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Deforestation

Deforestation is the process of clearing or removing large expanses of forests, usually by cutting down trees, resulting in the transformation of forested areas into non-forest land. 

Deforestation

Causes

The following are the causes of deforestation:

1. Shifting Cultivation -
   •  In this method, a piece of land is cleared, and the vegetation is burned. The ash is then mixed with the soil, providing nutrients. 
   • This land is used to cultivate crops with modest yields for two to three years. Afterward, the area is abandoned to regain fertility, and the same practice is repeated elsewhere on a fresh piece of land. This approach requires only simple tools and does not involve high levels of mechanization.
2. Development Projects - 
   • With a significant increase in the human population and their needs, development projects such as hydroelectric facilities, large dams, reservoirs, and the construction of railway lines and roads are crucial but come with various environmental challenges. 
   • Many of these projects necessitate extensive deforestation.
3. Fuel Requirements - The growing demand for firewood, driven by the expanding population, puts substantial pressure on forests, leading to an increased intensity of deforestation.
4. Raw Material Requirements - 
   • Various industries rely on wood as a raw material for products like paper, plywood, furniture, matchsticks, boxes, crates, and packing cases. 
   • Additionally, industries obtain raw materials from plants for drugs, scents, perfumes, resin, gums, waxes, turpentine, latex, rubber, tannins, alkaloids, and beeswax. 
   • This places tremendous pressure on forest ecosystems, and their uncontrolled exploitation for various raw materials is the primary cause of forest ecosystem degradation.
5. Other Causes - Deforestation is also a result of overgrazing, agricultural practices, mining operations, urbanization, fire, pests, diseases, defense activities, and communication projects.

How it affects?

Impact of deforestation on Forests

1. Impact on Forests:
   • The reduction of closed forests, distinguished by a complete canopy, is a consequence of deforestation. 
   • This leads to an increase in the prevalence of degraded forests. The loss of closed forests alters the landscape and the composition of plant and animal species that depend on these ecosystems for their survival.
   •  This change in forest structure can have cascading effects on biodiversity and ecological balance.
2. Water Cycle Disruption:
   • Forests play a crucial role in the water cycle by recycling moisture through a process called transpiration. 
   • Trees absorb water from the soil and release it into the atmosphere. This moisture eventually condenses and falls back to the ground as rain.
   •  Deforestation disrupts this natural cycle, resulting in an immediate decline in groundwater levels and a long-term reduction in precipitation. The loss of trees also leads to increased runoff, reducing the ability of the land to absorb and retain water.
3. Mining and Soil Erosion:
   Soil erosion
   • Many mining activities, particularly in forested regions like India, contribute to deforestation and soil erosion.
   •  The extraction of minerals often requires clearing large areas of forests, impacting the biodiversity and ecosystem services that these forests provide. 
   • In addition, underground mining operations exacerbate deforestation, as timber is commonly used to support mine galleries. The removal of trees for this purpose further contributes to habitat loss and ecosystem degradation.
4. Abandoned Mines and Habitat Degradation:
   • The aftermath of mining operations, particularly abandoned mines, poses a threat to the environment.
   •  Abandoned mines often fall into disrepair and contribute to extensive gully erosion, negatively impacting the surrounding habitat. This erosion can lead to the degradation of ecosystems, affecting both flora and fauna.
   •  The altered landscape and disrupted soil structure make it challenging for the ecosystem to recover, exacerbating the negative consequences of deforestation.

Hence, deforestation has multifaceted impacts, including changes in forest composition, disruptions to the water cycle, soil erosion from mining activities, and habitat degradation associated with abandoned mines. These consequences highlight the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the importance of sustainable practices to maintain the balance of natural systems.

Desertification

Desertification refers to the process by which fertile land becomes increasingly arid, unproductive, and eventually transforms into desert-like conditions. This phenomenon is primarily driven by a combination of natural and human-induced factors, leading to the degradation of soil quality and loss of vegetation.

Desertification

 Desertification is a significant problem in regions near deserts, such as parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana. 

