PUBLIC AWARENESS OF DEFORESTATION

CAMPAIGN GREEN COUNTY: PUBLIC AWARENESS ON DEFORESTATION, 2015 & BEYOND

LET’S JOIN HANDS IN DISCOURAGING WANTON DESTRUCTION OF THE NATURE!

Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses, are lost due to negative human activities. In recent times, pastoralists have embarked on cutting trees for fencing of plots, firewood and charcoal. This has depleted the positive impact of trees providing cool weather and serene biodiversity. Tropical rainforests produce about 30% of our planet's fresh water.

Some other common reasons for wanton destruction of tree include;

• Making land available for housing and urbanization
• Harvesting  timber to create commercial items such as paper, furniture and homes 
• creating ingredients that are highly prized consumer items, such as the oil from palm trees
• Creating room for cattle ranching 

·         Common methods of deforestation are burning trees and clear cutting. These tactics leave the land completely barren and are controversial practices. 

In our effort to enlighten the wider community on the adverse effects of deforestation, we wish to elaborate the looming implications resulting from this massive destructive on our nature.

First of all, deforestation is a contributor to global warming, and is often cited as one of the major causes of the enhanced greenhouse effect. Tropical deforestation is responsible for approximately 20% of world greenhouse gas emissions.

Deforestation causes carbon dioxide to linger in the atmosphere. As carbon dioxide accrues, it produces a layer in the atmosphere that traps radiation from the sun. The radiation converts to heat which causes global warming, which is better known as the greenhouse effect.

Plants remove carbon in the form of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during the process of photosynthesis, but release some carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere during normal respiration. Only when actively growing can a tree or forest removes carbon, by storing it in plant tissues.

In addition to this, both the decay and burning of wood releases much of this stored carbon back to the atmosphere. In order for forests to take up carbon, there must be a net accumulation of wood. One way is for the wood to be harvested and turned into long-lived products, with new young trees replacing them.

Secondly, the water cycle is also affected by deforestation. Trees extract groundwater through their roots and release it into the atmosphere. When part of a forest is removed, the trees no longer transpire this water, resulting in a much drier climate. Deforestation reduces the content of water in the soil and groundwater as well as atmospheric moisture. The dry soil leads to lower water intake for the trees to extract. Deforestation reduces soil cohesion, so that erosion, flooding and landslides ensue.

As a result, the presence or absence of trees can change the quantity of water on the surface, in the soil or groundwater, or in the atmosphere. This in turn changes erosion rates and the availability of water for either ecosystem functions or human services.

Tree roots bind soil together, and if the soil is sufficiently shallow they act to keep the soil in place by also binding with underlying bedrock. Tree removal on steep slopes with shallow soil thus increases the risk of landslides, which can threaten people living nearby.

Deforestation on a human scale results in decline in biodiversity, and on a natural global scale is known to cause the extinction of many species. The removal or destruction of areas of forest cover has resulted in a degraded environment with reduced biodiversity. Forests support biodiversity, providing habitat for wildlife;

The new procedures to get amounts of wood are causing more harm to the economy and overpower the amount of money spent by people employed in logging.

 It’s therefore vital for environmentalists to create awareness on the importance of conserving our environment; otherwise the current trend is alarming.

Nomad green belt movement thus, encourages afforestation, and protection of the environment for superfluous ecosystem. According to our survey, worst areas affected by deforestation are Banisa constituency, Takaba, and to some degree, El-wak south part of the constituency.

We must act to stop this dangerous habit especially, burning trees and cutting. Public education and information is practically important to reduce the increasingly wanton destruction happening on daily basis. These tactics leave the land completely barren and are controversial practices, the forest guards should be employed for the law forbidding deforestation to take shape. Something must be done, and that should be to guide the communities in the region about environmental conservation and planting of significant numbers of trees to replace the decades of deforestation.

Nomad green belt movement plans to visit areas largely affected, with a view to eradicate the problem.

Bear with us in conserving our environment together!