Afforestation Essay for Students and Teacher

500+ words essay on afforestation.

Afforestation refers to the planting of trees in a barren land to create a forest. People often confuse this term with reforestation. However, they are two very different things. Reforestation refers to the specific planting of trees in a forest whose trees are already decreasing. Therefore, reforestation is essentially enhancing the number of trees. And afforestation is basically creating a whole new forest.

Afforestation Essay

Mother Earth has constantly faced difficulties due to human activities. For instance, the exploitation of natural resources, overpopulation, pollution, and deforestation damages the earth severely. Therefore, measures like Afforestation are practiced to prevent further damage.

Importance of Afforestation

The world is constantly evolving and so are the pollution levels. The carbon emission in cities is reaching new heights every day. As more and more industries are being set up, larger areas of forests are being cleared up. The setup of these facilities, thus, gives rise to deforestation.

Afforestation is the need of the hour. We need it to tackle the global issues humans are facing. For example, global warming, soil erosion , pollution , the ecological imbalance is just some of the severe problems. We need measures like afforestation and reforestation to be practiced on a larger scale. Moreover, as we are witnessing the damage to earth with our own eyes, we need to do it quick.

Most importantly, afforestation is something which is very economical and easy. It can help in bringing back the balance of nature. Even if one community vows to practice afforestation, we can successfully create a whole new forest. The first step has already been taken; various NGO’s and government agencies are already involved. We need to create awareness about its importance to make it happen on a bigger scale.

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Benefits of Afforestation

Afforestation has innumerable benefits. One cannot imagine the advantages it will bring for mankind, wildlife as well as the vegetation. When we practice afforestation, we will be able to prevent soil erosion. This will, in turn, help in maintaining the fertility of the soil. Therefore, it will be beneficial for the agricultural sector.

essay on deforestation and afforestation

Furthermore, through afforestation, we can get ample supply of timber, fruit, fodder and more. It will enhance the life of our cattle and help in better crop production. Moreover, afforestation will result in better retention of water. This can prevent droughts too.

Similarly, afforestation will help in protecting the crops from excessive wind and sunlight. In other words, it will shield the crops from damage and help in a better production. Above all, the planting of trees is always beneficial. There is no harm in planting more and more trees. They will help in keeping a check on the levels of carbon dioxide.

In short, we must encourage afforestation. It will help in making the world a greener place. Furthermore, afforestation will secure the future for our upcoming generations. Most importantly, humans must realize the fact that it is we who will suffer if not taken the essential steps. Earth will always survive as it has, we need to save ourselves.

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Essay on Deforestation: 100 Words, 300 Words

essay on deforestation and afforestation

  • Updated on  
  • Apr 1, 2024

essay on deforestation

Deforestation means the widespread clearing of forests which has become a topic of global concern due to its severe environmental concerns. Deforestation as a topic is discussed and given as assignments to students for their better understanding. In this blog, we will learn the various facets of deforestation, its causes, consequences, and solutions. Also, there are some sample essay on deforestation to help students with their assignments.

Table of Contents

  • 1 What is Deforestation?
  • 2 Causes of Deforestation
  • 3 Consequences of Deforestation
  • 4 Solutions to Deforestation
  • 5 Sample Essay on Deforestation in 100 words
  • 6 Sample Essay on Deforestation in 300 words
  • 7 FAQs 

What is Deforestation?

Cutting down of trees on a large scale thus clearing forests which is then converted to land for human use is known as deforestation. The human use of land includes agriculture, making houses, commercial uses, etc. Almost 71.22 million hectare area of the total land of India is covered by forest. In the tropical and subtropical forests, deforestation is much more extreme. These areas are then converted into land for economical uses.

Causes of Deforestation

  • Logging – Trees are cut down to make furniture, paper, and other products.
  • Agriculture – Forests are cleared to make space for farming.
  • Urbanization –  Cities expand, leading to the destruction of forests.
  • Mining – Trees are removed to extract minerals and resources.

Also Read – Essay on Environment: Examples & Tips

Consequences of Deforestation

  • Loss of Biodiversity –  Animals lose their homes, and many become endangered or extinct.
  • Climate Change – Trees absorb carbon dioxide, so fewer trees mean more pollution and global warming .
  • Soil Erosion – Without trees, soil washes away, making it hard to grow crops.
  • Disruption of the Water Cycle -Trees help to control water, and without them, floods and droughts become more common.

Solutions to Deforestation

  • Planting Trees – People can plant new trees to replace the ones that were cut down.
  • Using Less Paper – If we use less paper, fewer trees will be cut for making paper.
  • Protecting Forest s – Governments can make rules to stop cutting down too many trees.
  • Supporting Sustainable Products – Buying things that don’t harm forests can help.

Sample Essay on Deforestation in 100 words

Deforestation is when trees are cut down and forests disappear. Trees give us clean air to breathe. Imagine if someone took away your home – that’s what happens to animals when forests are destroyed. It is a major environmental problem that has many negative consequences, such as climate change, soil erosion, and loss of biodiversity.

When we cut too many trees, it’s bad for nature. Animals lose their homes, and the air becomes dirty. When there are no trees, floods and droughts happen more often. We can help by planting new trees and taking care of the ones we have. Let’s protect the forests and the Earth!

Also Read- Essay on Waste Management

Sample Essay on Deforestation in 300 words

Deforestation is when people cut down a lot of trees from forests. Trees are important because they make the air fresh and give animals a place to live. When we cut down too many trees, it’s not good for the Earth. Animals lose their homes, and the air gets polluted. 

There are many causes of deforestation and one of the causes is Agriculture. Forests are cleared to make way for cropland and livestock grazing. Another reason is timber harvesting. Trees are cut down for timber, paper, and other wood products. Mining is also another cause and forests are cleared to access minerals and other resources. Even due to urbanization, trees are cut down to make way for roads, cities, and other developments.

Deforestation is the permanent removal of forests to make way for other land uses, such as agriculture, mining, and urban development. It is a major environmental problem that has many negative consequences. One of them is climate change. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, so deforestation contributes to climate change. Another consequence is soil erosion, when trees are removed, the soil is more easily eroded by wind and rain which can lead to flooding and landslides. Loss of biodiversity: Forests are home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Deforestation can lead to the loss of these species.

There are many things that can be done to reduce deforestation. Such as we must plant trees, they can help to offset the effects of deforestation by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Secondly, reduce our consumption of wood products by using less paper, buying furniture made from recycled materials, and avoiding disposable products. Thirdly, by supporting sustainable agricultural practices that do not require the clearing of forests. Lastly, by conserving forests, we can create protected areas and support sustainable forest management practices.

Deforestation is a serious issue that affects the whole planet. But there’s hope! By planting trees, using less paper, and taking care of nature, we can make the Earth a better place for everyone. Remember, even though we are small, our actions can make a big difference.

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Deforestation is cutting down trees and wiping out wide areas of forest. The major reasons behind these cutting down is because of human activities that are increasing the space for human usage like agricultural expansion, logging, agriculture,  expansion of infrastructure, etc.

Deforestation means the large-scale cutting down of trees or forests causing great concern and environmental hazards. It is predicted that if humans continue wiping the forest areas, we will no longer be able to breathe in a greener world. So, plant trees and make people aware of the concerns of deforestation.

There are many ways through which we can try to stop deforestation some of which are – planting trees, less use of paper, judicious buying, selling, and use of products, incorporating various recycling methods, aware and educating people, etc 

Hence, we hope that this blog has assisted you in comprehending what an essay on deforestation must include. If you are struggling with your career choices and need expert guidance, our Leverage Edu mentors are here to guide you at any point of your academic and professional journey thus ensuring that you take informed steps towards your dream career.

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Deforestation Effects and Solutions Essay

Carbon cycle, counter-measures.

Over the past several centuries, humans have turned the world into a forest of concrete buildings scattered across the globe. Urban areas are constantly expanding, and this translates into the development of vast areas with tall buildings replacing natural vegetation. Human settlements are also a contributing factor in the changes witnessed in the earth’s biosphere. While the earth appears as a shining planet from space, with green patches of vegetation being visible from space, this characteristic may not hold for long. In his quest for survival, man eliminates indigenous forests and natural vegetation from vast land masses to settle.

This has a negative impact to the ecology because it eliminates survival factors for animals and plants that naturally inhabit the lands. Industrious cities in the developed nations like China and Japan occupy large masses of land, leaving limited space for the natural vegetation to thrive. This phenomenon alters the balance of nature for vegetation and animals, and it is the main cause of extinction in living organisms.

The earth’s biosphere is constantly losing its vegetation cover because of human activities, and this has dire impacts on other parts of the earth like the atmosphere. Vegetation cover is responsible for converting carbon dioxide to oxygen to balance the constituents of the atmosphere. Excessive clearing of vegetation on the earth’s service results to an alteration of the equilibrium in gaseous volumes in the atmosphere, and the current levels of greenhouse gases are alarming, especially in the urban areas. Man has single-handedly made the biosphere inhabitable for other living organisms, and this trend will continue as long as man continues to develop settlement areas (Raven, Berg & Hassenzahl, 2011).

Excessive clearing of indigenous vegetation in the vast lands across the world affects the earth’s carbon cycle. Clearing forests, farming land, and grasslands results to an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. Trees and other plants making up the earth’s vegetation are responsible for reducing the levels of carbon dioxide in the air through photosynthesis. Urban areas experience escalated levels of carbon dioxide, which leads to global warming and climate change.

Disrupting the carbon cycle in the quest for industrialization and modernization is likely to cause negative effects on the survival of vegetation in the future because of the adverse effects of climate change. Some parts of the world are already experiencing the consequences of disrupting the earth’s carbon cycle, which in turn affects the hydro cycle of the planet (Bala et al., 2007).

The global society is aware of the effects of human settlement and deforestation, and the relevant authorities have set some measures to counter the effects on the carbon cycle. Planting forests around urban areas and by the roadsides in urban areas is one of the measures that seem to help in alleviating the issue. NGOs dealing with environmental issues, conduct advocacy campaigns across the globe to prevent developments leading to deforestation. Some of the environmentalists like the late Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize winner, impacted the African society to plant trees to reclaim the lost forest cover in the continent (Maathai, 2004).

The society also plays a big role in influencing the authorities to plan for sustainable developments with minimal negative effects to the ecosystem. For instance, the UK society contends with the government against the construction of roads passing through natural forests in some of the urban areas.

Bala, G., Caldeira, K., Wickett, M., Phillips, T. J., Lobell, D. B., Delire, C., & Mirin, A. (2007). Combined climate and carbon-cycle effects of large-scale deforestation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , 104 (16), 6550-6555. Web.

Maathai, W. (2004). The Green Belt Movement: Sharing the approach and the experience . New York: Lantern Books. Web.

Raven, P. H., Berg, L. R., & Hassenzahl, D. M. (2011). Environment , 8th Edition. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Web.

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Deep within the lush heart of the Amazon rainforest, the relentless rhythm of chainsaws echoes through the canopy, signaling a destructive force that is rapidly altering the face of our planet. Deforestation, the large-scale clearing of forests, is a global crisis that threatens not only the delicate ecosystems that sustain life but also the very future of our world. In this blog, you will get essay writing tips for Essays on Deforestation.

Table of Content

Causes of Deforestation

Effects of deforestation, precautions and solutions, 500+ words essay on deforestation.

The underlying causes of deforestation are complex and multifaceted, driven by a combination of human activities and economic pressures. One of the primary drivers is agricultural expansion, as vast swaths of forestland are cleared to make way for crops and grazing lands. The demand for commodities such as palm oil, soybeans, and beef has fueled the rapid conversion of forests into monoculture plantations and pastures.

Another significant contributor to deforestation is illegal logging, driven by the insatiable demand for timber and the lucrative profits that can be derived from this illicit trade. Poverty and lack of economic opportunities in rural areas also play a role, as communities turn to unsustainable practices like slash-and-burn agriculture to eke out a living.

Furthermore, the construction of roads, mining operations, and infrastructure development projects often encroach upon forested areas, leading to further destruction and fragmentation of these vital ecosystems.

The consequences of deforestation are far-reaching and devastating, impacting not only the environment but also the well-being of countless species and human communities.

One of the most alarming effects of deforestation is its contribution to climate change. Forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When these forests are cleared, the stored carbon is released back into the air, exacerbating the greenhouse effect and accelerating global warming.

Deforestation also poses a grave threat to biodiversity. Forests are home to an astounding array of plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. As their habitats are destroyed, these species face the risk of extinction, irreversibly diminishing the planet’s rich tapestry of life.

The loss of forests has severe implications for indigenous communities and local populations who rely on these ecosystems for their livelihoods, food, and traditional practices. Deforestation disrupts the delicate balance of these communities, often leading to displacement, loss of resources, and cultural erosion.

In addition, deforestation can have far-reaching impacts on water cycles and soil stability. Without the protective canopy of trees, the land becomes more susceptible to erosion, leading to sedimentation and degradation of water sources. This, in turn, can exacerbate the risk of floods and droughts, further compounding the environmental and social challenges.

Addressing the issue of deforestation requires a multifaceted approach that involves stakeholders at all levels, from governments and international organizations to local communities and individuals.

One crucial step is the implementation of stringent laws and regulations to protect forests and promote sustainable land management practices. Governments must prioritize the enforcement of these laws and hold accountable those who engage in illegal logging or unsanctioned deforestation activities.

Furthermore, there is a pressing need to support and incentivize sustainable agriculture and forestry practices. This can include promoting agroforestry systems, which integrate trees and crops on the same land, as well as encouraging the cultivation of crops that do not require extensive land clearing.

Efforts must also be made to empower and engage local communities in conservation efforts. By recognizing the traditional knowledge and practices of indigenous peoples, and involving them in decision-making processes, we can foster a sense of ownership and stewardship over these invaluable natural resources.

