Discussion of the Issue of Deforestation

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Deforestation is the amputation of trees from forest areas more

swiftly than they can be replanted or regenerate naturally. The fact

that trees play an incredibly momentous part in stabilising climate,

atmospheric composition and soil structure, removing trees rapidly

becomes a major problem.

There are numerous reasons behind the felling of trees by mankind. The

Amazon basin is a prime example of humans exploiting rainforests.

Within this tropical rainforest lie a vast variety of tree species,

with many uses, giving humans even more reason to exploit this area.

Timber and especially hardwoods like mahogany and ebony are being

felled at an alarming rate to satisfy the needs of the swiftly

developing world. Another problem for the forest areas of the world is

the type of agriculture used by some peasant farmers known as "slash &

burn". This method of farming involves the burning of trees to add to

the initial supply of nutrients in the soil. Over time this supply

slowly wares down and so the farmer once again moves onto another plot

of trees to slash and burn. This cycle is repeated over and over every

time the nutrient supply becomes exhausted. As you can now figure out

the forest areas (of which still remain!!) are being destroyed at a

large scale and at a rapid speed.

Underground resources such as iron and aluminium ores are used a great

deal in the industries of the developing countries. To obtain and

transport has to be quick, easy and the cost has to minimal. To make

all these possible roads are being built through forests. These cause

a great deal of damage to the forests because more trees have to be

removed again to mine this merchandise. Brazil is once again a prime

example of forest destruction. The population of poor shanty towns are

being encouraged by the governments to move to the forested area. This

once again means the felling of trees. You can work out that only 1 of

the forests in the world is being destroyed by humans in so many

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