Causes

1. Population Pressure: A growing human population puts pressure on land and resources for housing, agriculture, and infrastructure. As more people need land for settlement and food production, there is an increased likelihood of overexploiting and degrading the land. This pressure contributes to the process of desertification, particularly in regions where the land is already vulnerable.
2. Increase in Cattle Population, Overgrazing: The expansion of the cattle population, combined with overgrazing, can accelerate desertification. Overgrazing occurs when livestock excessively consume vegetation, leaving the soil exposed and vulnerable to erosion. The removal of vegetation cover reduces the land's ability to retain water, leading to soil degradation and making it more susceptible to desertification.
3. Increased Agriculture: 
   The expansion of agriculture, often driven by the need to feed a growing population, can contribute to desertification. Large-scale clearing of land for farming, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, disrupts natural ecosystems. The removal of vegetation for agriculture reduces the land's ability to capture and retain water, leading to soil erosion and increased aridity, ultimately facilitating desertification.
4. Development Activities: Various development projects, such as the construction of roads, dams, and urban areas, can alter the landscape and contribute to desertification. These activities often involve the removal of vegetation and disruption of natural water flow, leading to increased soil erosion. The conversion of natural landscapes for development can accelerate the transformation of fertile land into degraded areas prone to desertification.
5. Deforestation: 
   Deforestation causes  desertification The widespread clearing of forests, either for timber or to make way for other land uses, significantly contributes to desertification. Forests play a crucial role in maintaining soil fertility and regulating water cycles. Deforestation disrupts these processes, leading to reduced water retention, increased soil erosion, and ultimately, the transformation of land into arid or semi-arid conditions conducive to desertification.

Status of Indian Desertification: Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India

1. The "Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India," by the Space Application Centre, shows data on degraded lands from 2003-05 to 2018-19. As of 2021, 29.07% of India's total land area, equivalent to 97.58 million hectares, is undergoing land degradation. Among this, 82.64 million hectares face desertification.
2. To address biodiversity loss, India aims to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. The country hosted the 14th session of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in 2019. India is working towards achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) commitments by focusing on sustainable land resource use.
3. India's control measures include being a signatory to the UNCCD, with a National Action Programme since 2001. 
4. Key programs addressing land degradation include: 
   • Integrated Watershed Management
   • National Afforestation
   •  National Mission for Green India
   •  Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
   •  Soil Conservation
   •  National Watershed Development
   • Desert Development Programme.

Afforestation

Afforestation refers to the deliberate and planned act of establishing and growing forests in areas where there were previously no trees or significant tree cover. It involves planting trees or allowing them to regenerate naturally, to create a new forest or increase the existing forest cover in a specific area.

Planting trees : Afforestation

In places like the deserts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, and the Trans-Himalayan regions, there is not much vegetation. People in these areas need firewood, timber, and fodder for their homes and animals.

So, planting trees in the desert is necessary to change the climate, prevent desertification, and meet the needs of the people living there.

State of the World's Forests 2022

State of the World's Forests (SOFO)

The 2022 edition of the State of the World's Forests (SOFO) was released at the World Forestry Congress. According to the report, the world lost 420 million hectares of forests in the last 30 years (1990-2020) due to deforestation, approximately 10.34% of the total forest area, which is 4.06 billion hectares (31% of the Earth's geographical area).

Although the rate of deforestation is declining, 10 million hectares of forests were lost every year between 2015 and 2020. More than 700 million hectares of forest (48% of the total forest area) are in legally established protected areas, but forest biodiversity remains under threat from deforestation and forest degradation.

Unless additional action is taken, an estimated 289 million hectares of forests would be deforested between 2016 and 2050 in the tropics alone. 

(a) Diseases: SOFO 2022 revealed that 15% of 250 emerging infectious diseases are linked to forests. Additionally, 30% of new diseases reported since 1960 can be attributed to deforestation and land-use change, especially in the tropics, leading to an increase in infectious diseases like dengue fever and malaria.

(b) Fuel: Around 124 million more people fell into extreme poverty after COVID-19, impacting wood-based fuel use. Evidence suggests increased reliance on wood-based fuel in some countries during the pandemic, highlighting potential longer-term consequences.

(c) Population: The report stated that the world population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, intensifying competition for land. The demand for food is projected to rise by 35 to 56 percent by the 2050s. Global consumption of all-natural resources is anticipated to more than double from 92 billion tonnes (2017) to 190 billion tonnes (2060) due to population growth and affluence.

GHG emissions over the years1990-2021

SOFO 2022 emphasizes the significant role that restoration efforts can play in addressing climate change. It estimates that implementing measures like afforestation (planting trees in areas where there were none before) and reforestation (replanting trees in deforested areas) could effectively remove between 0.9 to 1.5 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e) per year from the atmosphere. This is crucial because carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. By restoring degraded land, these actions not only enhance biodiversity and ecosystems but also help mitigate the impacts of climate change by capturing and storing carbon.

The report highlights the global commitment to address deforestation and promote sustainable forestry practices. Over 140 countries, as part of the Glaspow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, have pledged to eliminate forest loss by the year 2030. This commitment emphasizes the urgency of protecting and restoring forests to maintain ecological balance. To support these goals, an additional six billion dollars have been allocated. This financial commitment is intended to assist developing countries in implementing strategies for forest conservation, restoration, and the adoption of sustainable forestry practices.