[De] Forest [Station]

Deforestation

Deforestation can be caused by a number of reasons, natural and unnatural. 

Deforestation is defined as "the action or process of clearing of forests." (Merriam-Webster.com) One of the main reasons used to clear natural forest land is for agricultural purposes. Farmers will clear forest land to expand land for farming and grazing. 

The process of deforestation can have many effects on the environment and natural habitats for the species living in the forests. It is estimated that 70 percent of all land animals and plants live in forests according to National Geographic.com. 

The process of deforestation can have a profound effect on the natural inhabitants of the area. A study done by Kenneth Feely, published for the Global Change Biology journal, states that Amazonia,  which makes up half of the total global tropical forest area, had lost 15 percent of total forest cover by 2002.The report also estimated that, "By 2050, The loss of habitat area is predicted to increase to 26 percent or 47 percent under simulated progressions of increased governance (GOV) or business-as-usual (BAU) deforestation, respectively (Soares-Filho et al., 2006). ("Global Change Biology", 2012, 18, pg. 2,637)

                                        An  off-putting example of deforestation. 

At one point during the preagricultural period, forests covered up to 50 percent of Earth's land ("World at Risk" 241).  That number was down to 30 percent in 2007 according to the "State of the World's Forest" report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 

As of 2010, the number has risen to 31 percent according to earth-policy.org.This rise can be attributed to forest preservation efforts and replanting initiatives. 

Sources

http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/a0773e/a0773e00.htm

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview/

http://www.earth-policy.org/indicators/C56

http://www.greenfacts.org/en/forests/l-2/2-extent-deforestation.htm

"World at Risk: Second Edition, CQ Press, Chapter 11, "Deforestation."

" Feely, Kenneth J., "Global change biology" journal, "The relative importance of   deforestation, precipitation change, and temperature sensitivity in determining the future distributions and diversity of Amazonian plant species."