Boost this article Deforestation alters not only nearby ecosystems -- communities of interacting organisms and their environments -- but also the atmosphere on a global level, with devastating results. The 'extreme cruelty' around the global trade in frog legs, What does cancer smell like? 2023 Scientific American, a Division of Springer Nature America, Inc. Without vegetation holding the soil in place, it is blown away and transported through wind and water erosion. The destruction of trees may, therefore, encourage global warming. During the mid-20th century, Florida lost more than seven million acres of forest and herbaceous wetlands to development. Deforestation WebIn 2010, United States had 252Mha of natural forest, extending over 29% of its land area. The commercial palm oil industry rapidly expanded in the late 20th century and led to thedeforestationof significant swaths of Indonesia and Malaysia as well as large areas in Africa. To learn about the history of habitat loss in Florida, check out the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Report, Florida Vegetation 2003 and Land Use Change Between 1985-89 and 2003. What is the difference between deforestation and logging? Deforestation is the mass destruction of trees in a forest. Often in an effort to clear a large area of land and convert it to a non-forest use. While logging is simply the act of cutting down trees for the purpose of making timber. The Worrisome Link Between Deforestation And Wind is also a leading cause of soil erosion because wind can pick up soil and blow it far away. This increases the occurrence of human-wildlife conflict, where the needs and behaviour of wildlife impacts negatively on humans, or when humans negatively affect the needs of wildlife. Trees are known for their capacity to absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. The closer humans are to animals, the greater the opportunity for zoonotic spillover, where a pathogen jumps from animal to human. There, goats, sheep, and cattle may harm what few trees are able to grow. A national park, a world heritage site, an international biosphere reserve, and were starving it of fresh water.. Most present-day croplands receive enough rain and are warm enough to have once supported forests of one kind or another. One of the most dangerous and unsettling effects of deforestation is the loss of animal and plant species due to their loss of habitat. Theyre also afraid that the next serious pandemic could emerge from our worlds forests. Water sources in deforested areas were shown to have higher nitrate levels, lower dissolved oxygen levels, and somewhat higher temperatures (from 20 to 23 degrees Celsius on average) than in forested areas.