DEFORESTATION AND ITS EFFECTS

Rapid destruction of woodlands or the removal of

trees from forests

Cleared to make way

for agriculture

and developme

nt

DEFORESTATION

Importance of

tropical rainforest

s

Ecosystem for almost half of the flora and fauna of

the world.

Provide food,medicine, and

other biological products.Plants

provide pharmaceutical

products.

Regulate climate by influencing

wind,rainfall,humidity and temperature

patterns

Also called the “carbon sink” of the Earth they absorb carbon

dioxide and release oxygen

during photosynthesis

Serve as water catchment areas

Effects of Deforestation

Soil erosion

Flash floods

Landslides

Disruption to the

carbon and nitrogen cycles

Severe climatic changes

The loss of biodiversity

Soil Erosion, Landslides and Flash

Floods

Removal and

thinning of soil layer

due to physical

and climatic processes

Absence of plant root systems

makes the soil

structure unstable

When heavy rains for a long period, the top layer of soil crumble and

this leads to landslides

Eroded soil is then carried to moving water and deposited at the bottom

of the river

Causes flash floods

Depleted of minerals and

natural resources and

making the land infertile

Loss in biodiversity

Removal of the bases of numerous food webs

Loss of habitats of many species

The extinction of countless species of plants and animals

Reduces the biodiversity that can be a source of food and medicines for

mankind