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Deforestation and Habitat Loss
This category deals with the causes and effects of changes in natural habitat. Examples would include questions about cutting down forests, plowing grasslands for agriculture, coral reef die-offs, and the natural process of succession.
2,589 Questions
What does Have you Thanked a Green Plant Today mean in ecological terms?
It means thanking a green plant for providing oxygen for you.
Here is the poem in its entirety:
Have You Thanked A Green Plant Today?
--by Don Anderson
Thank you, thank you, lovely plant,
Eye-delighting oxidant.
You gratify the eye, and then,
To top it off, make oxygen.
You beautify, and then, to boot,
(Oh lungs, rejoice) you depollute.
Thank you for this twofold bliss,
Wrought by photosynthesis.
(Now I hereby bequeth to you
A life supply of CO2).
How many trees are cut down to make a road?
The question is too vague. It really depends on the type of forest and how big the road is. If you knew the average density of trees in a particular type of forest and knew how many acres of land you'd need to clear to build the road, you could multiply the two and get an estimate of the number of trees you'd have to clear to build the road.
What is the mass of a sheet of copy paper?
The mass of a sheet of copy paper can vary depending on the weight or thickness of the paper. Typically, a standard sheet of copy paper weighs around 4 to 5 grams.
What is the carbon footprint of a 2x4 lumber?
The carbon footprint of a 2x4 lumber depends on various factors such as the type of wood, sourcing, processing, and transportation. On average, the production of lumber generates about 1.9 kg of CO2 per kg of wood. However, sustainable forestry practices and using local sources can help reduce the carbon footprint associated with 2x4 lumber.
What is the carrying capacity of the earth?
The carrying capacity of the Earth is only an estimated number since the data does not exist for an accurate number. It is said that the carrying capacity of the Earth is up to 40 billion people.
Do grasslands face ecological problems?
Global warming is only one: clean water, water conservation, prevention of water contamination, and fire prevention are key issues. Also farming is one.
Even though the grasslands have rich soil if you farm on it and use machines or tractors to harvest and other things it would not be rich soil anymore. When the farmers use machines or tractors they will push down the rich soil and make it dry soil. And by doing that they will make the green grasslands into deserts.
Humans have cultivated many crops on grassland soil. The soil is rich and almost anything in it can grow if it is both used and treated right. Poor agriculture practices can ruin soil and turn a grassland into a lifeless, barren land. If crops are not rotated properly, all nutrients in the soil are stripped and poor soil results. The soil then turns to dust and nothing can grow in it for many years.
Cattle and livestock ranchers have also ruined grasslands. Many years ago, North America was covered with 250 million acres (101 million meters) of prairie grasslands. Today, because of over grazed land and over worked soil, only five percent of the original prairie remains. Over grazed grasslands in Australia and South America have caused native animals to compete for food.
Why are tropical rainforest being destroyed around the world?
One Opinion:
To clear land for growing crops and raising livestock. You rarely hear about the GOOD aspects of destroying rain forests. But the people who are clearing this land are poor people in undeveloped nations, just trying to grow enough food to feed their families. Would you condemn them to starving to death to save a few acres of trees? If so, you need to take that up with the governments of those nations. Because, even if you are so heartless as to let those people starve to death, you have no control over the Central American rain forests. The governments there are doing, and allowing, what they think is best for their populations. It's none of your business. It's easy for you to sit here in comfort complaining about rain forests being destroyed, when you're not the one who has to cut them down to feed his family.
Another Opinion:
Rainforests are being destroyed for the value of the timber by huge logging companies and shortsighted, economically strapped governments. The destruction of those rainforests is displacing indigenous tribes and animal populations. Tree species are being wiped out. Plants and microorganisms with proven medicinal value are being wiped out. Fruits, spices, nuts, and sources for chocolate are being wiped out.
Massive deforestation causes increased air and water pollution, a loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, less rain, and less oxygen. Much of the cleared land is taken over by the world's most wealthy people and corporations. You can read more about it at the link provided below.
Environmental awareness is very important because people need to be aware of what they are doing to the environment around them and around the world. They need to know what affect their actions have on this planet and how to make it better.
What happens if methane is released from the tundra?
Methane is a powerful Greenhouse Gas. It is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. The release of methane from tundra is what an engineer would describe as a positive feedback loop:
# The warmer it gets the more the tundra (permafrost) thaws. # The more it thaws the more methane is released. # The more methane (GHG) in the atmosphere the warmer it gets. # Return to step 1
What type of pollution affects your lakes and rivers?
Common types of pollution that affect lakes and rivers include agricultural runoff carrying pesticides and fertilizers, industrial discharge containing chemicals and heavy metals, urban stormwater runoff with pollutants like oil and debris, and untreated sewage leading to bacteria and pathogens contamination. These pollutants can degrade water quality, harm aquatic ecosystems, and endanger human health.
What happens if you keep cutting down trees?