On a global scale, initiatives such as REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) aim to provide financial incentives to developing countries that implement policies and measures to protect their forests and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Consumer awareness and responsible consumption play a pivotal role in addressing deforestation. By making informed choices and supporting products and companies that prioritize sustainable practices, we can collectively reduce the demand for goods that contribute to deforestation.

Reforestation and restoration efforts are also critical in mitigating the impacts of deforestation. Organizations and governments must prioritize the planting of new trees and the restoration of degraded landscapes, helping to replenish the invaluable ecosystem services provided by forests.

With each resounding crash of a felled tree, the world’s forests are diminishing at an alarming rate, stripped away by the insatiable appetite of human activities. Deforestation, the large-scale clearing of forested areas, is a grave environmental crisis that demands immediate attention and action.

The primary driver behind deforestation is the expansion of agricultural land, as vast swaths of forests are cleared to make way for crops, grazing pastures, and plantations. The demand for commodities such as palm oil, soybeans, and beef has fueled this destructive process, leading to the rapid conversion of once-thriving ecosystems into monoculture landscapes.

Another significant contributor to deforestation is illegal logging, driven by the lucrative profits that can be derived from this illicit trade. Poverty and lack of economic opportunities in rural areas also compel communities to engage in unsustainable practices like slash-and-burn agriculture, further exacerbating the problem.

The consequences of deforestation are far-reaching and devastating. Forests act as essential carbon sinks, absorbing and storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When these forests are cleared, the stored carbon is released back into the air, exacerbating the greenhouse effect and accelerating global warming, which in turn contributes to more extreme weather patterns and rising sea levels.

Furthermore, deforestation poses a grave threat to biodiversity. Forests are home to an astounding array of plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. As their habitats are destroyed, these species face the risk of extinction, irreversibly diminishing the planet’s rich tapestry of life.

The loss of forests also has severe implications for indigenous communities and local populations who rely on these ecosystems for their livelihoods, food, and traditional practices. Deforestation disrupts the delicate balance of these communities, often leading to displacement, loss of resources, and cultural erosion.

Addressing the issue of deforestation requires a multifaceted approach that involves stakeholders at all levels. Governments must prioritize the implementation and enforcement of stringent laws and regulations to protect forests and promote sustainable land management practices. Efforts must also be made to support and incentivize sustainable agriculture and forestry practices, such as agroforestry systems that integrate trees and crops on the same land.

Moreover, consumer awareness and responsible consumption play a pivotal role in reducing the demand for goods that contribute to deforestation. By making informed choices and supporting products and companies that prioritize sustainable practices, we can collectively drive positive change.

Ultimately, the preservation of our forests is not just an environmental imperative; it is a moral obligation to safeguard the intricate web of life that sustains our planet. As we confront the realities of deforestation, we must summon a renewed sense of urgency and collective action, recognizing that the fate of our forests, and ultimately our own fate, is inextricably intertwined with the health of our planet.

Also Read: 500+ Words Essay on Air Pollution 800+ Words Essay on My Dream For Students 500+ Words Essay on Mahatma Gandhi in English

Deforestation is a global crisis that demands our immediate attention and collective action. The consequences of our actions today will echo through generations to come, shaping the very future of our planet. It is our responsibility to serve as stewards of these vital ecosystems, ensuring that the majestic forests that grace our world are preserved for the benefit of all life.

By addressing the underlying drivers of deforestation, implementing sustainable land management practices, empowering local communities, and fostering global cooperation, we can begin to reverse the tide of destruction. It is a daunting task, but one that is essential for the survival of countless species, the preservation of invaluable cultural heritage, and the maintenance of the delicate balance that sustains life on Earth.

The time to act is now. Let us embrace the challenge with unwavering determination, recognizing that the fate of our forests, and ultimately our own fate, is inextricably intertwined. Together, we can forge a path towards a greener, more sustainable future, where the majestic canopies of our forests continue to flourish, providing sanctuary, sustenance, and hope for generations to come.

Essay on Deforestation- FAQs

What is deforestation in a paragraph.

Deforestation is the deliberate clearing of wooded areas. Throughout history and into the present, woods have been cleared to create way for agriculture and animal grazing, as well as to obtain wood for fuel, manufacture, and construction.

How do you write an introduction to deforestation?

Deforestation is gradually becoming one of the most serious environmental issues in the world. Humans frequently deforest for land development, roads, and railroads, as well as for economic reasons. Every year, almost eighteen million acres of forest are lost, having severe consequences.

Why deforestation is a problem?

The loss of trees and other vegetation can lead to climate change, desertification, soil erosion, less harvests, flooding, higher greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere, and a variety of other issues for Indigenous people. Deforestation happens for a variety of reasons.

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Afforestation and Reforestation: The Forests of the Future - earth.fm

Afforestation and Reforestation: The Forests of the Future

Afforestation and reforestation are recognised as key strategies for tackling our climate crisis and halting ecosystem degradation and biodiversity losses.

Afforestation is about creating new forests where no forest currently stands. Reforestation is about the restoration, regeneration, and expansion or improvement of areas where forests or woodlands either stand or once stood.

Both are essential for remedying our planet’s ills. To sequester carbon, repair the world’s water cycles, and provide for the needs of people and of wildlife, we need to look urgently at these two activities.

However, creating new forests and restoring old ones is not as straightforward as simply planting trees. Which trees are planted, where they are planted, and a wide range of ecological factors determine whether these are true forests and woodlands, or only plantations of trees.

What is more, the creation of forests can have profound impacts, negative as well as positive. A deep understanding of ecology and broader weather and societal systems is essential to determining where exactly such projects should be undertaken, and the impacts they will have.

What is a Forest?

To understand the importance of forests and the best strategies for afforestation and reforestation, we must first and foremost understand that a forest or woodland is far more than just a plantation of trees.

Forests are thriving ecosystems – complex systems of life and interaction. From the tree canopy to the complex web of life below the surface of the soil, the forest is one. To focus on the trees alone is to fail to see the whole. All too often, we quite literally fail to see the forest for the trees.

To understand how to conserve and protect the forests which we have, and to develop strategies to create the new forests of the future, we need to look at the bigger picture.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) defines a forest as:

“Land spanning more than 0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 meters and a canopy cover of more than 10 percent, or trees able to reach these thresholds in situ. It does not include land that is predominantly under agricultural or urban use.”

Using this definition, the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 found that forests covered 4.06 billion hectares – approximately 31% of the world’s land area.

However, many different definitions of the term ‘forest’ exist. This can lead to challenges in determining which areas currently count as forests, and which tree-based ecosystems may only do so in the future.

No matter how we define forests, however, it is vitally important to recognise that a forest is far more than just trees.

The Benefits Forests Bring

Forests are one of the most important ecosystems on Earth, since they are:

  • Crucial carbon sinks
  • Essential to the world’s water cycle
  • Vital for soil health and protection
  • Genetic preserves and biodiversity hotspots for a wide range of plants and wildlife
  • Integral to human existence – providing for many basic needs and protecting areas of human habitation from issues such as drought, flooding, and extreme weather events.

The Problem of Deforestation

Although we recognise the vital role that forests play in preserving life on Earth, global deforestation continues at an alarming rate.

Climate change, timber and fuel harvesting, the pressures of encroaching agricultural land, overgrazing, and a range of other problems all contribute to this problem. And for any reforestation and afforestation to be successful in the long term, these issues must be addressed.

At COP26 in Glasgow , leaders of more than 100 countries containing around 85% of the world’s forests agreed to expand upon existing targets, pledging to end deforestation by 2030. Nevertheless, rates of deforestation increased between 2014 and 2020, and information is lacking on how these ambitious goals are to be achieved.

essay on deforestation and afforestation

The Challenges of Reforestation and Afforestation

It is crucial that we not only halt deforestation, but also increase forest cover.

According to a special report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to avoid a temperature rise of more than 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, by 2050 there must be an increase in global forest cover of 10 million square kilometres (3.9 million square miles; an area the size of Canada).

But while reforestation and afforestation schemes are proliferating around the globe, the world is not on track to meet the target of the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests: a 3% increase of forest area by 2030.

The challenges of reforestation and afforestation mean that it is not always as easy to achieve these goals as it may at first appear. Holistic, site-appropriate design and careful thought regarding wider ecological and societal systems is vitally important to long-term success.

Not all forests are created equal when it comes to climate . And while reforestation and afforestation are important, they should not distract us from the crucial importance of cutting carbon emissions.

Why Planting Trees Alone in Not Enough

As mentioned above, forests are far more than just trees. Recognition of this is crucial to any successful scheme; we must consider not only the trees planted, but also the other layers of vegetation, the wildlife, hydrology, soil, and a range of other factors.

Reforestation and afforestation schemes are generally most successful when taking into account their connection to human needs. Natural systems for the benefit of broader ecology can benefit people too.

Several schemes I have worked on have recognised that, in many regions, growing trees requires looking holistically at social and environmental systems. Harnessing non-timber forest products (NTFPs) has often been crucial to changing the practices and thought patterns of local communities, and to meeting sustainable development goals across many sectors.

When we take people into account, as well as ecosystems, new schemes are far more likely to endure and succeed over time. You can read some other brief notes on lessons I have learned about ecosystem restoration here .

Why Location is Key

Where new forests are created is also a key consideration. It is important to remember that forests have a huge impact, not only in their immediate environs but also on broader weather patterns.

To give just one example, a study published in Nature has highlighted the impacts that planting new trees across Europe will have on the continent’s rainfall.

This study highlights an important factor in reforestation and afforestation efforts. Since planting trees can bring additional rainfall, even far from the planting site and in neighbouring countries, all impacts from potential schemes must be considered on a broad scale. Therefore, the location for new tree planting must always be carefully considered.

Of course, planting trees can bring huge benefits, but holistic thinking is essential. It is essential to consider all of the potential impacts, locally and in the broader region, of any reforestation or afforestation scheme.

It is also important to think about where reforestation and afforestation efforts will have the greatest beneficial impacts, and be most successful. Targeting priority locations is key.

Types of Forest

In order to successfully create the forests of the future, we also need to develop a deep understanding of different types of forest ecosystems that we must preserve and/or create.

It can be helpful to identify different forest types based on how they were formed and how long they have existed, as well as their ecology and the species they contain.

Old-Growth Forests

An old-growth or primary forest is defined by the FAO as a naturally regenerated forest of native tree species, with no clearly visible indications of human activity or significant disturbance of its ecological processes.

Half of Western Europe’s forests are estimated to have been cleared before the Middle Ages, while 90% of the old-growth forests that existed in the contiguous United States in the 1600s have been cleared. The global area of primary forest here has decreased by 81 million hectares since 1990.

One positive note is that the rate of loss more than halved between 2010 and 2020 , compared to the previous decade. That said, any rate of loss should be recognised as being unacceptable.

The long period of stability during these forests’ existence means that their ecosystems are richly biodiverse. These forests cannot be quickly replicated through reforestation or afforestation, hence it being so crucial that these precious old-growth forests are conserved and protected.

Managed Forests and Woodlands

While we may often think of our forests and woodlands as being ancient, it is important to appreciate that many have long felt the touch of human hands.

The history of tree cover in the British Isles can help us understand the difference between old-growth forests and long-managed woodlands and forests.

If you lived in the British Isles during the Neolithic period, you would have seen a landscape very different from today’s. In around 3000 BCE, you would have seen an almost endless sea of trees, sometimes referred to as ‘the wildwood’.

essay on deforestation and afforestation

Now, no truly untouched fragments of the wildwood remain in Britain. The massive virgin woodland that once covered our isles is gone. Ancient pockets of woodland do remain, but all bear, in some way, the marks of human interference. Over hundreds of years, the processes of coppicing, woodland management, and conversion to arable land and pasture gradually eroded the wildwood.

It has been estimated that, by the year 1000 CE, only around 20% of Great Britain and Ireland were still forested. The wildwood had shrunk, becoming closer to the pockets of woodland and managed forest that we see today. 1 The same processes have also shaped woodlands and forests elsewhere in the world. 

Therefore, we may not be able to quickly or easily reclaim the wildwood, nor return things to how they once were. But: we can protect existing woodland and forest fragments, and begin to reclaim at least a little of what has been lost. We must also recognise that, in many cases, the ecology of these spaces has evolved alongside humanity, and we can not only benefit from, but also often be a part of such systems.

New, Natural, Native Forests

In the short term, secondary-growth forests are typically the best we can hope for from reforestation and afforestation efforts. These are areas of trees and other plants which have regrown after timber or agricultural clearance.

Today, most of the forests of Europe and of the United States – especially in the eastern part of North America – are secondary forests.

Ecologically, these are neither as rich nor as diverse as old-growth forests. However, they can evolve at least some of the same characteristics over time. Exactly how quickly and effectively newly forested areas can do so depends on location, and the specific strategies employed.

Syntropic Food Forests (Agroforestry)

There is a final type of forest to consider when looking at reforestation and afforestation strategies: food forests. These (and other agroforestry systems) are non-natural, human systems which mimic the ecology and function of natural forests.

As well as replicating the beneficial interactions which occur within a natural, native forest, they incorporate plants specifically chosen for their yields and their beneficial impact on the system as a whole. While these should not be confused with native forests, they can be important in developing strategies to increase forest cover for the future.

Delving Deeper into Forest Types

We can understand more about forests by looking at the different types in more detail, based on climate, location, and species combinations.

The forest category classification system of the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) divides the world’s forests into 26 major types, reflecting climatic zones as well as principal types of trees.

These 26 divisions can be classified into six broader categories: temperate needleleaf, temperate broadleaf and mixed, tropical moist, tropical dry, sparse trees and parkland, and forest plantations.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) also has its own bioregional classification system, identifying a number of broad forest categories and more specific bioregional types.

