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Shvidenko, A.
(2008).
Deforestation.
In:
Encyclopedia of Ecology.
Eds. Jorgenssen, S.E. & Fath, B.D. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9440-6842,
Amsterdam: Elsevier.
10.1016/B978-008045405-4.00586-3.
Abstract
The Earth has to date lost ~40% of its original forest cover. Processes of deforestation and degradation of the world's forests have been accelerating substantially during the last two centuries, specifically since the 1950s. During recent decades, deforestation and degradation of forests, particularly in the Tropics, have been continuing at an alarming rate. The UN FAO estimated the total net loss of forests in countries with a negative change of forest cover at 13 x 10^6 ha/yr between 1990 and 2005. Deforestation leads to a great loss in biodiversity, destruction of the hydrological cycle, decrease in water quality, and acceleration of soil erosion. Decline of forest cover alters regional and potentially the global climate system affecting surface energy, water, and greenhouse gas fluxes. The average annual carbon emissions between 1990 and 2005 due to deforestation are estimated in the range of 0.8-2.2 Pg C/yr (13.35% of the annual global emissions from fossil fuel during this period). Many analyses predict substantial increases in deforestation rates during the coming decades due to anthropogenic reasons. Negative consequences of human-induced deforestation will be accelerated by expected climatic change. Continuing deforestation threatens stability of the Earth system and is an urgent global issue that will require substantial international and national efforts to resolve.
| Item Type: | Book Section |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Deforestation; Degradation; Global biogeochemical cycling; Global forests |
| Research Programs: | Forestry (FOR) |
| Bibliographic Reference: | In: S.E. Jorgenssen, B.D. Fath (eds); Encyclopedia of Ecology; Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands pp.853-859 (2008) |
| Depositing User: | IIASA Import |
| Date Deposited: | 15 Jan 2016 08:41 |
| Last Modified: | 27 Aug 2021 17:20 |
| URI: | https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/8641 |
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