Deforestation Statistics

Deforestation is a significant issue causing loss of forest cover, greenhouse gas emission, and loss of biodiversity. According to UNFAO, 18 million acres of forests are lost each year, while the University of Maryland reports that 73.4 million trees were lost globally in 2016. Deforestation leads to climate change, flood risk, and erosion, with negative impacts on human health. It also affects brand image and customer trust.

STATISTICS

Deforestation is being regarded as the activity of cutting, clearing and removing
rainforest with an aim to make different products from trees. In today’s scenario, deforestation is
evolving as one of the biggest issue. In this regard, as per the report of the United Nation Food
and Agriculture Organization, it is identified that there are around 18 million acres of forest are
lost each year. On the other hand, nearly half of the tropical forests all over the world have
cleared. Further, as per the University of Maryland, there were around 73.4 million trees lost
globally in the year 2016 (Deforestation: Facts, Causes & Effects, 2019).
In this regard, it can be said that greenhouse gas emission is the result of deforestation.
However, the statistics in relation to the same depicts that 15% of all the greenhouse gas
emission come from the deforestation. The earth atmosphere traps gases like Methane and
Carbon Dioxide. This situation leads to climate change. However, trees absorb the carbon
dioxide gases and thus it tries to maintain the earth atmosphere. If trees will be cut off then in
this situation the emission of greenhouse gases will occur. This thing will have a negative impact
on the health of people.
In addition to this, deforestation also leads to the loss of biodiversity. For example,
deforestation brings alteration in land and because of that many plants as well as animals are not
able to survive. This thing will hamper the whole ecosystem of the earth. This is because; each
individual in the food chain is dependent on one another. Thus, if any species or animal will be
lost from the food chain then the impact of this will be seen on other species present in the food
chain. Since the human is also a part of the food chain, thus deforestation will have a significant
impact on the human also.
Further, the study conducted by Bradshaw and et.al (2007) reveal that parsimo-nious
models accounted for more than 65% variation in the frequency of flood; however, among this
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14% variation was due to the forest cover. Deforestation will lead to the erosion of land. Hence,
when the water level of the rivers increases then the respective activity will lead to a flood. It is
because of these all given things the only deforestation is evolving as one of the biggest
problems for the whole world. If significant steps are not taken against this then this issue could
be proved as a major reason behind the loss of humanity from the earth.
For example, The Australian and Courier Mail is the newspaper company of Australia
that has linked to the case of deforestation in Indonesia. The allegations are being made over this
company that the paper which it is using is being made from the trees that are being destroyed in
Indonesia. Such type of acts will have a direct impact on the brand image of the firm. This is
because such acts tend to reduce the trust of buyers from the company. As a result of this, the
buyer will switch to some other company.
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REFERENCE
Bradshaw, C. J., Sodhi, N. S., PEH, K. S. H., & Brook, B. W. (2007). Global evidence that
deforestation amplifies flood risk and severity in the developing world. Global Change
Biology, 13(11), 2379-2395.
Deforestation: Facts, Causes & Effects. (2019). [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.livescience.com/27692-deforestation.html>. [Accessed on 4th May 2019].
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