
2. a
3. d
4. a
5. d
6. c
7. c
8. a
9. d
10. b
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