There will obviously be a negative effect on the environment after all that chopping down.

There are numerous consequences of the deforestation of Amazonian. Here is list of the most pressing effects:

1. Intensifies global warming by increasing the emissions of greenhouse gases, this in turn changes the microclimate. Because the forests hold vast amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), when the forest is burned or cut down and left to decay, they release the CO2 into the atmosphere. CO2 is the second largest factor contributing to the greenhouse effect.

 

This image provided by Rainforest Action Network

2. Decreases biodiversity and increases the chances of extinction of a species. Thousands of species are being killed as they trees are being chopped down. Unfortunately humans cannot even comprehend the importance of the diversity of the rainforest and how it affects the world we live in.

 

this is what the land looks like after its been cleared for crops.

 

 

 

 

 

This image provided and copyrighted by Raintree Nutrition, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.rain-tree.com

3. Increased soil erosion and desertification by the clearing of forests. When trees are cut down, the soil is no longer being held together by the forest and is loose. This is erosion and it slowly erodes more and more. Soon the land will be nutrient-less and will be much like a desert.

4. Precipitated the decline of traditional cultures of the indigenous forest people because they are pushed out of their land. The colonizers and the big companies are taking over other people's land, people that have lived in the forest for thousands of years and have lived SUSTAINABLY. They understand and know the workings of the forest just because of the mere fact that they have been there for generations. The people that come and push them out are stealing there income and food.

5. Loss of watershed protection. Forests do so much that we humans don't even know the half if it. One of their thousands of jobs is to protect the watershed. I don't know exactly how this works, but I think it has to do with the fact that they keep the soil together through their roots, and soil holds lots and lots of water. Also the leaves and the plants and all the shrubbery holds a lot of water. And the canopy holds water, too!

6. Loss of wildlife habitat because of clearing. This is basically the same point as I made earlier. Even before the species goes extinct, their habitats are being lost by the clearing.

7. Loss of forest commodities, like Brazilian nuts, and loss of drugs that all grow in the forest. Well this speaks for itself.

 

This image provided and copyrighted by Raintree Nutrition, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.rain-tree.com

 

 

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