Of course, specific strategies for halting deforestation, and for reforestation and afforestation, vary depending on the specific forest type and its location. However, we’ll take a look at some major strategies below:

Reforestation and Afforestation Strategies

Reforestation and afforestation strategies must always take into account the protection of old-growth forests and the conservation and management of long-managed ancient forests and woodland, as well as the creation of new forest areas.

Protecting Old-Growth Forests

While we often focus on planting new forests, protecting old-growth forests is also hugely important. It is vital to recognise just how long these ancient forests took to form, and how difficult it is to replicate them.

We cannot quickly create new forests with the same huge impact in terms of the forest benefits mentioned above, and ecological complexity. Depending on location and composition, these old-growth forests take hundreds if not thousands of years to form.

But studying old-growth forests and learning their lessons is key to developing forests of tomorrow which can continue to evolve and develop much-needed syntropy over time.

Looking After and Improving Managed Forest and Woodland Ecosystems

Where forests have evolved alongside humans and been influenced by human agency for hundreds of years, it is important to undertake management which bears this intervention in mind.

Often, these complex ecological systems have developed around human activities, and can be so enmeshed with them that, if they cease to be managed in the same way, their biodiversity and resilience can suffer.

Our native woodlands represent a large, growing, and remarkably multi-purpose renewable resource. But they are not natural, and have been subject to management for centuries, if not millennia. The wildlife communities that survive within them have developed in tune with these historic management regimes.

We cannot always sustain – or would not necessarily want to return to – such historic management, but we do need to develop approaches that sustain the best features of the woodland, and are adapted to our current and future needs.

In order to determine precisely how ancient woodlands and forests must be managed and restored depends in part on their type.

Semi-natural ancient woodlands have typically been used by humans over the centuries – for example, managed for timber and other industries – but have retained their vegetation during this period. It is these ancient woodlands that we can learn from as we seek to create functioning ecological forests and woodlands in the UK.

Active management strategies for ancient woodlands in the British Isles can be found here .

essay on deforestation and afforestation

Typically, ancient woodlands in the UK are defined as areas of woodland that have persisted since 1600 in England and Wales, and 1750 in Scotland. These areas now cover only around 2.5% of the land area and make up 15% of existing woodland.

Also included within this land-area figure are plantations on ancient woodland sites. These are areas where the soils of ancient woodland and some features of their ecology persist, but non-native conifers or hardwood species have been planted between remnants of the ancient woodland species.

These sites must be restored in order to return them to their natural state.

When developing strategies for reforestation and afforestation, it is important to recognise that preserving old-growth and semi-natural ancient woodland and forest ecosystems is the first and most crucial step.

These forests will often provide the seeds for the genesis of new forest projects; we need to study these systems carefully in order to develop the best approach for new woodland and forest creation. 

Creating New, Natural, Native Forest

Where we seek to restore ecologically functioning forest cover, or to create new areas of forest, learning from and mimicking old growth or semi-natural ancient forests or woodlands is key. But actually creating new ecosystems can be a challenge.

That said, it is certainly possible to create incredibly valuable new forest ecosystems in a wide range of different locations. Some key approaches are:

  • Natural forest regrowth (letting nature take the reins)
  • Permaculture reforestation and afforestation/ecosystem restoration
  • Miwaki forest creation
  • Trophic rewilding techniques
  • Agroforestry techniques.

We explore these approaches below:

Natural Forest Regrowth: A Passive Approach

Firstly, it is key to note that, in reforestation, we can sometimes simply sit back and let nature take the reins.

In and around remnants of old growth forest or semi-natural native woodland, it can be possible for an undisturbed site to take on the characteristics of the neighbouring area, and for healthy, ecologically diverse new tree-covered habitat to emerge. 

Sometimes, if we want to see new areas of forest, doing nothing at all can be the best approach. Natural forest regrowth is an area in which interest is increasing: stepping back and removing factors which are preventing natural regrowth from occurring.

However, in many situations, the natural environment has been degraded to such a degree that natural repair and natural forest regrowth or new growth is impossible. In such instances, it may often be necessary to take steps before a forest can truly evolve.

There are several different approaches to spur on and enable the formation of new forest ecosystems.

Permaculture Reforestation and Afforestation

One approach to the problems inherent in creating new forests and woodlands is permaculture ecosystem restoration.

This holistic, design-based approach mimics the stages of naturally forming forests’ evolution – while using human intervention to enable the process to continue, and in certain instances, to short-cut this process. This approach underpins many reforestation and afforestation efforts around the world.

Permaculture practitioners working in ecosystem restoration will often look to the area’s hydrology, and may implement earthworks and other techniques to catch and store water and manage its flow across the site.

They will also often work with the soil, using natural biomass to provide conditions suited to tree growth, and the formation of attendant ecological systems. They may often work to promote a healthy, fungal-dominant soil environment .

Trees and plants will be carefully chosen. Restoration projects will typically begin with pioneer species , including nitrogen fixers which will thrive on the site and pave the way for increasing biodiversity, and which are planted among the native trees selected for the eventual forest.

The permaculture process for restoring or creating native forests can be summarised as follows:

  • Identify an area where new forest establishment would be beneficial
  • Establish details of climate, microclimate, etc, for the specific location
  • Map the terrain, establishing existing vegetation cover and details of sectors, soil, water flow, soils, etc
  • Identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of the site
  • Decide whether active or passive methods are required
  • If a passive approach is best, remove drivers of deforestation or the causes of lack of forest regrowth
  • If active regeneration is required, look at native forest within the specific bioregion, and the historic vegetation of the site; select native tree and under-storey species for inclusion in the new forest
  • Create a holistic, big-picture design tailored to the specific site (however large or small)
  • Undertake earthworks, amend soils, and make other alterations as required
  • Sow, grow, and plant pioneers and key tree and shrub species (seeking to maximise diversity and the number of beneficial interactions within the system)
  • Monitor and collect data from the system as it begins to establish
  • Establish under-storey layers to broaden biodiversity and ecological strength within the system
  • Adapt to change and embrace this as the ecosystem evolves, and, where necessary, consider active management strategies
  • Continue to work towards an ecosystem which will be self-sustaining once established.

Miwaki Forest Creation

If we are to meet reforestation and afforestation targets, we need to look at forest creation in a range of locations and at a range of scales. We can look not only at expanding areas of native forest in rural locations, but also at expanding functional ecological forest right into the heart of our towns and cities.

The Miwaki Forest creation method is a way to create new forests in which interest is steadily growing. This method purportedly speeds up the creation of small, ecologically functioning forests, and is particularly notable for its viability on a small scale in urban environments.

By following a specific process involving engineering soil, microbes, and biomass to kickstart natural growth processes, eco-entrepreneur Shubhendu Sharma uses this method to create ultra-dense, biodiverse mini-forests of native species in urban areas. And as you can see from this video , it is applicable both to Europe and to other regions of the globe.

If you are interested in learning more about this method, you can find more information on this website , and view this free online course of 10 videos .

Trophic Rewilding Techniques for Reforestation and Afforestation

So far, we have focused on techniques which prioritise plant restoration in forest creation. However, there are other strategies which involve going one step further in developing true forests: incorporating the restoration not only of plant species, but also of animal species which have historically played an important role in the maintenance and development of these ecological systems.

As we have already discussed, forests are not solely collections of trees. A forest ecosystem depends not only on the relationships between the plants it contains, but also on the complex interactions between those plants and the animals around them, and the fungal networks and other micro-organisms functioning within the system.

Trophic rewilding techniques focus not only on planting, but on the reintroduction of key animal species (or their proxies, if the original species have become extinct), which shape the environment around them. Reforestation efforts might be aided, for example, by the introduction of large herbivores, ecosystem engineers like beavers, or missing seed dispersers.

Such strategies may provide solutions for the restoration of forest environments and their maintenance, and improve the success of reforestation and afforestation schemes in the long term.

Agroforestry Techniques

Creating a food forest or other agroforestry system is not the same as creating a natural forest. However, in terms of combatting our climate crisis and tackling biodiversity losses, establishing one of these tree-centred ecosystems can have very similar benefits.

essay on deforestation and afforestation

While such systems should never be viewed as a replacement for native forests, they can improve the ecological diversity – particularly of degraded agricultural lands. Such techniques can also help to green cities, while also fighting other issues such as societal injustice and food insecurity.

It is worth noting that by re-centring food production in cities themselves through the creation of smaller forest gardens , and with the use of other strategies, we can potentially free up large areas around those cities for true reforestation, rewilding, and ecosystem restoration. So, by creating ecosystems which mimic natural forests but also provide food and other resources, we can tackle a number of different issues simultaneously.

Creating the Forests of Tomorrow

Creating the forests of tomorrow will take a joined-up effort involving multiple approaches, and taking into account the complexities of global systems and local ecologies.

We need to look at forest conservation, management, and new forest creation at a range of scales – from landscape-scale restoration and rewilding, to regenerative agricultural practices, and small sites in cities and home gardens.

We need to take holistic, ecosystem approaches rather than simply planting trees.

And we need to consider broader ecological, environmental, and societal systems when deciding where and how to implement reforestation and afforestation projects.

The best strategies will always be specific to each climate zone and bioregion, and to specific sites. Some excellent overview guidance for tree-planting initiatives can be found here .

If you would like to be involved in reforestation and afforestation efforts, globally or in the UK, there are several different ways for individuals to get involved:

Creating New Forest or Woodland in a UK Garden

If you have your own garden, planting native forest or woodland vegetation, even over a small area, can be a positive thing to do.

The first step will be to develop a deeper understanding of the site and its characteristics, through study and simple observation. Take a look at the new forest creation methods outlined above and determine the best strategy for your site.

Once you have decided on a method, made a plan, and prepared the site (usually the most important part of the puzzle), it is time to actually get down to the process of planting:

  • Step one: Select native tree species suited to your site and location (the Woodland Trust can help you identify native trees and learn more about them and the other plants, wildlife, and ecological systems in different woodland/forest habitats )
  • Step two: Source trees – or, better yet, consider growing native trees from seed
  • Step three: Plant your trees and native under-storey species
  • Step four: Remember that most active systems will require some care until they become established, though they can be self-sustaining once matured.

Remember that your garden might include both native forest/woodland and productive areas for food and other yields. It does not necessarily have to be either/or.

Supporting Reforestation and Afforestation

Even if you do not have a garden or land which can be used to create forest or woodland, you can still support reforestation and afforestation efforts in the UK, and globally. You can often find opportunities to volunteer with projects in the British Isles and elsewhere, and can also support projects financially even when you cannot physically get involved.

Some great projects to check out include (but are certainly not limited to):

  • Tomorrow’s Forests
  • Trees for Life
  • Rewilding Britain

Interesting French projects include:

  • Permafforest
  • MiniBigForest

And there are of course many other amazing projects to find out about all over Europe and around the world.

Some other examples of ecosystem restoration projects include this project in Somalia, and this project in Cambodia.

The amazing work of John D. Liu also offers excellent examples of permaculture ecosystem restoration, including many excellent projects to support.

Remember, you may also be able to get involved with, or even set up a reforestation or afforestation project in your community. When we work together, and with nature, we can achieve the most amazing things.

Reforestation and afforestation are complex topics, and there are many elements to think about. But we have to do so in order to transition to the better future that we all want to see.

References: Rackham, O. (1976). Trees and Woodland in the British Landscape . JM Dent and Sons, London.

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Afforestation can help to tackle climate change. Here's how

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Forests are carbon sinks; they cycle damaging carbon out of the atmosphere and transform it into biomass through photosynthesis. This slows the impact of climate change Image:  Liam Pozz for Unsplash

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  • Afforestation – establishing a forest on land not previously forested – is one of the most effective means of tackling climate change.
  • Establishing enough tree cover to make a sizeable impact on rising temperatures will require a global effort.
  • For maximum impact, afforestation initiatives must use green energy, and engage the public.

Afforestation is establishing a forest, especially on land not previously forested. It remains one of the most effective means of tackling climate change, particularly when it is designed to rely on green energy. This natural climate solution reduces the impact of desertification, supports ecosystems, and removes CO2 from the atmosphere. It is a countermeasure against deforestation, which has been contributing to climate change dramatically for the last few centuries.

Recently, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimated that 100 billion square meters of forest were cut down each year over the last decade, while tropical deforestation has contributed 8 percent of global carbon emissions .

Have you read?

Investing in trees: global companies are restoring forests, africa’s remaining forests are under pressure: this is no time to sideline forest carbon markets, study: african forests hold more carbon than we thought.

The role of afforestation in climate action

In its August 2021 report , the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), made it clear that deforestation is a direct cause of the increased presence of CO2 in the air over the past decade, a rise incomparable to any other period in the past two million years. Forests are carbon sinks; they cycle damaging carbon out of the atmosphere and transform it into biomass through photosynthesis.

Afforestation can slow the impact of climate change while also addressing other environmental issues, such as barren land and soil erosion. Research from Crowther Lab showed that one trillion new trees could absorb one-third of CO2 emissions made by humans. In fact, an additional 25 percent of forested area could absorb 25 percent atmospheric carbon, making a significant impact on rising temperatures globally.

Afforestation needs an international commitment

Establishing enough tree cover to make a sizeable impact on rising temperatures will require a global effort. Around the world, governments, the private sector, and local communities have started work on some promising projects.

For example, 1t.org aims to grow one trillion trees together with global communities, which would lead to the reduction of approximately 33 percent of global emissions required to meet the Paris Agreement targets. The organization works to motivate, mobilize, and enable private sector afforestation commitments by scaling plans, crowdsourcing solutions, and facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues.

