Deforestation

1
Deforestation

• Deforestation Removal of trees from a forested
  area without adequate replanting
• If rate of cutting and degradation rate of
  regrowth (reforestation)
• ? Forests are renewable resources

2
What Is Happening to the Worlds Forests?

• During the past 8000 years human activities have
  reduced the original forest cover of the earth by
  20 to 50 (source World Resources Institute)
• Forests with 50 or more tree cover occupy 32
  of earths land surface
• Many temperate forests in North America and
  Europe increasing slightly because of
  reforestation from secondary ecological
  succession on cleared forest areas and abandoned
  croplands
• Many tropical forests especially those in Latin
  America, Africa, Asia being cut and degraded
  faster than they can regenerate

3

• What are the purposes
• of deforestation?

4

• What are the environmental impacts of
  deforestation?

5

• How can forests be managed more sustainably?