Forest Research: Open Access
Open Access

Types and Causes of Forest Degradation

Teevrat Garg^{* *}Correspondence: Teevrat Garg, Department of Geography, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Farroupilha, Brazil, Email:

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Description

Forest degradation occurs when there is a reduction in tree cover, biodiversity in the woods, or changes in the forest structure. Degradation refers to the destruction or degradation of particular forest features. Forest degradation, which is primarily caused by environmental and anthropogenic changes, has the potential to wipe out the whole forest cover and biodiversity. Forest degradation, for example, can occur when acid rain or wildfires devastate a forest region. Forest degradation is defined as a loss in a forest's ability to produce healthy ecosystem products and services such as timber and other commodities, biodiversity support, carbon storage, and so on as a result of environmental and anthropogenic changes.

Although the rate of deforestation has reduced during the last three decades, it is estimated that 420 million hectares of forest have been lost through conversion to other land uses since 1990. Deforestation is expected to decline by 10 million hectares per year between 2015 and 2020, compared to 16 million hectares per year in the 1990s. Since 1990, the world's primary forest has lost more than 80 million hectares. Forest fires, pests, diseases, invasive species, drought, and extreme weather events have wreaked havoc on more than 100 million hectares of forest.

Causes of forest degradation

• Climate Change

• Forest Fires

• Pests and Diseases

• Air Pollution

• Forest Fragmentation

• Land Pollution

• Soil Erosion and Sedimentation

Climate change

Forest degradation is caused by changes in the global climate caused by significant changes in average atmospheric temperatures. Extended droughts and exceptionally dry or cold periods are caused by climate change, creating unfavorable circumstances for tree cover to develop. Prolonged droughts and dry conditions can also dry out the water systems that run through forests, lowering the quantity of trees and species in such places. Forest ecosystems are undergoing drastic changes as a result of climate change. In most situations, animals are compelled to relocate to other areas, lowering forest ecosystem quality.

Soil erosion and sedimentation

Because many stable lands supporting healthy, rich, valuable matured forests disappear owing to river bank erosion and sedimentation, soil erosion and sedimentation are linked to forest degradation. This form of forest degradation is frequent in hill forest areas, according to studies.

Pests and diseases

The same thing happens in forest areas and vegetation cover as it does in agricultural techniques, where pests and diseases cause crop and animal output losses. Pests and diseases decimate many trees and vegetation coverings throughout the year. Because certain plant and animal species die, the overall quality of specific parts of the forest, such as biodiversity and food chain linkages, suffers.

Land contamination

One of the most terrible consequences of land contamination is the degradation of neighboring forests and ecosystems. The release of numerous chemicals on land next to forest zones renders the environment unfavorable to trees, flora, and animal species. It even disrupts animals' interacting food chains since the pollutants contaminate the plants and streams that the animals ingest.

Conclusion

In general, every action taken to prevent deforestation will result in less forest degradation. Greenpeace proposes the following for degradation, creating a sustainable forest products sector, Forest management that is sustainable. For this reason, reducing sulphur dioxide emissions (to counteract acid rain) would also reduce forest deterioration. Flue-gas desulfurization can help a coal-fired power station that uses low-quality coal (with high sulphur concentration).