WeForest 's work is spread over three continents and twelve countries. It has the vision of creating “a world where communities and nature sustainably thrive together.” WeForest’s trifold approach includes integrating trees among farmland, performing high-density planting for ecological regeneration, and accelerating the natural recovery of degraded land. In 2020, the organization protected and restored 160 million square meters of forest.

At Hanwha, our Solar Forest is a program initiated ten years ago. It was cited at a general meeting of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in 2011 as the world’s first corporate project using solar energy to fight desertification. This initiative is different from its peers because it uses solar energy to power its nurseries. Solar energy supports the clean water supply, temperature and humidity control, and lighting conditions required to nurture saplings, creating a carbon-neutral forest. Since the program’s launch in 2011, it has created eight forests throughout South Korea, China, and Mongolia and led to the planting of half a million trees in 1.33 million square meters, equivalent to 180 soccer fields.

The second Hanwha Solar Forest pre-afforestation in Ningxia, China, 2013

The program also encourages public engagement: people can plant virtual trees using an app, and in return Hanwha plants real trees in vulnerable areas. 15,000 trees were planted in this way in the 8 th Solar Forest during the pandemic – which means an extra 162 tons of CO­2 will be absorbed every year once the carbon-neutral forest reaches maturity.

Carbon-neutral forests

Ironically, the work of tree-planting – including watering, seasonal climate control, and general maintenance – can rely heavily on fossil fuels. To reach their full potential, it is important, therefore, that afforestation initiatives use green energy. The private sector, governments and the public must design green initiatives to become net-zero, transitioning from fossil fuel use to green energy sources.

Public engagement is another important area of focus, as it serves to amplify climate action efforts. Presenting the public with simple, accessible projects helps give people achievable and realistic ways to take action. After COP26, we need to work together to ensure that trees, and the forests they populate, are replenished and planted mindfully to maintain momentum towards a greener future.

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Deforestation Essay

The deliberate clearance of forested terrain is known as deforestation. Forests have been cleared throughout history and into the present era to make room for agriculture and animal grazing as well as to obtain wood for fuel, manufacture, and construction. Our best opportunity to protect the rights of forest communities and preserve wildlife is to stop this destruction. Here are a few sample essays on the topic ‘Deforestation’.

100 Words Essay On Deforestation

200 words essay on deforestation, 500 words essay on deforestation.

Deforestation Essay

Deforestation is the conversion of a forested area to land that is not forested. Deforestation can refer to natural or man-made causes. When speaking about natural causes, it typically refers to the result of a wildfire. On the other hand, man-made causes of deforestation are almost always the result of logging, both legal and illegal. Since ancient times, forests have played a significant role in human history. They are used for a variety of daily tasks, including producing paper, building ships, housing, and heating fuel. For us and our future generations to enjoy and live a healthy, tranquil existence in a clean environment free of pollution, forests are considered essential.

Deforestation is the large-scale clearance of forests through plant logging or forest fires to satisfy individual requirements. Deforestation can refer to the natural loss of trees, as well as the potential destruction of forests due to the practices of people. The management of the environment's natural equilibrium and the welfare of the entire human race depend greatly on forests. But despite knowing the negative repercussions on society and the environment, people constantly cut down trees. The most common cause of deforestation is the conversion of forested land to agricultural land or other uses.

Agricultural expansion is a major driver of deforestation in many developing countries. In Latin America, for example, small farmers clear forests to create new pastureland or cropland to support their families and communities. In some cases, large-scale commercial agriculture operations drive deforestation. For example, cattle ranching and soybean production are responsible for much of the Amazon rainforest deforestation. Other causes of deforestation include illegal logging, forest fires, and the building of roads and other infrastructure projects in or near forests. The consequences of deforestation are far-reaching and affect both people and the environment. Deforestation can lead to soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and climate change. It also negatively impacts the livelihoods of people who depend on forests for their food, shelter, and income.

Deforestation is the process of converting a forested area to unforested land. Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses. The most common cause of deforestation is conversion of forest land to farms, ranching and urbanization. Other causes include mining, logging and the burning of forests to clear land for palm oil plantations. The effects of deforestation are vast and devastating. It contributes to global warming, as trees play a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Deforestation also increases soil erosion, destroys habitats and decreases biodiversity. Additionally, it can lead to flash flooding and mudslides.

Causes of Deforestation

Clearing For Agriculture | Forested land is cleared for crops or pasture. This is the primary cause of deforestation in many countries, including Indonesia, India, and Brazil.

Cutting Trees For Timber | Trees are cut down for lumber and wood products. This is a major cause of deforestation in most of the countries.

Building Roads And Other Infrastructure | Roads and other forms of development require the clear-cutting of trees and other vegetation. This can lead to deforestation in areas where this development takes place.

Forest Fire | Both natural and human-caused fires can contribute to deforestation. In some cases, forested areas are purposefully set on fire in order to clear the land for other uses.

Effects Of Deforestation

Loss Of Habitat | Deforestation can lead to the loss of habitat for animals, as well as plants. This can threaten species with extinction and disrupt ecosystems. Climate Change | Deforestation can contribute to climate change by releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Additionally, trees play an important role in regulating the climate, so the loss of trees can further contribute to climate change.

Soil Erosion | Without trees to help anchor the soil, deforestation can lead to soil erosion. This can cause problems with flooding and make it difficult to grow crops or grasses in the affected areas.

How To Prevent Deforestation | There are many ways to prevent deforestation.

One way is to support responsible forestry practices that ensure trees are sustainably harvested. Another way is to reduce your consumption of products that contribute to deforestation, such as palm oil. You can also support organisations working to protect forests. By making wise decisions every day, you can contribute to the effort to safeguard forests. We can all contribute to the campaign to safeguard forests by using less, eliminating single-use packaging, eating sustainably, and choosing goods made of recycled or ethically harvested wood.

Deforestation is caused by a variety of factors, including logging, agriculture, and mining. The effects of deforestation are far-reaching and devastating, impacting both the environment and the people who live in it. Deforestation can lead to soil erosion, decreased water quality, loss of biodiversity, and climate change. It also contributes to poverty and social conflict. To prevent deforestation, we must work to protect forests and promote sustainable land use practices. Governments must play a role if we are to reduce deforestation. To live in a future free from severe climate disruption, we need world leaders to support ambitious national and international forest conservation policies based on the most recent scientific research.

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Essay on Deforestation

List of essay on deforestation in english, essay on deforestation – essay 1 (150 words), essay on deforestation – essay 2 (250 words), essay on deforestation – essay 3 (300 words), essay on deforestation: causes and drawbacks – essay 4 (400 words), essay on deforestation: with causes and solution – essay 5 (500 words), essay on deforestation: introduction, impact, control and conclusion – essay 6 (650 words), essay on deforestation: causes and effects – essay 7 (750 words), essay on deforestation: with solution – essay 8 (1000 words).

Introduction:

Deforestation is the process of clearing trees and forest for other uses. Deforestation usually occurs due to city expansion. As habitats increase in cities, there is a need to create more space the for homes, organizations, and factories. This, however, has a damning effect on our environment.

Effect of Deforestation on the Environment:

Deforestation means fewer trees and more land. This has a serious adverse effect on our environment. On one hand, deforestation makes some animals homeless. Animals that survive in the forest might go extinct with less forest. On the other hand, deforestation is also the biggest cause of climate change around the world.

Preventing Deforestation:

Reducing or preventing deforestation is easier said than done. This is because trees are cut down because there is a pressing need to do so. Thus, to prevent deforestation we must try to reduce that need by making smarter choices in paper usage, city planning, migration, etc.

Conclusion:

The essence of plant life in the forest is unquestionable. To ensure a greener environment we must all join the efforts in reducing deforestation.

Deforestation is definitely one of the most troubling of all problems which has plagued our environment. It is important more than ever to take care of the green cover or else it can jeopardize the existence of life on Earth. It is owing to the presence of green trees that we get the oxygen needed to breathe in.

However, because of excessive exploitation by humans, it has been seen that the trees are being cut down mercilessly. This act of cleaning the green cover is known as deforestation.

Educate people:

The best way to handle the problem of deforestation is by making sure that we educate the masses regarding the importance of green cover. When people understand as to how deforestation is leading to grave consequences, they will get the incentive to plant trees rather than uproot them.

Protect the Environment:

As we have continued to exploit the environment in a way that it is hard to get things back to normal, it is now important to immediately start protecting the environment. A lot of natural calamities are occurring these days because the ecosystem balance has been disturbed. Deforestation alone is responsible for a major amount of problems.

So, you need to understand as to how you can come up with ways to excite people about planting more trees and doing their bit for the sake of the environment. Think of your children and grand children. If we continue with our aggressive deforestation campaigns, they are not likely to have a healthy environment for survival. Is that what we really want?

Deforestation can be defined as the removal of trees and clearing of forests for the personal and commercial benefits of human beings. Deforestation has emerged as one of the biggest man-made disasters recently. Every year, more and more trees and vegetation are being erased just to fulfill the various needs of the human race.

Deforestation happens for many reasons. The growing population is one of them. Rising human population needs more area for residential purpose. For this, forests are either burned down or cut to make space for constructing homes and apartments.

Deforestation is also done for commercial purposes. This includes setting up of factories, industries, and towers, etc. The enormous requirements of feeding the human race also create a burden on the land. As a result, clearing land for agricultural purposes leads to deforestation.

Deforestation impacts our earth in several ways. Trees are natural air purifiers. They absorb the carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen into the atmosphere. Deforestation results in uncontrolled air pollution. When there are fewer trees, there is lesser absorption of carbon dioxide and other pollutants.

Deforestation also disturbs the water cycle. Forests absorb the groundwater and release the water vapors to form clouds, which in turn cause rains. Roots of trees hold the soil intact and prevent floods. But when there are no trees, different kinds of natural calamities are bound to happen.

With deforestation, chances of floods, drought, global warming, and disturbed weather cycle all come into the play. Not only that, the disappearance of forests means the extinction of wild animals and plants, which are highly important parts of our ecosystem.

In order to curb these disasters, we must plant more trees. Restoration of existing vegetation is equally essential. Population control is another indirect method to save trees and forest areas.

Deforestation is the process of cutting down of trees and forests completely or partially for different reasons like manufacturing different products with various parts of the tree as raw material, to build structures and other buildings, etc. Deforestation in recent days has become the curse of our world that resulted in the destruction of nature and the environment.

Cause and Drawbacks:

Deforestation is mainly done for making better living assets for humans and this one side thought is the biggest drawback of this issue. Instead of doing only the cutting part humans should practice forestation along with deforestation. Whenever a tree or a forest is cut, another one should be planted at the same place or on other lands to promote the forestation.

Deforestation is the main cause for many natural deficiencies and the destruction of many animal, plant and bird species. If the practice of cutting down trees continues, then eventually even the world may get destructed along with the extinction of the human race.

It’s not like trees shouldn’t be used for any kind of production and urbanization or industrialization shouldn’t be done for the development, but the main factor is to compensate for every minus done. Through this, there will be a balancing between the reduction and plantation which will help, to an extent, in the rectification of problems faced by the world due to deforestation.

Deforestation has also affected the atmospheric air combination. The carbon content in the atmosphere has considerably increased over years due to many human activities like uncontrolled fuel combustion.

Forest has played a massive function of inhaling the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and exhaling oxygen during the daytime while they prepare food for themselves. This process is the reason for maintaining a balanced oxygen and carbon level in the atmosphere and that makes the life of us humans to breathe free.

Population growth is undeniably the major factor behind the increased deforestation level. The increased demand for more assets for better living has increased the need for deforestation as well. In such cases forestation should also be made as a follow-up process.

Controlling the overuse of assets can also help in reducing the deforestation rate. If humans start to use products that use a tree as raw material reasonably then it will help in avoiding deforestation as well. Deforestation not only is a life-threatening scenario for many animals and birds, but also the whole human species.

Deforestation refers to the elimination of plants and trees from a region. Deforestation also includes the clearing of jungles and plants from the region due to the numerous commercial motives.

Different Causes of Deforestation:

The below are the different causes of deforestation:

1. Overgrazing:

Overgrazing in jungles finishes recently renewed development. It makes the soil additional compact and invulnerable. The fertility of the soil also reduces owing to the devastation of organic substance. Overgrazing also results in the desertification and the soil erosion. Deforestation results in decreasing the overall soil’s productivity.

2. Shifting Cultivation:

Numerous agriculturalists destroy the jungle for farming and commercial motives and once productiveness of soil is shattered owing to recurrent harvesting, a fresh forest region is devastated. Hence, farmers must be recommended to utilize a similar area for agriculture and use some upgraded farming techniques and stop the deforestation.

3. Fuel Wood:

The maximum amount of forest is destroyed for the fuel wood. Around 86% of the fuel wood is utilized in rural regions in comparison to the 14% in urban parts and hence lead to more deforestation.

4. Forest Fires:

Recurrent fires in the forest regions are one of the major reasons of deforestation. Few incidents of fires are minor whereas the maximum of them are huge.

The industries related to the plywood and timber is mostly accountable for the deforestation. In fact, the huge demand for wooden things has resulted in the quick reduction of the forest.

6. Industry Establishment:

At times the industrial unit is constructed after deforestation. It means for a small achievement of few people, all other people have to bear a permanent loss. In this procedure, wild animals, valuable plant, and unusual birds get devastated. In fact, it adversely affects the quality of the environment.

7. Violation of Forest:

One more reason of deforestation is a violation by tribal on the land of forest for cultivation and other motives. Even though such type of land has a virtuous support for agriculture creation but still it creates environmental threats.

8. Forest Diseases:

Numerous diseases are instigated by rusts, parasitic fungi, nematodes and viruses that result in demise and deterioration of jungle. Fresh saplings are devastated owing to the occurrence of nematodes. Numerous diseases like blister rust, heart rot, and phloem necrosis, oak will, and Dutch elm, etc. destroy the jungle in large quantities.

