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Here is a compilation of term papers on ‘Deforestation’ for class 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Find paragraphs, long and short term papers on ‘Deforestation’ especially written for school and college students.
Term Paper on Deforestation
Term Paper Contents:
- Term Paper on the Meaning of Deforestation
- Term Paper on the Process of Deforestation
- Term Paper on the Causes of Deforestation
- Term Paper on the Effects of Deforestation
- Term Paper on the Consequences of Deforestation
- Term Paper on the Irreversible Environmental Changes by Deforestation
- Term Paper on the Measures for Conserving Forests
- Term Paper on Indian Scenario on the Destruction of Forests
Term Paper # 1. Meaning of Deforestation:
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Deforestation is the process of conversion of forest to another land use or the long-term reduction of the tree canopy cover below a 10 percent threshold. Deforestation implies the long-term or permanent loss of forest cover and its transformation into another land use. Forests are cleared, degraded and fragmented by timber harvest, conversion to agriculture, road-building, human-caused fire, and in myriad other ways. The forests have been mostly removed for fuel, building materials and to clear land for farming. About one half of the forests that covered the Earth are gone. Each year, another 16 million hectares disappear.
The World Resources Institute estimates that only about 22% of the world’s (old growth) original forest cover remains “intact” – most of this is in three large areas- the Canadian and Alaskan boreal forest, the boreal forest of Russia, and the tropical forest of the northwestern Amazon Basin and the Guyana Shield (Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, Columbia, etc.). However the coverage of these forests are low compared to tropical forests. Slightly more than 50% of the forests are found in the tropics and the rest are temperate and boreal (coniferous northern forest) zones.
Today, forests cover more than one quarter of the world’s total land area, excluding Polar Regions. Seven countries (Russia, Brazil, Canada, the United States, China, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) account for more than 60% of the total.
In the last few decades, the vast majority of deforestation has occurred in the tropics – and the pace still accelerates. The removal of tropical forests in Latin America is proceeding at a pace of about 2% per year. In Africa, the pace is about 0.8% per year and in Asia it is 2% per year.
Term Paper # 2. Process of Deforestation:
The natural forests of the world can be split broadly into two main categories. The tropical forests lay either side of the equator and the temperate and boreal forests are largely found in the northern hemisphere (with a small proportion in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile).
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Tropical forests in Latin America, India and other South East Asian countries have fallen victim to:
i. Timber exploitation/logging,
ii. Slash and burn farming,
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iii. Clear felling for industrial use,
iv. Road building,
v. Cattle ranching, and
vi. Increasing demand for meat, skin, tusk etc., are causing rapid decrease in animals and other species.
Deforestation in the tropics is the second most important source of greenhouse gas emissions Over half of the world’s original tropical forests are already gone. Tiger population in India has gone down to the lowest level. Public attention to, this exploitation by media & NGOs have helped to alleviate the problem somewhat, though many challenges are still to be faced. In Indonesia, the world’s third largest emitter (mainly due to deforestation) 80% of deforestation is due to illegal logging which serves mainly the pulp and timber industry.
Boreal forests are subjected to deforestation due to similar reasons as that of tropical forests. Boreal forests are found in the broad belt of Eurasia and North America- two-thirds in Siberia with the rest in Scandinavia, Alaska, and Canada. Logging old-growth forests and replacing them with plantations intended for timber/paper production results in a net loss of carbon which is released into the atmosphere. This is especially relevant in Canada, Russia and the Baltic States where this is most widespread, and also in lesser extent in Scandinavia.
Road building, mining, and host of other big industries, such as, integrated steel plant, thermal and hydroelectric power (construction of big dam) plants, cement etc., have led to deforestation of enormous areas in the developing nations with higher growth rate. For example, road building in pristine forest area has resulted in deforestation for hundreds of miles along the tracks in the mountain range connecting Bhutan to India.
The repair, maintenance and road-widening processes are in progress throughout the year, thus causing further deforestation. Human habitation across the transport routes has resulted in deforestation in the adjacent areas. This being only transport route between India and Bhutan, thousands of vehicles pass through this route day and night with man and materials, polluting the atmosphere.
In addition to this, construction of hydroelectric plants in the downstream rivers has led to further deforestation of vast areas. Deforestation, industrial activity and the use of fossil fuels have elevated carbon dioxide levels in Earth’s atmosphere by 25 percent over the last 100 years. Concentrations of this heat-trapping gas continue to rise. The most important forest measure to curb climate change is to halt deforestation.
