Forests and Rainfall

One of the most important functions of trees is their ability to evapo-transpiration of enormous volumes of water through their leaves. This steam rises and condenses into clouds, with subsequent precipitation of rain can grow the trees and their roots. Moreover, debris from the leaves rot on the ground, identifying, enrichment, nutrients are rapidly recycled by bacteria from the field, thus closing the cycle. Therefore, if trees are removed, the rain will cease, as both factors are closely related. Without rain, the earth starts to die, there will be a strong erosion and the area of forest will become a desert.
An example of this is the desert of Harrap in Pakistan. Initially this was an area rich in forests, which enjoyed a system of adequate rains in the monsoon season: a good example of self-sustaining forest ecosystem. Gradually the forests were felled by the farmers, who needed grass for their herds. The precipitation of rain stayed in the region until the logging affected more than half the territory. As a result, the rains stopped and the area became arid and the surrounding forests also died. At present the area is a semi-capable of maintaining only a small people and other organisms that lived before the forest.

Deforestation, therefore, may lead to local or regional extinction of species, loss of genetic resources, increased pests, the decrease in the pollination of crops, or alteration of the processes of formation and maintenance of soil (erosion ). It also prevents recharge of aquifers and alter the biogeochemical cycles. In addition, deforestation leads to loss of biodiversity at the genetic, population and ecosystem.

Causes

As root causes of deforestation include the change of water use for agricultural and ranching activities, fires and forest diseases or uncontrolled felling of trees. At present, deforestation of tropical forests is a real threat, An analysis of deforestation rates of the different areas ecologically important tropical rain forests, tropical dry forests, lowland forests, mountain forests, it can be concluded that In recent years this has proved far more intense in dry and arid, especially in the mountains than in humid regions. This is understandable, given that areas of higher altitude and drier are more suitable for farming to wetlands in prairie soils of mountain regions, in general, wealthier and more easily cultivable soils that as old! tropical lowlands, virtually all types of washes nutrients. In addition to agricultural restrictions, we must take into account the limitations posed to the colonization of different diseases such as malaria or yellow fever, much less widespread in mountain areas than in dry or humid areas.
One of the main causes of deforestation in the tropics is the use of wood, both for own consumption and for export. There are other factors that explain the phenomenon of loss of forest. One is the pressure exerted on the forest population, and in this regard in many regions is the determining factor in energy use of firewood by their inhabitants. In this way, the exponential growth of population caused the parallel increase of needs for firewood. Forests lose density, and when their stocks fall on a certain level, its development is slowed down, deteriorate rapidly until almost complete destruction. The process is accelerated as a result of herbaceous growth caused by the reduction-tree cover, which in turn increases the chances of a farmer’s land use. Livestock not only eat grass, but also feeds on shrubs, source of increased forest destruction. Finally, in times of drought, dry grass increases the risk of forest fires.

The Need For Sustained Development

The impact of population on forest maintenance characters is particularly serious in the case of Amazonia, where the arrival of peasants from the second half of the twentieth century has been to upset the environmental balance maintained by indigenous peoples who have used these forests for millennia, but their conservation status be affected substantially. The establishment of new settlers in these areas is facilitated by the existence of government programs, which provide property titles to peasants who turn a wasteland into productive land. Often, the settlers cut down not only the plot of land that has been assigned, but a much larger surface area. Furthermore, access to the region of these new populations has been enhanced by the presence of roads built to facilitate the exploitation of these areas as a result of pressure from logging companies, mining and oil.

Thus, in cases such as mentioned, the solution to problems affecting forests through sustainable development of resources and strong political will to stop the logging. It must also be recognition of the territorial rights of indigenous peoples who have demonstrated a commitment to forest conservation, and prevent migration of farmers to these areas. This last condition requires an equitable redistribution of agricultural land, so that the survival and quality of life of farmers are insured and it is unnecessary to migration and the consequent deforestation.