Definition/Description

Deforestation is the clearing or removal of a forest or stand of trees from land which is then
converted to a non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms,
ranches, or urban use. The most concentrated deforestation occurs in tropical rainforests.
Deforestation represents one of the largest issues in global land use. Estimates of deforestation
traditionally are based on the area of forest cleared for human use, including removal of the
trees for wood products and for croplands and grazing lands.About 31% of Earth's land surface
is covered by forests. Deforestation, the clearing or thinning of forests by humans. Deforestation
represents one of the largest issues in global land use. Estimates of deforestation traditionally
are based on the area of forest cleared for human use, including removal of the trees for wood
products and for croplands and grazing lands. In the practice of clear-cutting, all the trees are
removed from the land, which completely destroys the forest. In some cases, however, even
partial logging and accidental fires thin out the trees enough to change the forest structure
dramatically.

Scope/Sources of the problem

Deforestation occurs due to the following reasons:

Mining

The increase of mining on tropical forests is furthering damage due to the rising demand and
high mineral prices. These projects are often accompanied by large infrastructure construction,
such as roads, railways, and power systems. This contributor to deforestation is putting
additional pressure on our forests and freshwater ecosystems.

Paper Production

America, China, Japan, and Canada make up more than of the world’s paper production—400
million tons a year. Approximately 640 million trees represent the paper that’s thrown away
each year, according to the Environment Paper Network. If we recycled, we could save 27.5
million tons of carbon dioxide from going into the atmosphere. By using recycled paper, we
allow the forests to remain as an ecosystem and wildlife habitat.

Overpopulation
Due to overpopulation, more land is needed to establish housing and settlements. As well as
many, many more roads and highways are being built in order to accommodate a larger sum of
people driving. With more people that come with a large need for food and farmland to grow
on and raise livestock—resulting in deforestation. Logging industries will cut down trees for
furniture, paper, building materials, and many more products. These are a direct result of
growing human population and is why it’s important to purchase from sustainable companies
which actively work against deforestation

Logging

Wood-based industries such as paper, matchsticks, and furniture need a substantial quantity of
wood. Lumber and charcoal are common examples of trees being used as fuel. Cooking and
heating all around the world use these resources, and half of the illegal removal from forests is
thought to be used as fuel and wood. Large areas are also cleared to construct roads in order for
large trucks to have entry to logging sites. Selective logging is where only the most valuable
trees are felled, however, this doesn't help our problem as one large tree may bring down
surrounding trees and thin the forest canopy. The forest canopy is extremely important to the
ecosystem as it houses animals, protects plants and insect population, and protects the forest
floor.

Agriculture Expansion & Livestock Ranching

A major cause of deforestation is agriculture plantations. An increasing supply-demand for

products such as palm oil and soybeans are driving producers to clear forests at an unnerving
rate. Farmers often clear the land for cattle by using slash and burn techniques (cutting down
trees and burning them). Unfortunately, they will then use the property until the soil is
completely degraded and repeat the process on a new patch of woodland. Eventually, it'll
reforest, but it will take many years to return to its original condition.

Climate Change.

Forests are essentially the lungs of our planet. All plants take in carbon dioxide and release
oxygen. Trees are able to convert more carbon dioxide than a regular plant, though. Forest loss
is often caused by climate change. Tropical rainforests are extremely humid due to the water
vapor released along with the oxygen. But when a forest is cut down, the humidity levels
decrease and causes the remaining plants to dry out. For example, drying out our tropical
rainforests increases fire damage. Fires can be both accidental and intentional but destroy
forests quickly.
 Impact of Deforestation in the Philippines

Human-driven and natural loss of trees—deforestation—affects wildlife, ecosystems, weather

patterns, and even the climate. Forests cover about 30 percent of the planet's land mass, but
humans are cutting them down, clearing these essential habitats on a massive scale.

The loss of trees and other vegetation can cause climate change, desertification, soil erosion,
fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and a host of problems
for indigenous people

The removal of trees without sufficient reforestation has resulted in habitat damage,
biodiversity loss, and aridity. It has adverse impacts on bio sequestration of atmospheric carbon
dioxide. Deforestation causes extinction, changes to climatic conditions, desertification, and
displacement of populations, as observed by current conditions and in the past through the
fossil record.The most immediate impact of deforestation occurs at the local level with the loss
of ecological services provided by tropical rainforests and related ecosystems. Such habitats
afford humans valuable services such as erosion prevention, flood control, water filtration,
fisheries protection.

Unfortunately, many forests are threatened due to deforestation. The primary reason are
commercial logging and cutting of trees to provide for their agricultural needs.

There are so many effects of deforestation in our country. Not only the giant trees will be lost
but also the species living in the forests will disappear. Some of it are the tarsier and the
Philippine eagle. And we should not wonder why our country experiences consistent flash
floods and landslides."According to the recent reports of National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council (NDMC) about 262,107 families have lost their homes while about 1.355
million people have been affected." Some negative consequences of deforestation also include
the disruption of water cycle and climate change.

