5.2.4

Deforestation

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Deforestation

Deforestation is the cutting, clearing and removal of forests in order to free up land for other purposes such as housing, agriculture or logging. Deforestation has a range of negative effects on an ecosystem:

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Atmospheric gases

  • The burning of trees and decomposition of wood increases the rate of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere.
  • As less photosynthesis is taking place, less carbon dioxide can be removed from the atmosphere in the carbon cycle.
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Biodiversity

  • Deforestation destroys habitats. This causes biodiversity to be lost.
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Soil erosion

  • Soil covering bare earth (compared to in forests) is more easily washed away by rain, which makes the remaining soil less fertile and harder to grow crops in.
  • Soil that erodes away in rainwater runoff can also take fertiliser minerals with it in a process called leaching. This water runoff can then pollute water sources and cause eutrophication.
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Water cycle

  • Deforestation disrupts the water cycle by reducing evapotranspiration (the combination of transpiration from trees and evaporation from the ground).
    • When trees are removed, there is less transpiration.
    • Rainwater more easily runs off bare ground (rather than soaking into the soil), so less water stays in the soil and evaporates.
  • This means less water then falls as rain and the land can turn into infertile desert.

Jump to other topics

1The Nature & Variety of Living Organisms

2Structure & Functions in Living Organisms

3Organism Functions

3.1Respiration

3.2Gas Exchange

3.3Transport

3.4Excretion

3.5Coordination & Response

4Reproduction & Inheritance

5Ecology

6Biological Resources

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