Biological Effects of Deforestation

With rapid population growth and development of third world countries, we face ever-increasing demands on our world's forests. This is leading to mass destruction and deforestation of these areas in all parts of the world. Such wide spread abuse of our natural resource is of concern to all residents of the earth, not just bird watchers and nature lovers. Loss of our world's forests has long-term implications for all of us.

One-third of terrestrial environments are covered by forests. Half of these are tropical forests which are believed to house more that half of the planet's net primary productivity and half of all identified species. Deforestation at its current rate is causing mass extinction of hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of plant and animal species. If the current trend continue, one-quarter of the world's species may be extinct within the next 25 years.

Miller and Tangley, 1991; Sutlive, et al, 1984

And link(s) to Side Effects of Deforestation,Why is everyone worried about the tropics? Homepage.

Stephanie Heller
(317) 966-8154
hellest@earlham.edu