For my impact section on the inquiry project, there are many impacts, both good and bad that can be taken into consideration. For the most part, the impacts of deforestation are bad. For this post, I will be explaining 3 of the main consequences. I chose to do distinction, global warming/greenhouse gasses, and agricultural trade.
The first impact of deforestation that I will be discussing is distinction. Many different species live in tropical forests or tree infested areas. (1) If large sections of these forests and tree infested areas are cut or burnt down, lots of animals will no longer have a home. (1) Over 80% of the world’s biodiversity is in tropical forests, so if deforestation continues, there could be mass extinction all across the world. (1) Many animals are herbivores which means they do not eat meat, only plants. If trees are cut down, a lot of herbivores will suffer from this because there will be a shortage in food for them. This can also lead to extinction. (1)
The next impact I will discuss is global warming and greenhouse gasses. Plants are the main source of oxygen, but trees are the biggest production of oxygen. (2) If we don’t have trees, less oxygen will be produced and there will be more carbon dioxide in the air. (2) Cutting down large amounts of trees can also lead to greenhouse gas emissions. (2) It is possible that all of the world’s forests will be gone in 100 years if deforestation continues, and the air could be extremely polluted. (3)
The final impact I chose was agricultural trade. Lots of places rely on products that are supplied by forests. Forests provide food, medicine, and fuel for more than a billion people. (2) Forests supply soy and wood products so if all forests get demolished, there will be no more of these products. (2) Since deforestation is more common in tropical rainforests, countries like Canada would not be able to get certain products like coconut oil. (4) In the near future, there could possibly be no more agricultural trade. (4)