Learn the effects of deforestation (2024)

Forest destruction is a crisis for the whole planet. Find out how we can all fight to save our forests.

© Chris J Ratcliffe / WWF-UK

In the time it takes to say ‘deforestation’, another chunk of forest the size of a football pitch is destroyed.

That’s every two seconds, every single day.

And we’re not including commercially grown trees and plantations. We mean natural, noisy forests that were full of life, and home to threatened species such as orangutans and jaguars.

There’s only about half the number of trees on the planet today that there were when humans first evolved. And the fastest rate of forest destruction has been in the past couple of centuries.

Up to 15 billion trees are now being cut down every year across the world. It’s just not sustainable, or very smart – for wildlife, for people, or for the climate.

We’re fighting hard to stop forest destruction. Years of committed work by environmental campaigners, politicians and businesses is starting to pay off, but there’s lots more to do. And we urgently need your help.

Deforestation affects us all, whether we realise it or not.

Learn the effects of deforestation (1)

© Y.-J. Rey-Millet / WWF

Why forests matter

As well as being stunningly beautiful, forests are vital for the health of our planet. They provide food and shelter for so much of life on Earth – from fungi and insects to tigers and elephants.

More than half the world's land-based plants and animals, and three-quarters of all birds, live in and around forests.

Forests have a big influence on rainfall patterns, water and soil quality and flood prevention too. Millions of people rely directly on forests as their home or for making a living.

But the risks from deforestation go even wider. Trees absorb and store carbon dioxide. If forests are cleared, or even disturbed, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Forest loss and damage is the cause of around 10% of global warming. There’s simply no way we can fight the climate crisis if we don’t stop deforestation.  

We need to protect forests now more than ever.

Learn the effects of deforestation (2)

© Mauri Rautkari/ WWF

What’s destroying forests?

Most deforestation is carried out to clear land for food production. This is not a new thing – for instance in the UK we largely cleared our natural forests centuries ago to create more agricultural land. But now we know the wider damage deforestation can do – and especially at the alarming pace and scale of destruction happening around the world.

The majority of the deforestation is linked to meat, soya and palm oil. Huge swathes of tropical forest are removed so the land can be used for growing soya to feed farm animals like pigs and poultry. All to meet the insatiable global demand for cheap meat.

Even though the damage is mainly done to tropical forests, the causes can be linked to eating habits all around the world – including here in the UK. Our footprint is mainly linked to soya grown to feed British reared animals. So the chicken and bacon in our shops may well be unwittingly contributing to global deforestation.

Learn the effects of deforestation (3)

© Michael Dantas /WWF-Brazil

How we’re fighting deforestation

We help reduce forest damage in a number of ways. We’re known for our work with industry and the public to promote more sustainable use of the world’s forests.

We co-founded the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), whose tick logo on wood and paper products helps shoppers identify and support sustainable forest management. And we were founder members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), who’ve improved and expanded the sources of responsibly-produced palm oil.

Plus we helped bring in legislation to prevent illegal timber being sold in the UK. In 2014, dozens of high-profile firms signed up to our Forest Campaign, including Argos, B&Q, Carillion, M&S, Penguin Random House and Sainsbury’s. They all pledged their wood and paper would be legally and sustainably sourced by 2020.

We’ve had our successes, but the challenges keep growing too. We helped reduce deforestation in the Amazon by 75% between 2004 and 2012. But since then deforestation has been on the increase, with the highest rate of deforestation in a decade recorded in 2018.

In an emergency response to the scale and intensity of the current Amazon fires, we’ve also launched an appeal to support our local WWF Amazon teams working with local organisations to carry out urgent work on the ground.

Donate to the Amazon Emergency Appeal

Learn the effects of deforestation (4)

© Michael Dantas / WWF-Brasil

Our Focus

Our focus right now, based on our expert research, is with 11 ‘deforestation fronts’ around the world – particularly precious and vulnerable forests where we can predict and prevent the worst damage over the coming years. It includes forests in Africa, Australia, Latin America and South-east Asia. We’re initiating new projects, supporting existing ones and bringing the right funding to the right action in the right place. 

Our ambitious plans aren’t just aimed at preventing destruction, but also at ‘reforesting’ – restoring or replanting forests that have been damaged or lost. We’ve linked up with two other conservation charities, BirdLife and WCS, for the Trillion Trees project – making a bold commitment to forest protection and restoration. This project will restore 5.2 million hectares of forest in Tanzania by 2030.

Learn the effects of deforestation (5)

© Global Warming Images / WWF

How you can help save forests

There are lots of things we can all do, right now, to protect the world’s forests. For instance, choose recycled paper products and look for the FSC ‘tick-tree’ logo when you’re shopping.

