The Causes of Deforestation

Vegetation, in particular trees, absorb carbon, in the form of carbon

dioxide throughout their lives by the process of photosynthesis. This

carbon is stored in the carbohydrates produced. Although some of this

is used up quickly in respiration, which returns the carbon dioxide to

the atmosphere, some is changed to fats and proteins.

As man has evolved, however, he has slowly overrun the forests. Some

figures say that at the moment, and area of woodland the size of

Walesis destroyed every week. This causes several problems:

* Less carbon dioxide is absorbed form the atmosphere

* When trees are burnt or decay through the action of microbes, this

carbon and methane is released

* More carbon is being released than is being absorbed

So the amount of carbon in the atmosphere has increased. So what?

Well, it is thought by many scientists that this increase in the

percentage of carbon dioxide could enhance the Greenhouse effect.

On a smaller scale, the destruction of trees destroys habitats and can

lead to the expansion of deserts as the nutrient rich soil around the

trees is held together by the tree roots. Without these, the soil is

erroded away.

The levels of CO2 and methane are slowly rising. These gases thicken

the atmosphere, reducing the amount of energy radiated by the Earth's

surface and keeping it warmer than it would be otherwise.

Increased levels of these gases may be causing the enhanced greenhouse

effect. An increase in the Earth's temperature may cause:

* A big change in the Earth's climate

* Increased sea level - flooding low-lying areas

So what may be causing the enhanced greenhouse effect? An increased

cattle population, releasing methane, and the burning of fossil fuels,

releasing CO2, are thickening the atmosphere.

The carbon cycle is a complex series of processes through which all of

the carbon atoms on earth rotate. In one part of the cycle, plants

absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and through