Deforestation

Introduction

Deforestation means cutting down trees at a large number by humans for the purpose to make

houses, lands, industries and household materials or furniture. In Bangladesh, deforestation is

happening mainly for the industrial development.

Why it is a global issue

There are many reasons for why deforestation is a global issue. First point is Ocean acidification

which is caused by carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere dissolving into the ocean. This leads to

a lowering of the water's pH. Deforestation results in fewer trees to absorb the gas. A study

revealed that average pH value of water in the Bay of Bengal on an average was around 7.75

before. When the trees are being burnt, it creates greenhouse gas like Methane, Carbon dioxide,

Nitrous oxide. Carbon dioxide makes up the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions. In recent

days a vast number of trees are being cut down to provide shelter to the Rohingya refugees in

Bangladesh. For that, many species lost their land and some species becoming extinct. Due to

deforestation global warming and climate change is happening which has negative impacts on

the life leading system of humans. In Bangladesh, deforestation is happening for the urbanization

purpose some peoples are losing their lands and houses. Deforestation is one of the leading

causes of global warming and produces about 24% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Less rain

is taking place in the world. That's why, the global temperature is rising.

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Causes of deforestation

1) Overpopulation: Due to overpopulation more land is needed to establish housing and

settlements. As well as many more roads highways were being built in order to accommodate a

larger sum of people driving which ultimately led to deforestation. Moreover, urbanization is

also major cause because people are more cutting down trees to make shelters or buildings. With

more people that come with a large need for food and farmland to grow on and raise livestock

resulting in Deforestation.

2) Logging: Wood based industries such as paper, matchsticks and furniture need a substantial

quality of wood. The paper industries are mainly responsible for cutting down trees. According

to environment paper network, if we recycled, we could save 27.5 million tons of carbon-di-

oxide from going into the atmosphere. The furniture industries are also cutting down trees to

make more furniture. Thus, they are not only cutting down trees but also harming our ecosystem.

3) Agriculture expansion and livestock ranching: A major cause for deforestation is agriculture

plantations. An increasing supply demand for palm oil and soya beans are driving producers to

clear forests at an unnerving rate. Moreover, farmers clear the land for cattle’s by using slashes

and burning techniques.

4) Mining: The increase of mining on tropical forests is furthering damage due to the rising

demand and high mineral prices. These projects are often accompanied by large infrastructure

construction such as roads, railways and power systems. Moreover, these projects are putting too

much pressure on our forests and freshwater ecosystems.

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Impact of Deforestation in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, deforestation is an important issue which is causing very harmful situations.

Because of deforestation, Sundarban forest faces many difficulties. The ecosystem of Sundarban

is now in captious position. Deforestation has caused severe damage to this ecosystem. As a

result, Sundarban was losing biodiversity in an alarming rate. People are losing their job sectors

for this and especially shrimp farming industry is facing a significant issue. Deforestation causes

climate change. In terms of the impact of climate change Bangladesh will experience the range

of effects. Because of that, average weather temperatures is rising, more extreme hot and cold

spells, rainfall being less when it is needed for agriculture and it also causes floods. The lack of

trees also allow a greater amount of greenhouse gases to be released into the environment. The

forest ecosystem plays an important role for protecting us from natural hazards which is not

going to happen because of deforestation. Forest gives us some ecosystem services such as water

purification, climate regulation and erosion control. Without these tresses, the soil erodes and

washes away which causes soil erosion. Trees help to control the water level in the atmosphere

by helping to regulate the water cycle. So, because of deforestation, there is less water in the air

to be returned to the soil.

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Deforestation in Bangladesh

According to Banglapedia, the primary cause of deforestation in Bangladesh has been population

increase, also other factors as demand for forest products and fuel wood, and conversion of forest

land to such other uses as agricultural, industrial, urbanization and development of

infrastructures for transportation, energy production and so on. The other aspect is that

forestlands are being encroached upon illegally. Up to 1989, about 76,596 ha of forestlands have

been encroached upon in different forest areas. According to one estimate, forest cover in

Bangladesh has declined from about 15 percent of the total area to 5 percent. Out of a total area

of 2 million ha of forestland, less than half of this area is actually covered with trees, the

estimated rate of deforestation being 8,000 ha per year; 40 percent of forestlands have reportedly

been lost from 1960 to 1990. Deforestation rate was 0.9 percent in 1970, but rose to 2.7 percent

in 1984-90. Some sources quote satellite surveys and note that forests are declining at a rate of

nearly 70,000 ha per year and Bangladesh. Another recent problem regarding deforestation in

Bangladesh is Rohingya issue. According to Dhaka Tribune, burning firewood desperately by the

Rohingya people of Ukhiya, Teknaf and Naikhangchhari will destroy the ecosystem of the Cox's

Bazar deeply. Some temporary camps in Kutupalong and Balukhali of Ukhiya and Teknaf, UNB

Correspondent found that thousands of Rohingyas have been camping in the deep forests of

Ukhiya-Teknaf and Naikhangchhari. Forest department officials told UNB that they were

building their tents in two to three-kilometre-deep of the forest from the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf

Road and fetch their firewood from the deep and fresh forest. This huge number of Rohingya is

almost burning 50,000kg of firewood for cooking every day. They are mainly relying on the

forest around the area of their camps. As a result, the forests are being destroyed every day.

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Conclusion

At the end, forests are the lungs of the planet. They are the suppliers of oxygen on which we rely

for breathing. So, deforestation in one sense destroying our lungs. We can fight back

deforestation by,

1. Tree plantation programs

2. Use 3R formula

3. Forest preservation and strong law impose

4. Raise awareness

5. Use of alternatives

Reference

https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions

https://www.britannica.com/science/ocean-acidification

https://vocal.media/futurism/deforestation-causes-effects-and-solutions

https://www.pachamama.org/effects-of-deforestation

https://www.iisd.org/pdf/2005/security_arborvitae27.pdf

http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Deforestation

https://www.dhakatribune.com/magazine/avenue-t/2019/10/02/losing-our-forests

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