Term Paper # 3. Causes of Deforestation:
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a. Urban Construction:
The cutting down of trees for lumber that is used for building materials, furniture, and paper products have a major impact on forest life. Forests are cleared to accommodate expanding urban areas. This results in loss of forest area and massive deforestation.
b. Agriculture:
Forests are also cut down to clear land for growing crops, build farms, ranches and other food growing lands.
c. Grazing Land:
Forests are cut down in order create land for grazing cattle. Huge herds of animals require food and forests are cleared out to make way for grazing lands for these cattle.
d. Used for Fuel:
Trees are cut down in developing countries to be used as firewood or turned into charcoal, which are used for cooking and heating purposes.
e. Commercial Purposes:
Some of the other causes are: clearing forests for oil and mining exploitation, to make highways and roads, slash and burn farming techniques, wildfires, and acid rain. Forest fires can occur naturally or in most cases are deliberate attempts by man to clear huge forests.
Most of the time, these forests may recover, but usually the cleared land is used for construction and agriculture purposes. This leads to loss of forests and loss of habitat for the local wildlife.
f. Illegal Logging:
Many government agencies are fighting illegal logging to protect the forests. However, any type of logging legal or illegal leads to deforestation. Trees are cut down indiscriminately by logging companies, to fulfill the demands of the wood market. This does not give a chance to the local wildlife and trees to regenerate and sustain themselves. Thus, leads to loss of wildlife forever.
Term Paper # 4. Effects of Deforestation:
There are a number of adverse effects that include environmental and economic.
Some of these effects are discussed below:
a. Erosion of Soil:
When forest areas are cleared, it results in exposing the soil to the sun, making it very dry and eventually, infertile, due to volatile nutrients such as nitrogen being lost. In addition, when there is rainfall, it washes away the rest of the nutrients, which flow with the rainwater into waterways.
Because of this, merely replanting trees may not help in solving the problems caused by deforestation, for by the time the trees mature, the soil will be totally devoid of essential nutrients. Ultimately, cultivation in this land will also become impossible, resulting in the land becoming useless. Large tracts of land will be rendered permanently impoverished due to soil erosion.
b. Disruption of the Water Cycle:
Trees contribute in a large way in maintaining the water cycle. They draw up water via their roots, which are then released into the atmosphere. A large part of the water that circulates in the ecosystem of rainforests, for instance, remains inside the plants. When these trees are cut down it results in the climate getting drier in that area.
The groundwater tables are affected and soon get depleted. The trees help in prevention of running off of water and help the soil absorb the flowing water. When there are no trees, water just runs off, leaving no chance for the groundwater tables to absorb more water. Thus, ultimately leads to reduction in water resources.
c. Loss of Biodiversity:
The unique biodiversity of various geographical areas is being lost on a scale that is quite unprecedented. Even though tropical rainforest make up just 6 percent of the surface area of the Earth, about 80-90 percent of the entire species of the world exist here. Due to massive felling of trees, about 50 to 100 species of animals are being lost each day.
The outcome of which is the extinction of animals and plants on a massive scale. The effects on animals are very heartbreaking. They not only lose their habitat and protective cover, they are pushed to extinction. Many beautiful creatures, both plants and animals have vanished from the face of the earth.
d. Flooding and Drought:
One of the vital functions of forests is to absorb and store great amounts of water quickly when there are heavy rains. When forests are cut down, this regulation of the flow of water is disrupted, which leads to alternating periods of flood and then drought in the affected area. Thus, leads to disruption of human settlements and loss of life in thousands.
e. Climate Change:
It is well-known that global warming is being caused largely due to emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, what is not known quite as well is that deforestation has a direction association with carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.
Trees act as a major storage depot for carbon, since they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is then used to produce carbohydrates, fats, and proteins that make up trees. When deforestation occurs, many of the trees are burnt or they are allowed to rot, which results in releasing the carbon that is stored in them as carbon dioxide. This, in turn, leads to greater concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
These are just a few of the causes and effects of deforestation. The consequences are very unpleasant as every form of life on earth is interlinked with one another. Not only do animals lose their homes, but humans dependent on the local ecology are also affected. The water cycle gets disturbed leading to floods and droughts.
People dependent on the forests for their survival lose their livelihood. Global warming is another problem looming over our heads. The causes and its effects of this destructive practice can be stopped to some extent, if we all do our bit towards the environment. Reduce emissions by avoiding use of cars and bikes indiscriminately.
Make our factories cleaner and monitor their emissions. Develop better ways of farming that help increase the yield without having an impact on the neighboring forest areas. Forest management and strict monitoring of tree cutting should be carried out by various government and other nonprofit agencies. Reforestation of lost areas and following sustainable practices will help us balance our green cover. Remember, trees give us life, without them it will be impossible to sustain life.
Term Paper # 5. Consequences of Deforestation:
(i) Change in Climate:
Deforestation results in reduced rainfall, increased drought, hotter summer and colder winter. The air quality too has been adversely affected arising pollution by deforestation. Hence, the consequences of deforestation are scantly rainfall, erratic rainfall and draught. All these have serious consequences on agricultural output. This may lead to malnutrition, starvation, diseases and death.
