Deforestation
Deforestation• Deforestation – cutting down the rainforests.• The islands of the Caribbean were once almost
completely covered by rainforests.– Today, nearly ¾ of those rainforests are gone.
Causes of Forest Loss• Agriculture– the forest has been cleared to create plantations
for sugar cane, cacao, coffee, and other crops and livestock.
– These crops can be important to the economy of the region.
Causes of Forest Loss• Logging– The forest trees have been taken for their valuable
wood.
Causes of Forest Loss• Construction– As the economy develops and the population
grows, we need more houses for people to live in. We build schools, hospitals, and roads. We cut down the forest to make space for these constructions.
Causes of Forest Loss• Industrial Activity– As society develops we make increasing use of
technology. We build factories and chemical plants. These require space and also cause pollution that damages the remaining forest trees.
Consequences of Deforestation• habitat loss and extinction of species– as rainforests disappear, so does the habitat
thousands of species. These species could become extinct, forever lost to the world.
Consequences of Deforestation
• loss of trees impacts climate change– fewer trees means that less carbon dioxide is
absorbed from the atmosphere– if trees are burned, then more carbon dioxide is
released into the atmosphere– carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas
contributing to climate change
Consequences of Deforestation
• loss of trees impacts rainfall– fewer trees means that less water is being
recycled to the atmosphere by transpiration, which may reduce rainfall and cause crops to fail
Consequences of Deforestation
• loss of trees impacts soil erosion– forest trees provide ground cover and their roots
hold soil together– without these trees, soil becomes loose, crumbles,
and is easily washed away, a process known as soil erosion
– soil erosion is worse when forests are cut down from hillsides
WHY?
Consequences of Deforestation
• loss of trees impacts on flooding– forests on hillsides help to prevent rainwater from
pouring off steep slopes– this can lead to flooding in valleys below these
hillsides
What you have learnedCopy and complete these sentences using these
key words (soil erosion, extinction, deforestation, habitat loss, flooding):
The destruction of the rainforest is called .It is an example of for plantsand animals. Many rainforest species are threatenedwith as forests are destroyed. Forestsalso affect rainfall, soil and rivers. Their destructionmay create problems such as reduction in rainfall, and .
In-class Assignment• Give an example of the consequences of
deforestation discussed in class; how might these consequences impact future generations if deforestation continues in the Caribbean? Throughout the world?