9. Landslide:

The landslide lead to the deforestation in the mountains is a question of worry. It happened largely in the regions where growing actions are proceeding for the previous few years. The building of highways and railways mainly in hilly lands as well as the structure of large irrigation plans have resulted in enough deforestation and speeded the natural procedure of denudation.

Worldwide Solution for the Deforestation:

The jungle is an essential natural reserve for any nation and deforestation slow down a nation’s growth. To encounter the necessities of the growing population, simple resources might be attained only with the help of afforestation. It is actually the arrangement of implanting plants for food and food growth. Moreover, the nurseries have a significant part in increasing the coverage of the forest area.

Deforestation is the cutting down of trees. It is basically changing the use of land to a different purpose other than the planting of trees.

There are many reasons which have led to large levels of deforestation all over the world. One of the major causes is ever growing population of the world. With the growth in population, the need for more land to live has been rising. This has further led to cutting down of trees. Also, with modernisation, there has been a substantial increase in the requirement of land for setting up of industries. This has again contributed to deforestation.

Mining is another activity of humans which has led to large-scale deforestation in many areas. The need to build road and rail network in order to increase connectivity to the mines has led to cutting down of trees. This has altered the climatic conditions in these areas.

Deforestation has had a huge impact on the environment. Lack of trees has led to less release of water vapour in the air. This has, in turn, led to the alteration of rainfall patterns in different regions. India is a country which is dependent on monsoon rains for agriculture. Frequent droughts and floods caused due to deforestation have affected the lives of many in different parts of the country.

Moreover, trees absorb the carbon-dioxide from the air and help to purify it. Without trees around us, the presence of harmful gases in the air has been rising. This has also led to global warming which is again a major environmental concern. Also, the ever-rising pollution level, especially in many cities in India is due to vast deforestation only.

Additionally, trees bind the soil around them and prevent soil erosion. Deforestation has led to the soil being washed away with winds and rain, making the land unfit for agriculture. Also, trees and forests are the homes to different species of wildlife. With shrinking forests, several of the wildlife has become extinct as they were not able to cope with the changing conditions. Also, there have been increased man and wildlife conflicts in recent times as the animals are forced to venture in the cities in search of food. All these are severe effects of deforestation and need urgent attention by all.

The Perfect Example:

New Delhi is the capital of India. There was once a time when Delhi was a beautiful city. But with modernisation, increase in population, deforestation and mining in the nearby Aravalli hills, Delhi has been reduced to a gas chamber. Such is the impact the Delhi has become one of the most polluted cities in the world. What better example can be there to understand what deforestation has led us to?

There are many ways in which we can reduce deforestation. We must protect our forests. Moreover, we must mark adequate land for our farming needs. There are some laws already in place which prohibit people from unnecessary felling of trees. What needs to be done is the proper execution of the rules so that everyone abides by it. Also, stricter punishments need to be in place for violators so as to deter other people from disobeying the laws. Alternatively, people need to ensure that for every tree felled, equal numbers of trees are planted so that the balance of nature can be maintained. Summarily, it has to be a collective duty of all and just the governments alone, if we really need to reduce deforestation.

It is true that we all need space to live. With the ever-growing population and urbanisation, there has been more than ever need to cut trees and make space. However, we must realise that it is not possible for us to live without having trees around us. Trees bring so many benefits such as giving us oxygen, utilising the harmful carbon dioxide and so many products we need in our daily lives. Without trees around us, there would be no life on the earth. We should all do the needful to protect trees and reduce deforestation.

Deforestation is also known as clearing or clearance of trees. It can be said to mean removal of strands of trees or forests and the conversion of such area of land to a use that is totally non-forest in nature. Some deforestation examples are the converting of areas of forest to urban, ranches or farms use. The area of land that undergoes the most deforestation is the tropical rainforests. It is important to note that forests cover more than 31 percent in total land area of the surface of the earth.

There are a lot of different reasons why deforestation occurs: some tree are being cut down for building or as fuel (timber or coal), while areas of land are to be used as plantation and also as pasture to feed livestock. When trees are removed with properly replacing them, there can as a result be aridity, loss of biodiversity and even habitat damage. We have also had cases of deforestation used in times of war to starve the enemy.

Causes of Deforestation:

It has been discovered that the major and primary deforestation cause is agriculture. Studies have shown that about 48 percent of all deforestation is as a result of subsistence farming and 32 percent of deforestation is as a result of commercial agriculture. Also, it was discovered that logging accounts for about 14% of the total deforestation and 5% is from the removal for fuel wood.

There has been no form of agreement from experts on if industrial form of logging is a very important contributing factor to deforestation globally. Some experts have argued that the clearing of forests is something poor people do more as a result of them not having other alternatives. Other experts are of the belief that the poor seldom clear forests because they do not have the resources needed to do that. A study has also revealed that increase in population as a result of fertility rates that are very high are not a major driver of deforestation and they only influenced less than 8% of the cases of deforestation.

The Environmental Effects of Deforestation:

Deforestation has a lot of negative effects on our planet and environment.

A few of the areas where it negatively affects our environment are discussed below:

i. Atmospheric Effect:

Global warming has deforestation as one of its major contributing factors and deforestation is also a key cause of greenhouse effect. About 20% of all the emission of greenhouse gases is as a result of tropical deforestation. The land in an area that is deforested heats up quicker and it gets to a temperature that is higher than normal, causing a change in solar energy absorption, flow of water vapours and even wind flows and all of these affects the local climate of the area and also the global climate.

Also, the burning of plants in the forest in order to carry out clearing of land, incineration cause a huge amount of carbon dioxide release which is a major and important contributor to the global warming.

ii. Hydrological Effect:

Various researches have shown that deforestation greatly affects water cycle. Groundwater is extracted by trees through the help of their roots; the water extracted is then released into the surrounding atmosphere. If we remove a part of the forest, there will not be transpiration of water like it should be and this result in the climate being a lot drier. The water content of the soil is heavily reduced by deforestation and also atmospheric moisture as well as groundwater. There is a reduced level of water intake that the trees can extract as a result of the dry soil. Soil cohesion is also reduced by deforestation and this can result in landslides, flooding and erosion.

iii. Effect on Soil:

As a direct result of the plant litter on the surface, there is a minimal and reduced erosion rate in forests largely undisturbed. Deforestation increases the erosion rate as a result of the subsequent decrease in the quantity of cover of litter available. The litter cover actually serves as a protection for the soil from all varieties of surface runoff. When mechanized equipments and machineries are used in forestry operations, there can be a resulting erosion increase as a result of the development of roads in the forests.

iv. Effect on Biodiversity:

There is a biodiversity decline due to deforestation. Deforestation can lead to the death and extinction of a lot of species of animals and plants. The habitat of various animals are taken away as a result of deforestation.

The total coverage of forests on the earth’s landmass is 30 percent and the fact the people are destroying them is worrying. Research reveals that majority of the tropical forests on earth are being destroyed. We are almost at half the forest landmass in destruction. How would earth look life without forests? It will be a total disaster if deforestation is encouraged. Deforestation is a human act in which forests are permanently destroyed in order to create settlement area and use the trees for industries like paper manufacture, wood and construction. A lot of forests have been destroyed and the impact has been felt through climate change and extinction of animals due to destruction of the ecosystem. The impacts of deforestation are adverse and there is need to prevent and control it before it can get any worse.

Deforestation is mainly a human activity affected by many factors. Overpopulation contributed to deforestation because there is need to create a settlement area for the increasing number of people on earth and the need for urbanization for economic reasons. Recently, population has greatly risen in the world and people require shelter as a basic need. Forests are destroyed in order for people to find land to build a shelter and then trees are further cut to build those houses. Overpopulation is a major threat to the forest landmass and if not controlled, people will continue to occupy the forests until there is no more forest coverage on earth.

Another factor influencing deforestation is industrialization. Industries that use trees to manufacture their product e.g. paper and wood industries have caused major destruction of forests. The problem with industries is the large-scale need for trees which causes extensive deforestation. The use of timber in industries is a treat to forests all over the world. In as much as we need furniture, paper and homes, it is not worth the massive destruction of our forests.

Fires are also a cause of deforestation. During episodes of drought, fire spreads widely and burns down trees. The fire incidences could result from human activities like smoking or charcoal burning in the forests. Drought due to adverse weather changes in global warming is a natural disaster that claim the lives of people and living things.

Agricultural activities such as farming and livestock keeping also cause deforestation because of the land demand in those activities. Deforestation for farming purpose involves clearing all the vegetation on the required land and using it for and then burring the vegetation hence the name ‘slash and burn agriculture’. The ranches required for cattle keeping among other livestock require a large area that is clear from trees.

Impacts of Deforestation:

Deforestation has a great impact on the ecosystem in different ways. Climate change is influenced by deforestation because trees influence weather directly. Trees usually act to protect against strong winds and erosion but in its absence, natural disasters like floods and storms could be experienced. Also, tree are important in replenishing the air in the atmosphere. Trees have the ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen. Without trees, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will be increased. Because carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, it causes global warming.

Global warming is a serious environmental issue that causes adverse climatic changes and affects life on earth. Extreme weather conditions like storms, drought and floods. These weather conditions are not conducive for humans and other living things on earth. Natural disasters as a result of global warming are very destructive both to animate and inanimate objects in the environment.

Loss of species due to deforestation has negatively affected biodiversity. Biodiversity is a highly valued aspect of life on earth and its interruption is a loss. There is a loss of habitat for species to exist in as a result of deforestation and therefore species face extinction. Extinction of some rare species is a threat we are currently facing. Animals that live and depend on forest vegetation for food will also suffer and eventually die of hunger. Survival has been forced on animals of the jungle due to deforestation and that is why human wildlife conflict is being experienced.

The water cycle on earth is negatively affected by deforestation. The existence of water vapor in the atmosphere is maintained by trees. Absence of trees cause a reduced vapor retention in the atmosphere which result in adverse climate changes. Trees and other forest vegetation are important in preventing water pollution because they prevent the contaminated runoff into water sources like rivers, lakes and oceans. Without trees, pollution of water is more frequent and therefore the water will be unsafe for consumption by human and animals.

Solutions to Deforestation:

Based on the serious impact of deforestation, it is only safe if solutions are sought to end this problem. The ultimate solution is definitely restoration of the forest landmass on earth. The restoration can be done by encouraging the planting of trees, a process called reforestation. Although reforestation will not completely solve the impacts of deforestation, it will restore a habitat for the wild animals and slowly restore the ecosystem. Major impacts like concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere require another approach. Human activities that contribute to carbon dioxide gas emission to the atmosphere have to be reduced through strict policies for industries and finding alternative energy sources that do not produce greenhouse gases.

Another solution is public awareness. People have to be made aware that deforestation has negative effects so that they can reduce the act. Through awareness, people can also be taught on ways of reducing the population e.g., family planning. On World Environment Day, people are encouraged to participate in activities like tree planting in order to conserve environment and that is how the awareness takes place.

In conclusion, deforestation is a human activity that is destructive and should be discouraged. Environmental conservation is our responsibility because we have only one earth to live in.

Deforestation , Environment , Forests

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  • Deforestation Essay for Students in English

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Essay on Deforestation

Deforestation is a removal or clearing of trees and forest which is converted into use for human, like for agricultural use, making houses, for commercial purpose and other development. About 31% of earth’s land surface is covered by forest, just over 4 billion hectares area and about 71.22 million hectares area of India’s total land is covered by forest. Deforestation is more extreme in the tropical and subtropical forests. These areas are converted into economical uses. The total area of tropical rain forest on Earth is about 16 million square kilometres but because of deforestation, only 6.2 square kilometres are left. According to the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, the global rate of net forest loss in 2010-2020 was 7 million hectares per year.

Causes of Deforestation

The primary reason for deforestation is agricultural. According to FAQ, agriculture leads to around 80% of deforest. For the survival of the livelihood, the farmer cut trees of the forest and use that land for the purpose of cultivation. Due to the increasing population, the demand of food product is also increasing, because of this large amount of land is needed for the cultivation of crops hence farmers are bounded to cut down the forest to grow crops on that land.

Apart from this, the demand for paper, match-sticks, furniture, etc. are also increasing. Therefore the wood-based industries needs a substantial amount of wood supply to make this product. Paper plays an important role in everyone life. The paper is thrown away every year like to make accounts for approximately 640 million trees. That’s why it is said that we always have to recycle paper. Wood is used as fuel, many people cut trees and burn them for the purpose to make food. Wood is also used as coal. In every house, there is a wooden door, window and many more things. These things create a very large demand for wood which results in the cause of deforestation.

Further, to gain access to these places, the construction of roads is undertaken. Trees are again cut to build roads. The expansion of cities is also responsible for the cutting of trees, this expansion of cities is directly responsible for the growing population, people of these places need houses, roads and other facilities so that they cut trees for their livelihood.

Many industries in petrochemicals release their waste into rivers, which result in soil erosion and make it unfit to grow plants and trees on these places. The oil and coal mining requires a large amount of forest land. The waste that comes out from mining pollutes the environment and affects other species.

Another reason is forest fire. Thousands of trees every year lost by a forest fire. The reason for forest fire is the hot temperature of that place and milder winter. On many places, the fire is caused because of human’s irresponsibilities. Fires, either caused by human or by nature, results in a massive amount of loss of forest covers.

We all know that the population of the world is increasing rapidly, which is also a reason behind deforestation. People cut down trees and on that place they make houses.

Effect of Deforestation

Forest are the lungs of our planet. Trees take carbon dioxide and release oxygen which is responsible for our living. Trees also provide shed to soil because of which soil remain moist. Trees also release water vapours, that’s why climate remains humid but due to the process of deforestation the climate becomes drier and hotter which make ecology difficult that leads to climate change. Also, this factor is mainly responsible for the forest fire.