Trees give out oxygen. even because of them we have the rains. in short they maintain the ecological balance. If we would cut trees what is going to happen is that population won't stop growing but oxygen in the atmosphere will reduce. Another effect can be scarcity of food. and many other problems are attached to it such as less of rains will result in less water for irrigation. Less water for irrigation would result in less harvest which would again lead to less food and if this continues to happen for a long period of time then it might lead to famine type situations.
Trees have to breathe to live, same as us and every living thing on the planet. They breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. We breathe out carbon dioxide and breathe in oxygen. We've evolved around trees; they are the main things that give off oxygen. Without trees, we're not here. Cutting down trees takes away that oxygen. If you cut down a tree but plant two new ones that is fine. Trees are living things too.
The most important is, tree are necessary for rain. trees creates cold and humid atmosphere required for rain.
Second, when it rains, trees hold the water and and does not allow to pass over soil which avoids floods.
Third, they provide food to all of livings.
If we continue to cut tree at larger extent then, it will definitely affect the rainfall and also will create a unstable atmosphere which will lend to destruction on/of earth.
When we cut down trees, we are taking a home away from animals.
We loosen the ground which mostly causes landslides.
Trees cause shade and without that shade the ground dries up faster and there is not as much nutrients.
How many trees are cut down to make a newspaper?
500,000 trees for and issuse and less than half a tree for one paper. the average family use about 3 trees a year on newspapers
What is the name of the rainforest in central Africa?
The rainforest in central Africa is called the Congo Basin or Congo Rainforest. It is the second largest tropical rainforest in the world after the Amazon Rainforest.
Water catchment areas in Kenya?
Some key water catchment areas in Kenya include Mount Kenya, Aberdare Range, Cherangani Hills, Mau Forest Complex, and Mount Elgon. These areas provide crucial water resources for various regions in Kenya and are important for sustaining biodiversity and ecosystem services. Efforts to protect and conserve these catchment areas are critical to ensure availability of clean water for both people and wildlife.
What are facts about how deforestation leads to pollution of the atmosphere?
Forests play an important role in the carbon cycle, moving carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere through photosynthesis, storing the carbon and releasing the oxygen. Deforestation, which means destroying forests, not just trees, removes all the trees which have been acting as a great carbon sink, or store.
This means that carbon dioxide, a powerful greenhouse gas, and one that is largely responsible for man-made global warming is not removed from the atmosphere as much as it was before.
The US Supreme Court has classed carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as pollution.
What does 'Earth's carrying capacity' mean?
To understand the global magnitude of the loss and degradation of earths life support systems affect all that inhabit the earth. From photosynthetic limits to food, wood and freshwater in order to satisfy increasing demands.
Where does most of the carbon dioxide released by human activities come from?
Most of the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere comes from nature. Specifically, it comes from rotting material. A tree that is rotting in the forest produces the same amount of CO2 as a tree being burnt.
How many countries are there in your world?
No country has ruled the entire world. However, there have been empires that have ruled the 'known' world from their perspective.
Perhaps the first great global ruler was Alexander of Macedonia (Alexander the Great)
Then there was the Roman Empire
The Holey Roman Empire
and perhaps the largest of all, The British Empire.
In modern times counties/empires seem to be fragmenting rather than growing.
Redwood has a natural resistance to decay due to its high levels of tannins and oils. This makes it highly resistant to rot and decay, which is why redwood is a popular choice for outdoor furniture and decking. However, like all wood, redwood can still decay over time if not properly maintained and protected from prolonged exposure to moisture.
What is the biggest forest in WA?
The biggest forest in Washington State is the Olympic National Forest. It covers nearly one million acres and is known for its diverse ecosystems, including temperate rainforests, old-growth forests, and alpine peaks.
What is a Spiderwasps Habitat?
a Spiders natural habitat is any where that has 2 or more surfaces that they feel is comfortable to catch food and or lay eggs
Does Douglas-fir grow in Georgia?
No, Georgia doesn't have the right climate! There is only one Douglas fir that I know of in the state and it is planted at the University of Georgia. However, you can look at it and tell that its not happy to be there.
What is the solution to deforestation according to experts?
Experts recommend a combination of sustainable logging practices, reforestation efforts, protection of existing forests through conservation and restoration, and reducing demand for products that drive deforestation, such as palm oil and beef. Additionally, enforcing strict regulations and monitoring illegal logging activities can help address deforestation.
What is the difference in adaptations between plants and animals of a polar region?
Plants and animals of the polar region require the conservation of heat and to some extent water. Most animals that have adapted to the cold environments, are shorter in stance, longer coats, shorter ears, all in an effort to conserve heat and energy. In contrast, a desert environment would exhibit animals with longer legs, long ears, shorter less thicker coats, in an effort to dissipate heat, rather than conserve it.
Importance of biogeochemical cycle?
Without the biogeochemical cycle there would be no potential for life, as life as we know it is dependent upon such elements as carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen, and such things could not be circulated without the biogeochemical cycle, and without life as we know it as a result of element circulation as a result of the biogeochemical cycle, there would be no potential for high school biology students to ask questions that they'd know the answers to if they had payed attention in class.
