Water and Deforestation

Everyone has seen pictures of soil erosion and it is easy to blame poor agricultural practices for this erosion. While it is true that every time we stir up the soil to control weeds, we expose new soil to rain that will erode the soil. But the most common reasons for erosion is deforestation. The causes of deforestation are to harvest timber for lumber or paper products, clear cutting for agriculture, and firewood. Deforestation removes the leaf canopy, exposing soil to the rain and subsequent erosion.

The clearing of land is a major reason for deforestation in Central and South America. Not only is the land being cleared to raise cattle, it is also being cleared to raise ornamental plants for your house or yard and coffee for your morning fix. It is estimated that all the tropical rainforests in the world will be gone within 30 years.

Over half the wood used in the world is for firewood. Firewood accounts for more than 50% of the energy consumed in Africa each year. Approximately 25% of the energy in developing countries is firewood. It should not suprise you that there is a shortage of firewood in the world.

• What happens when firewood is depleted?
• One hypothesis for the rapid movement of Indians from the cliff dwellings of the southwestern USA was due to deforestation. What do you think? Defend your answer.

But there are other and more subtle reasons for deforestation.

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© 2004, Arthur L. Buikema, Jr. All rights reserved.