Animal and plants which form flora and fauna across the world have to suffer due to the deforestation. Various animal species are lost, they loos their habitat and forced to move to a new location. It is very difficult for them to adopt new habitats. The cutting of trees is responsible for soil erosion. The fertile soil is held in place by intricate root structures of many layers of trees. Without trees, erosion often occurs and sweeps the land into nearby rivers. With the cutting of trees the soil is directly exposed to the sun which dries them dry. Deforestation is mainly responsible for floods, loss of biodiversity, food ecosystem, wildlife extinction and habitat loss.

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FAQs on Deforestation Essay for Students in English

Question 1:- How Deforestation is Responsible for Land Degradation?

Answer:-Trees provide shed to soil because of which soil remain humid. Also, the fertile soil is held in place by intricate root structures of many layers of trees. When the trees are cut down then the soil becomes loose and also there is no shed for soil which results in soil erosion. So, we concluded that trees prevent soil erosion and thus land degradation.

Question 2:- What are the Causes of Deforestation?

Answer:- There are several reasons for deforestation like agriculture, logging, cattle ranching, for making furniture from wood, constriction of roads and forest fire.

Question 3:- Where is the Largest Rainforest Located in the World?

Answer:- The largest rainforest is the Amazon Basin in South America.

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Essay on Afforestation for Students in English [Easy Words]

January 6, 2021 by Sandeep

Essay on Afforestation: The creation or establishment of a forest- like land in an area with no tree cover is called Afforestation. Nongovernmental organisations usually conduct these drives to plant more saplings and trees to protect our environment. Through Afforestation, forests could be expanded, resulting in more rainfall and extensive green cover. Afforestation benefits include preservation of biodiversity and ecology, rivers and wildlife.

Essay on Afforestation 500 Words in English

We have provided Afforestation Essay in English, suitable for class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10.

Afforestation is the creation of a forest or tree stand in a region where no earlier vegetation cover existed. Forests provide us with oxygen and are an essential condition for survival. Our country’s population increase has contributed to a decrease in the forest area. The forests that purify the air were cut down, and new towns and factories were built in their place. Not only has this impacted the world, but it has also affected us the most because we have disrupted the balance of nature that was important to our survival. Hence, recognising the value of afforestation is the need of the hour. March 21st is the UN International Day of Forests, which promotes forest and trees’ importance in our lives. Also, Van Mahotsav is an annual one week tree planting festival in India, celebrated in the 1st week of July.

Significance of Afforestation

“Afforestation” is important in India, as rapid deforestation occurs in many areas where new industries and urbanisation are emerging. The Western Ghats in India are renowned for their lush green mountains, beautiful rice fields, waterfalls and blooming environment. Due to the factories and heavy construction work, these mountain valleys are continually eroding. Widespread deforestation has led to devastating flooding and landslides. It is also possible to quote the value of “afforestation” for forest protection to safeguard the wildlife. The wild animals face a dearth of inhabitable forest regions and the land is being cleared for agricultural and industrial purposes.

Economic Importance of Afforestation

Forests are a source of renewable energy and contribute significantly to economic growth. They play a significant role in improving environmental sustainability. As per the 2007 assessment, the country’s forest cover is 690,899 km 2 which is 21.02 percent of its geographical area. Very dense forest forms 83,510 km 2 (2.54 percent), moderately dense forest for 319,012 km 2 (9.71 percent) and open forest forms 288,377 km 2 (8.77 percent) of the geographical area protected by the scrub for 41,525 km 2 (1.26 per cent).

Benefits of Afforestation

Forests are providing raw materials for pulp, panel goods, matching wood and other wood industry. Forests are also a source of various minor but essential items such as bamboo, canes, grasses, essential oils, medicinal plants, lacquer, resins, fatty oils, fats, gum, tanning content, painting, animal products, etc. Any of these goods are precious foreign currency earners. Forests play a crucial role in our country’s economy. They produce a range of forest products, major and small. Timber and firewood are big items.

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Essay on Afforestation : Meaning, Advantages, Importance

February 25, 2018 by Study Mentor Leave a Comment

Afforestation means establishing the stand of trees or a forest in a particular open area where no one had established a tree in past.

Reforestation means reestablishment of the area under forest, it can be done by natural means (like seeding, root suckers or coppice) or by artificial efforts (by planting or direct seeding).

Forestation means establishing the growth of forest on those areas which either has forest once a while or lacked it. Both afforestation and reforestation are main categories of forestation.

Many governmental or non-governmental institutes and organizations participate directly in programs which are related to afforestation in order to create forests or to increase number of trees.

Trees help to increase carbon sequestration and carbon capture which will ultimately help to improve our ecosystem.

According to the survey in the UK, growing trees for afforestation means that it converts the legal status of that land to royal forest. Special tools like tree planting bar are being utilized to make plantation faster and easier.

Biological Process

Gap dynamics or Biological process is a kind of pattern which related with the plant growth which is considered in creation of forest gap.

Gap dynamics are generally known for tropical and temperate forests, which have various effects and causes on the life of forest.

Table of Contents

Area containing degraded soil

Afforestation Notice Board

For example, areas like arid zones, land becomes dry and inhospitable to grow new trees if forest is destroyed completely.

Other factors which cause destruction of forest are overgrazing by livestock, mainly by the animals such as cows, goats and unstoppable harvesting of the resources of forest.

Altogether will result in desertification and destruction of topsoil and without soil, no one can grow forest until the soil formation process gets completed which is of very long duration.

In tropical areas, forest removal may result in duripan and duricrust that will effectively seal off the water penetration into the soil and which prevents the root growth.

In certain areas, nowadays reforestation is becoming impossible as human beings are using this land and in other areas, duripans and duricrusts breaking is necessary mechanically in which continued and careful watering is essential.

New growing trees or plants need special protection from outer attack. It can be done by using fencing.

Afforestation Essay PDF Download

Situation in India

India witnessed a small increase in the total land area under the forest region between 1950 and 2006.

In 1950 it was around 40 million hectare land which was covered by forest. In 1980, after 30 years it was increased to 67 million hectare. In 2006 it was around 69 million hectares.

Nearly 23% of Indian land is covered under forest. The forests in India are grouped into 5 categories and 16 different types are based on biophysical criteria.

Among 23% of land 38% forest is categorized under subtropical dry deciduous and other 30% is known as tropical moist deciduous and other group which are small in size.

It is always under consideration that local species should be planted in an area.

Trees providing fruits to living beings and trees releasing ample amount of oxygen or sucking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere are preferred because these are major reason for living being survival.

Afforestation and its Importance

India is a developing and emerging country in which controlling the carbon emission is a challenging issue for policy makers.

As per the current scenario, industrialization is required to create jobs to tackle the unemployment among youths which helps to increase the overall GDP and per capita income.

In order to satisfy the large power plants and industries, large areas are required to set up. In past years deforestation has increased for the creating:

  • By developing Infrastructure for like Airports, Dam, National Highways
  • Coming of major Industrial Giants such as consumer goods, steel, power
  • Deforestation has been extensively carried out for the purpose of mining minerals, metals, coal
  • Gas exploration
  • Creating and establishing Thermal power plants

Some of the major advantages of Afforestation are

  • It provides and preserves the natural habitat of wild animals in forest. Afforestation helps to strike a balance between living beings and ecosystem.
  • It helps to prevent floods and soil erosion
  • It ensures a constant supply of wood whose demand is increasing with each passing day.
  • It helps to protect the climatic changes as well.

But if all the different areas of industries will grow at this pace then deforestation will destroy the natural habitat for animals, insects and human beings.

So pace should be maintained for deforestation and afforestation such that level should be maintained between both.

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Afforestation And Deforestation (Essay Sample)

Deforestation is the clearing of the trees. This is usually committed due to illegal logging and industrialization. Most of the land areas are converted into commercial and residential buildings. There are countries that are committing deforestation: Ecuador, Haiti, Nepal, North Korea, Indonesia, Ghana, Benin, Philippines, Nigeria and Honduras. Most of this countries are covered by forest but have drastically deforested over the years. Not only that there is deforestation, no trees are planted back to the land where there was.

To prevent the effects of deforestation, afforestation may be done. Afforestation is the planting of the trees in a land that has never been planted before. It is very rare for afforestation to take place. In the world today, most lands are used for industrialization – housing projects. Also, lands are classified into agricultural or commercial. Most of the lands were good for agriculture, until the nutrients of it are used; then it is converted into a commercial land. At present, because of the continuous booming of the population, there are less land areas that may be afforested. However, there are some countries who have done afforestation.

Ireland has only ten percent (10%) of forest. Their government subsidizes the forestry one hundred percent. This means the citizens are encouraged to build forests that is paid by the government but the forester must follow the standards of the government in order for it to be qualified under its subsidy. The grant is for 15 years and is income tax free.

India also has passed a law called Compensatory Afforestation Fund. This was drafted in 2015, and the bill plans to spend $6.2 billion to increase the forest cover from 21.34% to 33%.

For afforestation to take place, it needs study and process because the land may not be suitable for planting. Nonetheless, afforestation is done prevent soil erosion. Soil erosion happens when the topsoil wear away due to water or wind. The plants keep the soil intact; hence the soil is prevented from eroding.

There is a process to afforestation. Most importantly is the soil survey. The soil must be studied in order to know what kind of plants may planted in it. Next step is the biomass survey. Here the species that may live in the prospective forest is determined. This is to know what needs to be done to protect the ecology that will be created. The seedlings are first prepared before actually planting to the actual site. Afforestation takes a while before the society will benefit from such.

Our forests are important to protect the Earth from the effects of global warming. Deforestation is one of the main cause why the effects of it are increasing every year. No trees are absorbing the carbon dioxide emitted by the society. There are also no trees that will serve as a shade to the land. Flood will continue to damage the cities because there are no trees holding the water coming from the mountains affected by the deforestation. Worse than the flooding are the soil eroding whenever there are strong rains that may cause deaths of people.

The effects of the global warming is increasing and the planting of the trees takes time. There are several NGOs and government entities who are giving importance to the forest. This is by putting stringent policies with regard to the cutting of trees and planting back the forests. More than action, the government must educate the society of the importance of the forests to prevent the damaging effects of the deforestation.

India and Ireland has already set the best example for the rest of the country. The number one catalyst of the forestation is the government.

essay on deforestation and afforestation

CRIME CARTEL

Dubai property portfolio calls into question effectiveness of sanctions on kinahan cartel leader, experts say.

Caoimhe Robinson, wife of accused drug kingpin Daniel Kinahan, has bought and sold properties in Dubai as he faces U.S. sanctions, the Dubai Unlocked investigation reveals.

essay on deforestation and afforestation

I n 2023, Caoimhe Robinson bought a 20,569-square-foot villa, still under construction, for about $2.1 million in an upscale section of Dubai, close to Zayed University. Even unfinished, the structure’s white walls, arched doorways and red roof call to mind an elegant Mediterranean retreat, one befitting an area that one real estate website describes as “a true lifestyle destination.”

The villa is one slice of the Dubai property portfolio of Robinson and her husband, Irish boxing promoter Daniel Kinahan, who is accused of running a deadly global drug cartel.

Newly available documents show that Robinson has been buying and selling property in Dubai — even after the U.S. in 2022 hit Daniel; his father, Christopher Kinahan, his brother, Christopher Kinahan Jr.; and several of their associates with sanctions for alleged international drug smuggling and money laundering.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is also offering a $5 million reward for information leading to Daniel Kinahan’s arrest.

A set of three posters offering $5 million rewards each for Christopher Kinahan Jr, Daniel Kinahan and Christopher Kinahan Sr.

Kinahan is not the only suspected crime boss living in Dubai. The United Arab Emirates’ opaque financial system and lack of extradition treaties have made the country a magnet for some of the world’s most dangerous criminals and individuals evading sanctions. His wife’s property transactions show how easy it can be to get around sanctions.

An analysis of leaked property records and Dubai land records shows that as recently as 2022, Kinahan and his wife were listed as the owners of a combined total of four properties in Dubai, with Robinson selling at least one held in her name a few months ago.

In February, Robinson sold a luxury four-bedroom apartment in the fashionable Elite Residences skyscraper, overlooking Dubai Marina, for $1 million.

Photo of a man in the lobby of a building with hard floors and artwork on the walls.

In 2018, Robinson bought an apartment in Al Mesk Tower, one of six residential skyscrapers of the Dubai Marina complex. Dubai land records show that Ian Dixon, one of Daniel Kinahan’s closest associates, had been renting the apartment since at least May 2017. Dixon had been paying nearly $40,000 a year to rent the one-bedroom property before Robinson bought it.

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned him for providing financial and technological support for Kinahan’s narcotics trafficking.

Robinson’s name also appears in the property data as a controlling party of an additional two properties: a villa in the Parkway Vistas development and another villa in the elite Emirates Hills neighborhood. Those properties were sold in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists couldn’t independently verify whether she was their actual owner, and they are not included in the tally of properties the couple own in Dubai.

Robinson has fought to keep the unfinished Mediterranean-style villa she bought in 2023.

The property was seized after she bought it and put up for auction as part of a separate legal dispute between the previous owner and another party. Robinson took the previous owner to court and had her ownership rights to the property reinstated; the auction did not take place. She was also awarded about $500,000 in compensation, according to court and tax records obtained by The Irish Times and ICIJ.

Screenshot of property auction website showing watermarked image of a white, Mediterranean style villa labeled as Under Construction.

