Factors causing deforestation Deforestation is the process of clearing forests or trees, often to make way for agriculture, urban development or logging. It leads to the loss of biodiversity, disrupts ecosystems and contributes to climate change by reducing the amount of carbon absorbed by trees.
SkillBuilder discussion Concluding and decision-making Look at FIGURE7 . List, and discuss, all the impacts of gold mining in the Amazon, on people, place and environment.
FIGURE7 Illegal gold mining in the Amazon destroys the rainforest and contaminates rivers with mercury.
TABLE2 Causes of deforestation Cause
Description
Agricultural production
Plantation crops such as soy, palm oil; agricultural pasture for grazing, plus infrastructure accounts for two-thirds of deforestation. Degraded forests are more prone to uncontrolled natural fires. Some are deliberately lit to clear an area for other uses. Forest timbers are in high demand on international commercial markets. For those living in poverty the forest is a cheap source of fuel and commercially as charcoal. Land is cleared to extract the rich supply of minerals and build roads for easy access. Reduces rainfall and increases temperatures which dry out the rainforest and increase the risk of fire.
Forest fires
Illegal and unsustainable logging
Fuelwood harvest
Mining
Climate change
316 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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