Deforestation and Land Use

Humans use land for BUILDING, QUARRYING, FARMING, and DISPOSING OF WASTE.

This reduces the land available for OTHER ORGANISMS and can lead to negative environmental effects, such as DEFORESTATION and the destruction of PEAT BOGS.

 

Deforestation

DEFORESTATION involves the cutting down of FORESTS and is particularly problematic when done on a large scale, like in tropical areas.

Reasons for deforestation include clearing land for FARMING (cattle and rice fields) to produce more food, and for growing crops for BIOFUELS like ethanol.

 

Problems from Deforestation

• LESS CARBON DIOXIDE TAKEN IN: Trees absorb carbon dioxide during PHOTOSYNTHESIS. Cutting them down means less CO₂. is removed from the atmosphere.
• MORE CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE ATMOSPHERE: Trees store carbon in their wood for centuries. When trees are burnt, the carbon they stored is released as CO₂. Also, MICROORGANISMS decompose dead wood, releasing CO₂.
• LESS BIODIVERSITY: Forests are home to many species, so deforestation can cause the EXTINCTION of species and REDUCES BIODIVERSITY.

 

PEAT BOGS

PEAT BOGS are unique areas of land found in waterlogged and acidic areas.

 

They are essential for several reasons:

• Unlike other environments, the acidic and waterlogged conditions in peat bogs mean that plant material does NOT FULLY DECAY due to a lack of oxygen.
• Over time, this partially decomposed plant matter becomes PEAT, which is a significant CARBON STORE. Instead of releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during decay, peat locks it away.
• These bogs are crucial habitats for a diversity of species, including birds, and play a role in maintaining BIODIVERSITY.

 

However, peat bogs face threats due to HUMAN ACTIVITIES:

• They are drained for FARMING, which dries out the peat and leads to its decay, RELEASING STORED CARBON.
• Peat is also harvested as a FUEL source and for producing COMPOST, which is used to enhance soil for agricultural production.

 

The destruction of peat bogs has several negative impacts:

• Drained and decaying peat bogs contribute to GLOBAL WARMING by releasing carbon dioxide.
• As peat is a non-renewable resource formed over millennia, its extraction is NOT SUSTAINABLE.
• The reduction of peat bog areas leads to loss of habitats, reducing BIODIVERSITY.
• The rate of destruction often outpaces the natural formation of peat, leading to unsustainable use.