Daniel Kinahan had a separate spat over an office he bought in 2017. Located inside the glittering Jumeirah Bay X3 Tower, the office overlooks the dazzling Dubai skyline and is minutes from the lush greenery of the Emirates Golf Club. It is the former headquarters of two of his businesses: MTK Global, the now-defunct boxing and mixed martial arts promoter, and Ducashew General Trading . The Dubai land registry indicates that, in November 2023, Kinahan was blocked from selling the office because of a rental dispute and overdue service charges of $16,784. The records don’t say who blocked the sale.

In response to U.S. sanctions, authorities in the UAE froze Kinahan’s assets and blocked the sale of property owned by the Kinahan family members and companies under sanctions. But the sanctions don’t include some spouses and partners, which makes them less effective.

For example, the U.S. sanctioned Nero Drinks Co. Ltd., a U.K.-based alcoholic beverage company owned or controlled indirectly by John Morrissey, another close Kinahan associate. U.S. authorities say that John Morrissey has given a significant portion of the business to Daniel Kinahan to compensate for drugs seized by law enforcement, ICIJ reported in 2022. But the primary owner of Nero Drinks was Nicola Morrissey, who is married to John Morrissey and whom U.S. authorities say he uses as a front person; she has not been sanctioned.

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The U.S. has also not sanctioned Robinson. The Treasury Department did not respond to requests for comment on its decision not to sanction her.

Asked about Robinson’s property transactions in Dubai, officials from An Garda Síochána, Ireland’s national police service, said they do not comment on named individuals who have not been or are subject to sanctions or arrest warrants as part of the international operation against the Kinahan Organized Crime Gang.

William McMurry, who served in the FBI’s New York office for 24 years and now heads W1 Global, a consulting firm that specializes in complex financial crimes, including fraud, corruption and money laundering, told ICIJ that the Kinahan cartel sanctions may be too limited.

It isn’t rocket science to note that the Kinahan cartel is a family business and the liquidation of assets in a secrecy jurisdiction like Dubai by the wife of the alleged chief of the cartel is likely to benefit them both. — financial crimes consultant William McMurry

McMurry said that sanctions deployed too broadly could draw legitimate criticism that they punished individuals or companies unfairly but the Kinahan cartel sanctions appeared to present almost the reverse problem: they may be too narrow to be fully effective.

“I believe that sanctions can improve behavior but knowing how far to cast the net requires a delicate balance because their ramifications are lasting and every case is different,” McMurry said.

“Regardless, it isn’t rocket science to note that the Kinahan cartel is a family business and the liquidation of assets in a secrecy jurisdiction like Dubai by the wife of the alleged chief of the cartel is likely to benefit them both.

“Setting the Kinahan case further apart is the fact that Daniel Kinahan, his father, his brother and their close associates are facing grave allegations of criminality by several governments,” he said.

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Roy McComb, former deputy director of the U.K.’s National Crime Agency, also questioned the U.S. decision to exclude Robinson from the punitive action.

“Any opportunity for organized criminals to launder criminal property should be challenged,” McComb said.

Robinson’s property transactions came to light as part of Dubai Unlocked , a six-month investigation into the UAE’s booming and secretive property market led by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) together with more than 70 media partners, including ICIJ and The Irish Times . The investigation shows how oligarchs and criminals bought real estate in some of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the Middle East.

It is based on newly leaked property records dated from January 2022, which were obtained by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS) , a U.S. nonprofit organization, and shared with E24 , a Norwegian news outlet, ICIJ and other news media.

The property records at the heart of Dubai Unlocked come from multiple leaks totaling more than 100 datasets, mostly from the Dubai Land Department, plus publicly owned utility companies.

The new investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and more than 70 media partners, led by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project , shows how one of the Middle East’s most exclusive real estate markets became a hot spot for ill-gotten wealth. The data was obtained by the U.S. nonprofit Center for Advanced Defense Studies and shared with Norwegian news outlet E24 , then ICIJ and other partners.

Taken together, the leaked property records, mostly from 2020 and 2022, provide a detailed overview of hundreds of thousands of properties in Dubai and information about their ownership or usage. Economists at the EU Tax Observatory and Norway’s Centre for Tax Research who analyzed the data estimated foreign-owned residential properties in Dubai were worth $160 billion in 2022.

ICIJ and its partners used identifying information — such as names, nationalities, dates of birth and passport numbers — to confirm ownership. Reporters also obtained the deeds for some of the properties from the Dubai Land Department. A second tranche of property and transaction data from Dubai reveals additional information about the buying and selling of properties as well as rental incomes.

Dubai Unlocked is part two of a cross-border investigation into Dubai real estate purchased with illicit funds. ICIJ did not participate in part one of the project, Dubai Uncovered, published in May 2022.

The UAE authorities did not respond to the reporters’ specific questions but defended the country’s commitment to the fight against financial crimes. In an emailed statement to ICIJ’s U.K. media partner, The Times, an official with the UAE’s British embassy said that the “UAE takes its role in protecting the integrity of the global financial system extremely seriously,” and that the country “works closely with international partners to disrupt and deter all forms of illicit finance.”

essay on deforestation and afforestation

Irish drug gang goes global

The Kinahan crime cartel emerged in Dublin in the late 1990s and has since expanded internationally, now operating in the U.K., Spain and the UAE. The cartel has been linked to at least 20 killings in Europe, according to Europol, the European Union’s police agency. The gang set up hundreds of companies, many reportedly in the food and real estate industries, to hide and move huge quantities of cash made from selling drugs.

The Kinahans fled Dublin after the infamous 2016 assassination attempt on Daniel Kinahan at the Regency Hotel. In 2017 Kinahan and Robinson threw a lavish wedding party in Dubai. (Robinson’s previous partner, gang boss Micka “The Panda” Kelly, was shot and killed in Dublin in 2011 in a gang-related attack.)

essay on deforestation and afforestation

Guests at the secret celebration, held at the exclusive Burj al Arab hotel, included crime bosses from all over the world who authorities allege, along with Kinahan, had formed a “super cartel.” Among them were Dutch mobsters Ridouan Taghi, accused assassin and ringleader of the Angels of Death gang, and Naoufal Fassih; Dutch-Chilean gangster Ricardo Riquelme Vega, aka El Rico; and Italian Camorra crime boss Raffaele Imperiale, according to news reports.

Undercover DEA agents also attended, and some of the guests were later arrested. Taghi was extradited back to the Netherlands in 2019, stood trial and in February 2024 was convicted of murder, firearms offenses and aggravated robbery, and sentenced to life in prison. Imperiale was arrested in Dubai in August 2021 and extradited to Italy in March 2022.

Meanwhile, Daniel Kinahan’s father, Christopher, tried to set up a home and a business in Africa. In 2022, ICIJ reported that several companies controlled by the Kinahan cartel attempted to buy nine aircraft from the Egyptian military in 2020. But the deal fell apart.

The Irish national police have said they are negotiating a deal with the UAE to extradite the Kinahans to Ireland to stand trial.

Conor Gallagher is a reporter with The Irish Times.

Contributing reporter: Jérémie Baruch (Le Monde)

  • Biology Difference Between
  • Difference Between Afforestation And Deforestation

Difference Between Afforestation and Deforestation

Since the Industrial revolution, deforestation has accelerated worldwide and it has adversely impacted our environment. From rising sea levels to global warming and the greenhouse effect, deforestation has had an adverse impact on our planet. One of the best solutions to deforestation is afforestation.

Deforestation has a great negative impact on the environment. The most dramatic impact is a loss of trees, forests drive climate change, and several other problems have risen in the ecosystem .

Difference Between Afforestation and Deforestation

What is the Difference Between Afforestation and Deforestation?

The difference between afforestation and deforestation are summarized below:

Also Refer: Reforestation – Planting Trees

The human population has been ever-growing since the 1800s when the recorded population was one billion. It is estimated that the population will touch 8.6 billion by 2030 and grow even more in the next century. These factors suggest that deforestation cannot be completely eliminated but hopefully, be controlled to an extent. Afforestation helps to maintain equilibrium and prevent upsetting the natural forces at play.

Stay tuned with BYJU’S to know more about afforestation, deforestation and their differences.

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Can timber construction overcome its growing pains?

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A tradesman works on the framework of a new house on the outskirts of Melbourne

  • Replacing products like concrete and steel with mass timber could reduce global CO2 emissions by 14-31%
  • Ability to construct off site, strength and flexibility among benefits of using mass timber
  • Barriers to adoption include concerns about fire safety, sustainability of wood, availability and cost
  • But proponents say mass timber behaves predictably in fires, and certifications ensure sustainability
  • Countries are implementing policies to incentivise timber use, such as mandatory targets and subsidies

The Centro Direzionale di Napoli train station and subway

Catherine Early is a freelance journalist specialising in the environment and sustainability. She writes for Business Green, China Dialogue and the ENDS Report, among others. She was a finalist in the Guardian’s International Development Journalism competition.

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U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday unveiled steep tariff increases on an array of Chinese imports, including electric vehicle (EV) batteries, computer chips and medical products.

The U.S. Department of Energy said on Tuesday it has offered a conditional loan guarantee of up to $1.66 billion to Plug Power to help it build up to six plants to produce clean hydrogen.

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Mission Concluding Statement 

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Paraguay: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2024 Article IV Consultation, Third Review Under the Policy Coordination Instrument, and First Review Under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility

May 8, 2024

A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official staff visit (or ‘mission’), in most cases to a member country. Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments.

The authorities have consented to the publication of this statement. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF Executive Board for discussion and decision.

Asunción, Paraguay: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Mr. Mauricio Villafuerte held meetings with Paraguayan government counterparts, private sector, civil society, and development partners during April 29-May 8, 2024, in the context of the 2024 Article IV consultation, the third review of the Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI), and the first review of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).

Paraguay experienced strong growth in 2023 led by the recovery in agricultural production and electricity generation from the severe drought in 2021/2022. Inflation has been maintained around or below the 4 percent inflation target of the Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP) in the last few months, allowing the central bank (BCP) to significantly reduce its monetary policy rate. Given the favorable macroeconomic conditions and prudent policy management, activity remains robust and risks to the outlook are balanced. Several important administrative reforms took place since the new administration took office and more are envisaged, including under two IMF-supported programs.

The fiscal deficit jumped to 4.1 percent of GDP in 2023, in part due to one-off outlays linked to the recognition of outstanding claims accrued during the pandemic with construction companies and pharmaceutic suppliers . The December 2023 targets under the Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI) on the central government fiscal deficit, and the net incurrence of floating debt limits were met, while the target on the current primary expenditure was missed due to a higher-than-expected repayment of outstanding claims with pharmaceutic suppliers. The fiscal deficit is projected to fall substantially to 2.6 percent of GDP in 2024 in line with the authorities’ objective to converge back to the 1.5 percent of GDP deficit ceiling under the fiscal rule by 2026. The corresponding adjustment would be achieved through a reduction in investment spending (with the completion of large road construction projects) that could be compensated by additional non-tax revenue from Itaipú and an improvement in tax collections, which have increased strongly in the first few months of 2024.

Policy Priorities

Enhancing domestic revenue mobilization should be a key priority given a low tax-to-GDP ratio in Paraguay, sizable development gaps, and the need to rebuild fiscal buffers in the presence of recurrent shocks and fiscal risks . While the authorities do not plan to raise statutory tax rates, they expect to achieve greater revenue generation through increased digitalization of payments and information, standardization of processes and procedures at the recently merged domestic revenue and customs directorates, and a gradual streamlining of tax expenditures. In terms of diversifying the sources of public financing, the efforts to reduce the dollarization of public debt with the successful international issuance of local currency-denominated bonds are important. Further development of domestic capital markets should also help, including through the recent creation of the Superintendency of Securities under the BCP and the Superintendency of Pensions. The latter should lead to increased foreign and institutional participation in the local debt market. These efforts would be complemented by the government’s initiative to foster private investment in infrastructure through the modification of the law on public private partnerships.

There is room to improve the efficiency of public spending, including through strengthening the effectiveness of institutional structures. The implementation of the new regulations on public procurement, the rollout of the new State Resource Management System (SIARE), and the design parametric reforms to the public pension fund system (Caja Fiscal) are specific efforts that are being actively pursued by the current administration in this regard. In addition, implementation of proposals to reform the structure of the state and the civil service should help limit institutional overlaps, enhance the cohesiveness and effectiveness of policy implementation, and lead to a more professional civil service and better workforce planning. Improved supervision and governance of public enterprises is important to address contingent fiscal risks and administrative deficiencies. Finally, there is a need to better target social assistance programs to the most vulnerable beyond current efforts to improve their administration and monitoring. Increased reliance on public-private partnerships could partially compensate for the planned contraction in public investment, and its corresponding law is being significantly revised to facilitate them.

A well-functioning inflation targeting regime with a transparent flexible exchange rate continues to serve Paraguay well . The BCP’s decisive monetary policy actions contributed to a rapid fall in inflation, allowing a gradual relaxation starting in the third quarter of 2023, and monetary policy is now approaching a neutral stance. The BCP should continue to set its monetary policy stance guided by incoming data. This is particularly relevant regarding inflation drivers and the feedback effects between actual inflation and inflation expectations, which have remained well-anchored around the target.

The banking system remains well-capitalized and profitable, and the authorities should continue their efforts to both deepen and widen financial supervision, including risk based. Important advances have been made to expand financial inclusion over the past decade but more needs to be done to enhance financial literacy, improve internet access and connectivity, and lower subscription and financial transaction costs. The identification and understanding of the risks of AML/CFT in Paraguay remain an important objective as still many weaknesses persist as identified by GAFILAT (Financial Action Group of Latin America).