An example of the undesirable effects caused due to deforestation, we can take the area of Cherrapunji in Meghalaya. This area used to have a large and dense forest cover and used to record the highest rainfall in the country. But in recent years, there has been such a relentless deforestation of this area that only a few trees have been left standing. This has resulted in the adverse changes in the climate. The rainfall in this area has become erratic.
(ii) Soil Erosion:
Soil is exposed to insolation, dries up and gets eroded by wind and water. Due to deforestation, water- holding capacity of the soil is decreased. Ground water level has gone down.
(iii) Flash Flood:
They occur during rainy season due to accumulation of eroded soil in river etc.
(iv) Siltation:
Rainy season rivulets bring eroded soil and deposit the same on beds of reservoirs, (reduces storage of water and power generation) and rivers.
(v) Drought:
There is very little water in rivers during dry season causing drought. Deforestation has caused intensified soil erosion, accentuated floods and drought and loss of precious wildlife and has led to deterioration of economy and quality of life of the weaker sections of the society.
For example, shrinkage of forests has resulted in such acute scarcity of fuel-wood that gathering it takes 360 women days a year per family in Gambia. In the Sahel, fuel budget constitutes 25% of the household budget.
In India, particularly in the Himalayan region, shortage of firewood and water has been causing serious misery among the womenfolk. There is a serious apprehension that time is not far when the cost of food would be far less than the fuel needed to cook it.
(vi) Danger to Wildlife:
Due to deforestation, many species of wildlife have become exposed to dangers of extinction.
Term Paper # 6. Irreversible Environmental Changes by Deforestation:
Deforestation not only causes the disappearance of trees but also loss of natural habitants and shrinkage of biodiversity. The majority of countries that have undergone massive deforestation are dealing with unforeseen transformations in climate and geography because the ability of forests to sustain a balance in climate changes is hindered.
“Avoided deforestation” is included in Bali Conference as a bold step in view of the mounting evidence that deforestation (despite carbon offset credit for afforestation in the current Kyoto regime) by destruction of tropical forest’s has caused as much as 20% increase in emission. At Bali, the countries, such as Brazil, wanted a system of reward for the nations, who have been able to cut their deforestation rates down to pre-1990 levels and keeping them there.
Term Paper # 7. Measures for Conserving Forests:
a. Afforestation and Forest Industries:
Increasing the area of forests can only be a temporary measure as forests eventually stop absorbing CO2, unless the rate of afforestation becomes more than that of carbon removal. Afforestation could provide a “window of opportunity” in which to cut carbon emissions, but it is important that it is carried out in an ecologically and socially sustainable manner. Current rates of forestation absorb enough carbon to offset just 7-16% of the annual increase in carbon emissions let alone reduce overall levels.
In an UN Environment Programme (UNEP), for planting one billion trees in 2007, the total figure has exceeded one billion. Ethiopia leads the participating countries with an impressive figure of planting 700 million trees followed by Turkey with 150 million trees to Brazil at 16 million. Indonesia launched a campaign to plant 79 million trees ahead of UN climate conference at Bali (Fig. 15.3).
b. Afforestation Offset Projects:
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported in its third assessment that 10-30% of human-induced global GHG emissions are due to land use, land use change, and forestry. The IPCC concluded that globally, changes in forest management could induce future carbon sequestration adequate to offset an additional 15-20% of CO2 emissions.
The deforestation causes include many factors. The destruction of the forests is occurring due to various reasons, one of the main reasons being the short-term economic benefits. Corruption at the government institutions, wealth and power due to harvesting of the riches of the forest, population growth and urbanization are some of the common causes.
c. Manufacture of Forest Products:
Afforestation by forest industries, by planting, managing and harvesting trees for making timbers and papers, to certain extent offset shrinking CO2 sinks due to deforestation. Some of the entrepreneurs claim that their management system makes the project carbon neutral. Timber products generally have a longer life than paper; therefore can store carbon for longer, sometimes for centuries. However, most wood products are not so long-lived. Re-use and recycling prolongs the life of both timber and paper and can therefore delay the release of stored carbon back into the atmosphere.
d. Agroforestry and Biomass Energy:
Agricultural products for making bio-fuel are financially most attractive proposition. For example, for every dollar invested in oil- palm plantations. Twenty dollar is recouped in a few years, even without the one-off gain from selling timber. Even if palm oil price slip downwards, forest-conservation plans need to be robust to compete.
e. Prevention of Forest Fire:
Wildfires are very common in many places around the world, including much of the vegetated areas of Australia, Western Cape of South Africa, and the forested areas of the United States and Canada. The climates of these areas are sufficiently moist to allow the growth of trees, but have extended dry, hot periods. Fires are particularly prevalent in the summer and autumn and during droughts when fallen branches, leaves, grasses and scrub can dry out and become highly flammable.