Based on the analysis almost 9.8 million hectares of forests were lost. If deforestation won't be
stopped there would come a time that the natural resources and biodiversity in forests will be
lost. And if there would be continuous abuse of resources it is estimated than there would be
no more rainforests left within 15 years.
Possible Solutions

1. Green Business

Green business concerns re-use and recycling. Green methods of production and utilization of
resources can immeasurably reduce deforestation. Particularly, it’s the focus on re-using items,
reducing the use of artificial items, and recycling more items. Paper, plastics, and wood are
linked to the destruction of forests and other natural resources.

By focusing on recycling paper, plastics, and wood products as well as adopting responsible
consumerism, it means there will be less dependence on the natural resources and trees. It will
also reduce government and company imports of raw-materials from forest regions in other
parts of the world.

2. Eco-forestry

Eco-forestry is a move on saving the worlds forest. It acknowledges that sometimes, the use of
trees for various human activities or reasons can be inevitable. Per se, eco-forestry underscores
the need of cutting down trees in an environmentally friendly manner. It is where only
cautiously selected trees are fell and transported with the least possible damage to the area.
Also, eco-forestry not only calls for the preservation of the forest regions ecosystem but also
allows for controlled and green timber extraction.

3. Law and Regulations

Due to the nature and extent of forest destruction, efforts to stop the human activities can be
complemented by laws and regulation at governmental and organizational levels. As much as
people increasingly become aware of deforestation consequences, some people focus more on
the immediate economic gains at the expense of the long-term environmental damage.

This attitude has encourages illegal logging for timber and other valuable resources like rubber
and palm oil. Therefore, stopping deforestation and preserving the natural vegetations demands
rules, laws, and regulations from organizations and governments to aid in enforcing forest
preservation policies. Laws on timber, wood fuel, farming, and land use among other forest
resources must be advanced and enforced to limit deforestation.

4.Community Forestry

Community forestry is whereby local communities together with their local government and
other local organizations such as schools, corporate, and universities join hands to start localized
tree planting programs and management of their local forests. On various occasions such as
public holidays, opening ceremonies, environment days, or other periodic localized activities,
concerned local citizens can create awareness and plant trees.

This can be done within the surrounding areas as a method of boosting environmental
sustainability and keeping the local forests viable. All local learning institutions, hospitals, local
government headquarters, and the rest of the community can ensure trees are planted and the
local forests are protected against damage as a way of finding solutions to the deforestation
menace.

5. Replanting (Reforestation)

Replanting or tree planting utilizes almost the same aspect as community forestry. However, it
entirely focuses of replanting, a feature commonly known as reforestation. Reforestation is the
restoration or replanting of forests that have been reduced by fire or felling. It requires an
ongoing process and should not be viewed as a onetime thing.

People, communities, governments, and organizations are all active actors. It involves selecting
and dedicating large tracts of land mainly for the purpose of cultivating forests. For instance, in
local communities and urban centers, it can be done around market areas, in game/wildlife
reserves, or within city parks. Replanting, therefore, qualifies restorative measure of
deforestation.

6. Sensitization and Educative Campaigns

Deforestation can also be counteracted through awareness and sensitization. Sensitization and
educative campaigns can be a simple but a more workable solution. Initiating awareness
creation champagnes makes it easy for people to detect the causes, effects, and ways of
counteracting deforestation. Personal experiences from adversely affected communities such as
farmers can be used to emphasize the negative effects of deforestation.

Thus, making conscious efforts to share information with people including family, friends,
colleagues, and the entire community on deforestation and its effects is an appropriate measure
of standing up in unison to combat the clearing of forests.

7. Joint Organizations
Conservation, wildlife, rainforest, and nature protection agencies among other environmental
programs can join together with a common goal of preserving, restoring, and protecting forests
to ensure permanence of the world’s natural resources. When such big organizations work
together, it makes it easier to install the proper forest management mechanisms. Far-reaching
impact can likewise be realized if environmental conservation and protection organizations work
together.

8. Land Use Planning

Cities and urban centers continue to grow day after day as more and more people claim their
share of living in cities and the urban areas. Agricultural practices also continue to expand as
farmers and consumer demands call for better productivity and quality food products
respectively. As a result, the urban sprawl and agricultural expansion have kept on clearing
forests to create more room for their respective activities.

In response to this threat, creation of proper land use planning techniques can offer the fastest
and the most feasible solution to deforestation. Land use planning that centers on
environmentally friendly development techniques like urban agriculture and lessening urban
and suburban sprawl can considerably cut back deforestation

References

https://futurism.media/deforestation-causes-effects-and-solutions

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/Deforestation/deforestation_update3.php

https://www.pachamama.org/effects-of-deforestation

https://www.eartheclipse.com/environment/fantastic-solutions-to-deforestation.html