THE CONSEQUENCES OF

DEFORESTATION
CO₂
Trees take up CO₂ from the air and lock the carbon into their wood.
Logging and burning trees stop the intake of CO₂ and release it back
into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming.

LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY
Deforestation and the losses of trees on savannah and farmland also
lead to a decrease in biodiversity.
Forests are home to a great number of living species, which cannot
survive without the presence of trees. Also on Savannah’s and
farmlands, trees are important for many living organisms.
IMPACT ON PEOPLE
Not only plants and animals are depending on the presence of trees.
Farmers for example, also depend on the benefits of trees: The
shadow of trees prevents evaporation of water from the soil,
increasing the water availability for crops on farmland. The shadow
also protects the crops from burning in the sun.

SOIL EROSION
The root system of the trees prevents erosion of fertile soil.
Soil erosion is one of the most serious adverse effects of cutting trees
and leads to severe land degradation resulting in open and dry areas.

By Jenny Chalmers