This is especially the case in areas where eucalyptus is prevalent, as the oil of these species is extremely flammable. News reports have suggested that global warming has been increasing the intensity and frequency of droughts in many areas, creating more intense and frequent wildfires.
In addition to forestry and beneficial effect on climate change, the other potential benefits of forests and forestry include biodiversity conservation, soil stability, amenity /recreation, cultural value and their role in hydrological cycles. A pragmatic and economical place to start restoring the balance of our global carbon cycle is in our forests.
With good stewardship, forests will continue to provide not only carbon sequestration, but wood products and many other benefits, such as fish and wildlife habitat, biodiversity, clean water and recreation opportunities. Without good forest stewardship, we may lose the carbon battle and with it, most of the benefits our forests provide.
Term Paper # 8. Indian Scenario on the Destruction of Forests:
In India, the problem of deforestation is very much acute. Total area under forests has been gradually declining in India due to its total mismanagement.
The factors which are largely responsible for large-scale deforestation include—growing demand for minor forest produce and fuel-wood by the people, increasing demand for raw materials for forest-based industries and increasing demand for state revenue from forests.
From the very beginning, State Governments were very much interested to collect a big volume of revenue by selling timber and other forest produce. Moreover, forest bureaucracy allowed illegal felling of trees with the sole intention to get illegal gratification.
Besides, indiscriminate cutting of trees standing in the forest adjacent to the village by the villagers is also responsible for massive deforestation in the country. Again a number of landless poor are regularly cutting trees and selling firewood for earning their livelihood. In this way, the pace of deforestation has been intensified since independence.
During the period 1854 to 1952, i.e., nearly 100 years before independence, green coverage in the country has declined from 40 per cent to 22 per cent of the total land area where the annual rate of deforestation was about 0.2 per cent. But during the period 1952 to 1988, green coverage has again sharply declined from 22 per cent to 12 per cent of the total land areas, i.e., at the rate of 0.4 per cent annually.
The estimate of FAO shows that between the period 1951 to 1972, India lost nearly 3.4 million hectares of forest area where the volume of annual denudation was 1,55,000 hectares.
At present, although the total area under forests is estimated at 75 million hectares which was 23 per cent of the total area but as per the latest satellite imagery studies conducted by the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), total green cover of the country is estimated at 36 million hectares where the annual loss of forest coverage is estimated at 1.3 million hectares, Every year, more than a million hectares of forests are lost.
Thus it is found that large volume of forest land has been diverted regularly into non-forest purposes.
As per one recent statement issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forest in July, 2014, it is observed that “Since October 25, 1980, the Ministry of Environment and Forest has granted approval for diversion of 11, 89,294 ha of forest- land for non-forestry purpose involving 23,511 proposals received from various State/ UT governments.”
Of these, maximum approvals were given to Madhya Pradesh which involved 1,056 proposals and 3.88 lakh ha of land followed by Chhattisgarh involving 1.06 lakh ha of land.
This sort of continuous large-scale deforestation is directly responsible for soil erosion, greater frequency and intensity of floods, continuous heavy siltation of costly dams and river banks, change in climatic conditions and ecological imbalance. Moreover, deforestation has resulted huge sufferings to landless cultivators and marginal farmers in the form of loss of fuel wood and fodder for their cattle.
This in turn is responsible for loss of valuable organic manure as cowdung is now-a-days largely being used as fuel. Thus deforestation has created both ecological and socio-economic problems in the country.
In the meantime, though the states and forest department tried to check deforestation but they become successful only to protect the forests from poor people and miserably failed to protect forests from the clutches of industries.
Even the social forestry programme and other schemes as incorporated in our forest policy have miserably failed to check deforestation which is progressing on a large scale. Thus under this present situation proper steps must be taken for the conservation and development of forest resources in India.
The current status (2011) on forests of India can be summarized as follows:
i. Around 21% of surface area is covered by forests.
ii. Less than 31% of the forest cover is dense and rich in flora and fauna.
iii. The big loss of 1.47 lakh hectares during 1976 to 1980 has prompted government to enact the Forest Conservation Act in 1981.
iv. Destruction picked up in mid-2000 when the government set a target of 9% for economic growth. It reached the peak in 2009 and 2010, when 87,000 hectares of forest land were diverted (mainly for mining) – an area double to that diverted in previous five years.
The phenomenal growth of both legal and illegal mining industries is mainly responsible for destruction of forests, including the dense and pristine ones, with rich flora and fauna.