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Atmospheric

Deforestation is ongoing and is shaping climate and geography

Deforestation is a contributor to global warming, and is often cited as one of the major causes of the enhanced greenhouse effect.

Hydrological

Trees, and plants in general, affect the water cycle significantly:

  • Their canopies intercept a proportion of precipitation, which is then evaporated back to the atmosphere (canopy interception);
  • Their litter, stems and trunks slow down surface runoff;
  • Their roots create macro pores - large conduits - in the soil that increase infiltration of water;
  • They contribute to terrestrial evaporation and reduce soil moisture via transpiration;
  • Their litter and other organic residue change soil properties that affect the capacity of soil to store water.
  • Their leaves control the humidity of the atmosphere by transpiring. 99% of the water absorbed by the roots moves up to the leaves and is transpired.[39]
As a result, the presence or absence of trees can change the quantity of water on the surface, in the soil or groundwater, or in the atmosphere. This in turn changes erosion rates and the availability of water for either ecosystem functions or human services.

The forest may have little impact on flooding in the case of large rainfall events, which overwhelm the storage capacity of forest soil if the soils are at or close to saturation.

Soil

Deforestation generally increases rates of soil erosion, by increasing the amount of runoff and reducing the protection of the soil from tree litter.

Ecological

Deforestation results in declines in biodiversity.

Animals in danger

Contribute to global warming

We need trees to breath and cutting down forests results in fewer trees. Trees take in carbon dioxide so if we get rid of forests more greenhouse gas is released into the atmosphere resulting in global warming.

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7y ago

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