An inclusive growth strategy should aim at reducing informality and expanding integration with international markets. Medium-term growth prospects are positive, partly due to potential foreign investments in green sectors like forestry. There is a need for greater diversification in both export products and markets, multilateral cooperation, and investments in infrastructure to foster trade and economic development. Reduction in a still high level of informality is also warranted to have a meaningful impact on productivity and poverty. Reducing or eliminating taxes and social security contributions alone may not reduce informality and may harm fiscal balances and/or the provision of social services. A multipronged strategy should include reducing transaction costs by simplifying paperwork, making formal employment more accessible, and improving business environment and productivity growth by eliminating inefficient, complicated, and distorting rules. To enhance growth potential further, steps need to be taken to strengthen the anti-corruption framework, governance, and transparency. Some steps in this direction are being taken, including through the roll out of the National Ani-Corruption Strategy in 2023. Registration and tracking of the state officials’ assets through a new information system will increase transparency in public service, while improving the system of purchase and distribution of medicines will also help improve spending efficiency. In addition, revising and upgrading the frameworks on insolvency and land ownership rights should reduce the uncertainties of doing business and should help attract foreign investment.

The authorities remain dedicated to bolstering macroeconomic stability, advancing their structural reform agenda, and sustaining a close policy dialogue with the IMF under the PCI. Commitments under the PCI’s structural reform agenda for end December and March were mostly met. The pension fund supervision law was approved in end-December. The guidelines of decree on "SIPEN" (Pension Information System) to the beneficiaries of the “Coordination of Various State Obligations" (CODE) were implemented. The regulations of the Law Creating the National Council of Public Companies to clarify and strengthen the role of the supervisory Council of Public Companies will be revised prior to the Board meeting. The preparation of a proposal on the formalization of workers employed in micro-small, and medium-sized enterprises, and self-employed is being revaluated by the new government and alternative approaches being considered.

Paraguay has been enacting reforms under the IMF’s RSF to further advance its ambitious climate adaptation and mitigation agenda. In February, the authorities enacted regulation of the non-conventional renewable energy law. By the time of the Executive Board meeting in June, they expect to replace the decree to create the registry of industrial biomass users and establish the prerequisites for the use of biomass and enact a decree to create joint intervention protocols for land use change; and change INFONA’s normative framework aiming at strengthening its institutional and financial capacities to protect native forests and respond to deforestation alerts. Delivering on commitments to implement a comprehensive set of climate-related reforms (measures to increase the resilience of public investments, develop a green taxonomy, contain climate risks to the financial sector, preserve and expand the country’s clean electricity matrix, decarbonize its economy, and conserve its forests) will open investment opportunities and help build resilient and sustainable growth.

The IMF team is grateful to the Paraguayan authorities and other counterparts for the productive discussions.”

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Brown water lines a street flanked by a canopy of trees and blocks of high-rise buildings.

Images of a Brazilian City Underwater

Torrential rains have caused one of Brazil’s worst floods in modern history, leaving more than 100 dead and nearly an entire state submerged.

An aerial view on Wednesday of one of the worst natural calamities to hit the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. Credit... Nelson Almeida/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

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By Ana Ionova and Tanira Lebedeff

Ana Ionova reported from Rio de Janeiro, and Tanira Lebedeff from Porto Alegre, Brazil.

  • May 8, 2024

Anderson da Silva Pantaleão was at the snack bar he owns last Friday when clay-colored water began filling the streets in the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre. Soon, it was rushing into his ground-floor shop. By 9 p.m., the water was up to his waist.

“Then the fear starts to hit,” he said. “You’re just trying not to drown.”

He dashed up to a neighbor’s home on the second floor, taking refuge for the next three nights, rationing water, cheese and sausage with two others. Members of the group slept in shifts, fearing another rush of water could take them by surprise in the dead of night.

On Monday, water began flooding the second floor, and they thought the worst. Then, a military boat arrived and rescued Mr. Pantaleão, 43. A day later, despite heavy rains, he was trying to go back on a rescue boat to search for friends who were still missing or stranded.

“I can’t leave them there,” he said. “The water is running out, the food is running out.”

Flood victims took shelter at a sports facility in the Menino Deus neighborhood of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The situation in southern Brazil, where heavy rains have caused flooding in hundreds of municipalities, may worsen with the arrival of new storms.

A man was rescued by military firefighters after the floods in Canoas, Brazil, on Saturday.

People charging their mobile phones outside a drugstore in the historic center of Porto Alegre, Brazil, after torrential storms devastated areas in Rio Grande do Sul State.

Brazil is grappling with one of its worst floods in recent history. Torrential rains have drenched the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, home to 11 million people, since late April and have triggered severe flooding that has submerged entire towns, blocked roads, broken a major dam and shut down the international airport until June.

At least 105 people have been killed and 130 others have been reported missing. The floods, which have stretched across most of Rio Grande do Sul’s 497 municipalities, have forced nearly 164,000 people from their homes.

In the state capital, Porto Alegre, a city of 1.3 million perched on the banks of the Guaiba River, streets were submerged in murky water and the airport was shuttered by the deluge, with flights canceled through the end of the month.

The river rose to over 16 feet this week, exceeding the previous high levels seen during a major flood in 1941 that paralyzed the city for weeks.

The flooding has blocked roads into the city and hampered deliveries of basic goods. Supermarkets were running out of bottled water on Tuesday, and some residents reported walking up to three miles in search of clean drinking water.

Many of those stranded awaited help on rooftops. Some took desperate measures to flee: When the shelter her family was staying in flooded, Ana Paula de Abreu, 40, swam to a rescue boat while grasping her 11-year-old son under one arm. Two residents of one Porto Alegre neighborhood used an inflatable mattress to pull at least 15 people out of their inundated homes.

Search crews, which include the authorities and volunteers, were scouring flooded areas and rescuing residents by boat and air. With nowhere to land, some helicopters have used winches to pull up people stranded by the flooding.

Barbara Fernandes, 42, a lawyer in Porto Alegre, spent hours on the scorching roof of her apartment building on Monday, waving a red rag and her crutches toward the sky. A rescue helicopter finally spotted her in the late afternoon.

“You just don’t know when they’ll come for you,” said Ms. Fernandes, who is recovering from surgery on her ankle and could not flee her building before the waters rose.

A cargo plane at the flooded Salgado Filho International Airport on Tuesday in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Residents were evacuated in a military vehicle from an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on Tuesday.

Cintia Santos was evacuated by bus from a flooded area on Tuesday in Eldorado do Sul.

Nearly 67,000 people were living in shelters across the state, while others have taken refuge in the homes of family or friends. Some people who had access to neither option were sleeping in their cars or on the streets in areas that were still dry.

“It seems like we’re living through the end of the world,” said Beatriz Belmontt Abel, 46, a nursing technician who was volunteering at a shelter in the city of Canoas, across the river from Porto Alegre. “I never imagined I would see this happen.”

In another shelter set up in a gym in Porto Alegre, volunteers distributed meals and clothes. Rows of mattresses lay on the floor, and cardboard boxes served as shelves. Those who had been rescued busied themselves sweeping the floor and making their temporary beds.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who visited the region last week, pledged federal funds to help the rescue efforts. The state authorities have also announced aid to pay for search crews, health services and housing for those whose homes were destroyed or damaged by floodwaters.

Even as rescues continued, the authorities worried that the crisis could worsen because another wave of severe weather was expected in coming days. With a cold front buffeting the region, meteorologists have forecast heavy rains, hail, thunderstorms and winds over 60 miles per hour.

The states’s governor, Eduardo Leite, said the authorities were evacuating people from regions vulnerable to more turbulent weather. Some residents have refused to abandon their homes, fearing looting. Others have tried to return to their neighborhoods, hoping water levels will recede.

“It’s not time to go home,” Mr. Leite told reporters on Tuesday.

The flooding is the fourth weather-related crisis to hit Brazil’s southern region in less than a year. In September, 37 people were killed in Rio Grande do Sul by torrential rains and punishing winds caused by a cyclone.

People rescued from flooded areas in the Sao Joao neighborhood in Porto Alegre.

Floodwaters surrounded the Beira-Rio soccer stadium, home of the Sport Club Internacional, in Porto Alegre on Tuesday.

A flooded street in the Cidade Baixa neighborhood of Porto Alegre.

Climate experts say the region is reeling from the effects of El Niño, the cyclical climate phenomenon that can bring heavy rains to Brazil’s southern regions while causing drought in the Amazon rainforest.

But the effects of El Niño have been exacerbated by a mix of climate change, deforestation and haphazard urbanization, according to Mercedes Bustamante, an ecologist and professor at the University of Brasília.

“You’re really looking at a recipe for disaster,” said Dr. Bustamante, who has written several reports for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a body of experts convened by the United Nations.

For well over a decade, scientists have been warning policymakers that global warming would bring increased rains to this region.

As deforestation advances in the Amazon and elsewhere in Brazil, precipitation patterns are shifting and leading to more erratic rain patterns, according to Dr. Bustamante. As a result, rainfall is spread unevenly at times, drenching smaller areas or coming in torrential downpours over shorter periods.

Severe weather has also become more deadly in recent decades, as urban populations have grown and cities like Porto Alegre have pushed into forested areas that once acted as buffers against flooding and landslides, she added.

The latest floods caught Brazil “unprepared,” Dr. Bustamante noted, highlighting the need to make cities more resilient to climate change and develop response strategies that better protect residents from extreme weather events, which are bound to become more frequent.

“It is a tragedy that, unfortunately, has been coming for some time,” she said. “We hope that this serves as a call to action.”

People linked arms as others rescued from flooded areas arrived by boat in Porto Alegre on Tuesday.

Manuela Andreoni contributed reporting from New York.

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    Afforestation and reforestation are recognised as key strategies for tackling our climate crisis and halting ecosystem degradation and biodiversity losses. ... Nevertheless, rates of deforestation increased between 2014 and 2020, and information is lacking on how these ambitious goals are to be achieved. Photo by gryffyn m on Unsplash The ...

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    Deforestation Essay: Deforestation is a general term referred to as the process of clearing trees and forest covers. Deforestation can be both man-made as well as a natural occurrence. ... The rate of deforestation is far higher than the rate of afforestation. And one of the biggest reasons for this is rapid industrialisation and urbanisation ...

  12. Afforestation Essay for Students in English

    Afforestation Essay. Afforestation is a term that refers to the process of planting new trees on previously barren land or the land which is occupied by the forest. This process involves cleaning the site and non-compacting the soil so the land can become fruitful for cultivation. The next step is increasing the count of trees in the forest; it ...

  13. Afforestation can help to tackle climate change. Here's how

    Afforestation is establishing a forest, especially on land not previously forested. It remains one of the most effective means of tackling climate change, particularly when it is designed to rely on green energy. This natural climate solution reduces the impact of desertification, supports ecosystems, and removes CO2 from the atmosphere.

  14. Deforestation Essay

    500 Words Essay On Deforestation. Deforestation is the process of converting a forested area to unforested land. Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses. The most common cause of deforestation is conversion of forest land to farms, ranching and urbanization.

  15. Essay on Deforestation: 8 Selected Essays on Deforestation

    Essay on Deforestation: Causes and Drawbacks - Essay 4 (400 Words) Deforestation is the process of cutting down of trees and forests completely or partially for different reasons like manufacturing different products with various parts of the tree as raw material, to build structures and other buildings, etc. Deforestation in recent days has become the curse of our world that resulted in the ...

  16. Deforestation Essay for Students in English

    The total area of tropical rain forest on Earth is about 16 million square kilometres but because of deforestation, only 6.2 square kilometres are left. According to the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, the global rate of net forest loss in 2010-2020 was 7 million hectares per year. Causes of Deforestation

  17. Essay on Afforestation for Students in English [Easy Words]

    Essay on Afforestation: The creation or establishment of a forest- like land in an area with no tree cover is called Afforestation. Nongovernmental organisations usually conduct these drives to plant more saplings and trees to protect our environment. ... "Afforestation" is important in India, as rapid deforestation occurs in many areas ...

  18. Afforestation and Deforestation Essay

    Afforestation and Deforestation Essay. This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. Papers provided by EduBirdie writers usually outdo students' samples. Deforestation is an environmental problem which can damage the habitats and the soil through erosion (Locatelli et al., 340).

  19. Essay on Afforestation : Meaning, Advantages, Importance

    Essay on Afforestation. Afforestation means establishing the stand of trees or a forest in a particular open area where no one had established a tree in past. ... So pace should be maintained for deforestation and afforestation such that level should be maintained between both. Afforestation is a main part in fighting against global warming ...

  20. Afforestation And Deforestation, Essay Sample

    Afforestation And Deforestation (Essay Sample) Deforestation is the clearing of the trees. This is usually committed due to illegal logging and industrialization. Most of the land areas are converted into commercial and residential buildings. There are countries that are committing deforestation: Ecuador, Haiti, Nepal, North Korea, Indonesia ...

  21. Defying Angola and Interpol, Isabel dos Santos entrenches herself on

    A lthough Interpol has asked governments around the world to find and provisionally arrest Isabel dos Santos, the Angolan former billionaire is not hiding. Instead, she regularly posts about her lavish lifestyle at a Dubai residence on social media. Now, confidential land records connect dos Santos and her mother to other properties on the waterfront of the United Arab Emirates' financial hub.

  22. Dubai property portfolio calls into question effectiveness of sanctions

    I n 2023, Caoimhe Robinson bought a 20,569-square-foot villa, still under construction, for about $2.1 million in an upscale section of Dubai, close to Zayed University. Even unfinished, the structure's white walls, arched doorways and red roof call to mind an elegant Mediterranean retreat, one befitting an area that one real estate website describes as "a true lifestyle destination."

  23. Difference Between Afforestation and Deforestation

    The difference between afforestation and deforestation are summarized below: Afforestation is the planting of trees in an area where there was no tree cover previously. Deforestation is the destruction of trees and forests for human habitation and use. Afforestation has a beneficial effect on the environment.

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  27. Flooding in Southern Brazil: Images of Rio Grande do Sul Underwater

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