Deforestation is clearing earths forest on a massive scale, resulting in a damage to the quality of land. Today, forests cover about 30% of the worlds land area, but swaths the size of Panama (29,762 square miles) are lost each and every year. At this rate, it is possible that there will be no rain forest left in 100 years due to deforestation. Forests are cut down for a variety of reasons, but most are related to money or the need to provide for there families. The biggest driver of deforestation is agriculture. Farmers will clear some of the forest so they have more room to plant crops and more room for there livestock. Often many small farmers will clear a few acres to feed their families by cutting down trees and burning them in a process known as “slash and burn” agriculture. Loggers who cut down trees for things such as paper and wood products cut down thousands of trees each year. Loggers, some who are working illegally, also build roads deep into the forest for there machinery, which will lead to further deforestation. The most dramatic impact of deforestation is on the millions of species that live in these forests. Many animals will die because there habitat has been completely destroyed. Deforestation also plays a role in climate change. Forest soils are moist, but without tree canopies the soil will quickly dry out. Trees also help perpetuate the water cycle by returning water vapor back into the atmosphere. Without trees to fill these roles, many former forest lands can quickly become barren deserts.Citation:
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview.html
