Deforestation and Global Warming

Deforestation has become the major reason for Global Warming, more than from vehicle emission. Trees are natural absorbent of CO2 which has been blamed for increase in global temperatures.

According toAllianz Knowledge (http://knowledge.allianz.com/), "one day of emissions from deforestation equals 12.5 million people flying from London to New York, is that forests absorb carbon dioxide from the air and store it as carbon in the trees and the soil. Tropical forests alone store a quarter of all the carbon on land".

As the world's population grows, the demand for land for housing and farming, has increased. This has resulted in more forested land being turned into bare lands for housing and farming. Tress are being cut and burned, resulting in the CO2 emission. Stripped of its tree cover, the soil leaks CO2 and sometimes methane. Deforestation is a double blow to the climate, which loses a carbon sink and gains nothing but more greenhouse gases. (http://knowledge.allianz.com/).

Deforestation, has been blamed for lack of rainfall. Trees helps cloud formation. Further burning of trees can also prevent cloud formation as a result of soots from the burning trees. Deforestation is also blamed for soil erosion, which can lead to landslides during heavy rains.

Deforested land used for cattle farming can even cause further damages to the environment. Cattle farming has its fair share in releasing green house gases in the environment.

Governments needs to act to prevent more deforestation. Forests needs to be protected. The need to plant a tree for each tree felled is very important, if we are to preserve our forests and our environment. City planners need to look at making their city more greener. The solutions are there, but we need to act upon it.

Source : www.knowledge.allianz.com