Deforestation is what we know as the change from a cover dominated by trees to one that lacks them, that is, the elimination of natural vegetation. Then deforestation is the process of disappearance of forests or forest masses

Deforestation

Deforestation is what we know as the change from a cover dominated by trees to one that lacks them, that is, the elimination of natural vegetation. Then deforestation is the process of disappearance of forests or forest masses, mainly caused by human activity, felling or burning of trees accidental or provoked.

This causes several problems such as: soil erosion and destabilization of water tables, which in turn favors floods or droughts. Deforestation affects the livelihoods of between 200 and 500 million people dependent on forests.

Deforestation, erosion and degradation can contribute to regional and global climate imbalances. Forests play a key role in carbon storage; If removed, excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can lead to global warming, with a host of problematic side effects.

In the past, it was believed that logging contributed to the development of a country as it was replaced by farmland and trees were used as energy and raw materials. As a result, in England in 1360 most of its forests had disappeared.

This environmental problem is directly caused by the action of man on nature, mainly due to logging by the timber industry, as well as for obtaining land for agriculture. It is true that there is awareness of how dangerous are the burning and felling of forests, but apparently due to the great overpopulation that is, almost impossible to avoid, in some places that are still conserved forest reserves are those that contribute in great Part to keep the weather a little stable.

As is well known man is always in search of satisfying his personal or community needs, then he uses wood to make many products. Wood is also used as fuel or firewood for cooking and heating. On the other hand, economic activities in the countryside require areas for livestock or to grow different products. This has generated a lot of pressure on forests.

Among the most important direct causes of deforestation are the conversion of forest to agriculture and livestock breeding, urbanization and road construction, timber business, mining, oil exploitation, pipeline construction and Gas pipelines, industrial shrimp farming (in the case of mangrove forests) caused natural or preventive forest fires and the construction of large hydroelectric dams are the main causes.

Actions to combat deforestation.

Some actions that must be carried out for the preservation of forests and protected areas are:

Create ecological parks and reforestation actions where people can see firsthand how living things interact in the ecosystem. Make aware that without the trees aquifers are finished because the roots of many species of trees retain moisture in the soil favoring the recharge of aquifers.

Do not introduce species of non-native trees because the consequences to the environment can be disastrous as in the case of eucalyptus, pirulo and other non-native species, instead we have ahuates, ceibas and many more that are vital for native species of Areas where it is deforested. To raise awareness in indigenous communities and among the general public about the importance of forests so that the ecosystem is sustainable and renewable, only with education can we overcome deforestation.

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