With a growing population, the needs and demands of human beings are also growing such as the demand for food, land, and wood. To meet their demands human beings are disturbing nature.

Trees are one of the most important aspects of our planet. They are essential for our existence.
But human beings are cutting down trees and clearing forests and killing animals for selfish motives. This process of cutting down trees and clearing forests is called deforestation.

Causes of Deforestation

We cut trees to fulfill our short-term selfish motives such as:

• Economic benefits like procuring land for cultivation
• To create grazing land
• Building houses and factories
• Making furniture
• For using wood as fuel
• Deforestation also occurs by some natural causes like forest fire, etc.

Consequences of Deforestation

The consequences of deforestation are:-

1. Disturbance in the atmospheric balance of nature: Plants take carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and release oxygen which is required for the respiration of living organisms. Due to Deforestation less amount of carbon dioxide is used up resulting in the increase of carbon dioxide amount in the atmosphere.
2. Deforestation also leads to a reduction in the amount of oxygen released in the atmosphere, thus disturbing the balance of gases in nature and thereby increasing the pollution level on the Earth.
3. Deforestation also increases the temperature and thereby leads to climatic changes: We know that carbon dioxide gas traps the heat rays reflected by the Earth and does not allow them to escape. This increases the temperature on the Earth and leads to global warming.
4. Disruption of the water cycle: The increase in temperature on Earth disturbs the water cycle and may reduce rainfall and can even cause Droughts. Plants absorb water from the soil via their roots which is then released into the atmosphere during photosynthesis. So when these trees are cut down, it results in the climate getting drier in that area.
5. Deforestation also leads to soil erosion: Deforestation causes major changes in soil properties It results in exposing the soil to the sun, making it very dry, and eventually, volatile nutrients such as nitrogen are lost to the atmosphere. Due to deforestation soil becomes very loose and therefore it washes away with the rainfall and this is called soil erosion.
6. Deforestation results in Desertification: The trees prevent soil erosion. Fewer trees result in more soil erosion. Removal of the top layer of the soil exposes the lower, hard, and rocky layer. This layer has less humus and is less fertile. And thereby the fertile land gets converted into deserts. It is called Desertification.
7. Deforestation decreases the groundwater level: Deforestation reduces the water holding capacity of the soil. The movement of the water from the surface of the soil to the ground (infiltration rate) is reduced due to deforestation. Also, we get many products from forests like medicines, food, wood, shelter, etc. Deforestation results in less production of these products.
8. Loss of biodiversity: Deforestation also affects the wildlife by affecting their habitat and their food. The unique biodiversity of various geographical areas is being lost. Due to massive deforestation about 50-100 species of animals are being lost each day. The outcome of which is the extinction of animals and plants on a massive scale.

Reforestation  

Reforestation is the restocking of the destroyed forests by planting new trees. The planted trees should generally be of the same species which were found in that forest. We should plant at least as many trees as we cut. Reforestation can take place naturally also. If the deforested area is left undisturbed, it re-establishes itself. In natural reforestation, there is no role of human beings.    

We have already made tremendous damage to our forests. If we have to retain our green wealth for generations, plantation of more trees is the only option. In India, we have the Forest (Conservation) Act. This act is aimed at preserving and conservation of natural forests and meeting the basic needs of the people living in or near the forests.

Read More: How To Save Water? Importance Of Water & Water Scarcity