But your diet has the biggest impact. If you haven’t already, think about moderating the amount of meat you eat, perhaps considering it a weekend treat. And experiment with plant-based ingredients instead – there are plenty of new, innovative alternatives on offer now.

Also, make sure any palm oil in the products you buy is sustainably sourced – it may say RSPO on the label.

And of course you can help by being part of our global campaign to stop deforestation and restore our forests and jungles.

Join our fight for the Amazon

Make a lifestyle change

Learn the effects of deforestation (2024)

FAQs

What are the effects of deforestation? ›

The loss of trees and other vegetation can cause climate change, desertification, soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and a host of problems for Indigenous people.

What is the summary of deforestation? ›

Deforestation is the purposeful clearing of forested land. Throughout history and into modern times, forests have been razed to make space for agriculture and animal grazing, and to obtain wood for fuel, manufacturing, and construction. Deforestation has greatly altered landscapes around the world.

What are the effects of deforestation reading answers? ›

Answer: Deforestation can affect the environment harshly. It causes soil erosion and species extinction because of the loss of habitat. Moreover, it is the primary cause of carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

What are 5 disadvantages of cutting down trees? ›

There are many disadvantages, it will affect the water cycle, it will destroy the flora and fauna, it will lead to an increase in carbon dioxide, thereby increasing global warming. Cutting trees destroys the habitat of animals and birds, causes floods and fires, limits the supply of wood or timber. Q.

What are the main causes of deforestation? ›

Direct causes of deforestation are agricultural expansion, wood extraction (e.g., logging or wood harvest for domestic fuel or charcoal), and infrastructure expansion such as road building and urbanization. Rarely is there a single direct cause for deforestation.

Why is deforestation a problem? ›

If forests are cleared, or even disturbed, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Forest loss and damage is the cause of around 10% of global warming. There's simply no way we can fight the climate crisis if we don't stop deforestation. We need to protect forests now more than ever.

What is a real life example of deforestation? ›

Deforestation can happen quickly, such as when a fire sweeps through the landscape or the forest is clear-cut to make way for an oil palm plantation. While deforestation appears to be declining in some countries, it remains disturbingly high in others—including Brazil and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Which of the following is or are the effects of deforestation? ›

Deforestation has many negative effects like Increase in temperature on the earth, Ground water depletion, and Weather change in different parts of the world. Soil erosion and degradation of soil, reduction of forest products and loss of biodiversity.

What are the most serious threats facing the environment in the 21st century reading answer? ›

The most serious environmental problems of the twenty-first century have the potential to alter the course of life on this planet. Global warming, toxic waste, water and air pollution, acid rain, and shrinking energy supplies are frightening challenges that may threaten our future if we do not face up to them.

What have psychometricians used statistics for? ›

What have psychometricians used statistics for? to find out if cooperative tasks are a useful tool in measuring certain skills. to explore whether several abilities are involved in the development of intelligence. to demonstrate that mathematical models can predict test results for different skills.

What will happen if deforestation continues? ›

If the current rate of deforestation continues, the world's rain forests will vanish within 100 years- causing unknown effects on global climate and eliminating the majority of plant and animal species on the planet.

How does deforestation affect humans? ›

There is also the imminent danger of disease caused by deforestation. An estimated 60 percent of emerging infectious diseases come from animals, and a major cause of viruses' jump from wildlife to humans is habitat loss, often through deforestation.

How to write an essay on deforestation? ›

Deforestation is the removal of trees on a vast level for fulfilling all the requirements of the growing population. Humans being are so selfish; they are doing deforestation by completely removing the forests without replanting. However, they do not know that unknowingly they are digging a big pit for their own.

How does deforestation affect our health? ›

Preventing the Spread of Infectious Diseases

Nearly one in three outbreaks of new and emerging diseases is linked to land-use change, including deforestation. Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death in low-income countries and the leading cause of death of children aged under five years globally.

What are the pros and cons of deforestation? ›

Deforestation involves the clearing of forests and has advantages such as increased agricultural land and economic benefits, but it also has disadvantages, including loss of biodiversity and contribution to climate change.

What are the social effects of deforestation? ›

When forests are destroyed, these resources are lost, and people who depend on them are left without a means of support. This can lead to poverty, unemployment, and social unrest. Deforestation can exacerbate poverty by reducing access to resources that are essential for people's livelihoods.

What are the effects of forests on the environment? ›

The cover of forest on a watershed has a strong influence on its hydrology. Large amounts of water are evaporated into the atmosphere by vegetation, especially by trees because they have so much foliage (this is transpiration; evapotranspiration includes evaporation from non-living surfaces).

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