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The jargon of an environmentalist generally revolves around two words, understand and protect. It is not difficult to comprehend the meaning of these words; they simply mean that human beings have to understand the importance of the environment, and take necessary measures to protect it. If you do not understand the environment, you will never realize how brutally it is being affected by human activities, and hence you will not think of protecting it. The environment is characterized by biodiversity, which is responsible for maintaining a state of equilibrium in the environment. Loss of biodiversity will eventually trigger an ecological disaster. Thus, its preservation should be one of the (if not the only) goals of mankind. Here's how it can be done.

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The jargon of an environmentalist generally revolves around two words, understand and protect. It is not difficult to comprehend the meaning of these words; they simply mean that human beings have to understand the importance of the environment, and take necessary measures to protect it.

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Right from microscopic bacteria to gigantic blue whales, millions of plants and animals inhabit the planet. The fact that the number of species on the planet easily exceeds the million mark, may give the impression that the extinction of a species of two won't make a big difference. That, however, is far from true. The extinction of a single species can affect the balance of the ecosystem; the repercussions of which will start showing on the various other species dependent on it.

Since it came into existence, the planet has been subjected to five mass extinctions, resulting in the extinction of 99.9 percent of plant and animal species that have ever existed on the planet. The last of these mass extinctions, the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction―notorious for having wiped off the dinosaurs―occurred approximately 65 million years ago.

Now, the extinction of species is not unusual. Over the last 200 million years, we have lost a species or two every year. What is unusual, is the rate at which extinctions are occurring over the last few centuries. In fact, it has even left the environmentalists worried, with some of them suggesting that we are closing in on yet another mass extinction.
Major Threats to Biodiversity

The list of threats to the global biodiversity is quite lengthy, and has to its credit threats like habitat loss, over hunting, invasive species, climate change, etc. The details of each of these factors, which threaten the existence of various plants and animals on the planet, are discussed below.

Human encroachment in the wild has resulted in wide-scale destruction of the natural habitat for wild animals, thus leaving them with no place to live. A large part of this destruction is caused due to the large-scale deforestation to suit the vested interests of agricultural and logging sectors. Besides habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, as a result of construction of roads in the forests, has also contributed to the extinction of animals in the wild, primarily by making it difficult for them to breed.

The extinction of the Javan tiger―endemic to the island of Java in Indonesia―is the best example of extinction triggered due habitat loss.

At the end of the day, it is the cumulative impact of all these threats that is making the problem worse. It's high time we understand the importance of biodiversity and come up with measures to save it. As we mentioned earlier, if a single species becomes extinct, its repercussions are felt by all the other species depending on it directly or indirectly.

A Hypothetical Example: The loss of tiger will lead to an increase in the number of deer species, which, in turn, will feed on grass and plants, and destroy the vegetation cover. In the turn of events, the absence of vegetation cover will alter the precipitation pattern for the region.

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Right from microscopic bacteria to gigantic blue whales, millions of plants and animals inhabit the planet. The fact that the number of species on the planet easily exceeds the million mark, may give the impression that the extinction of a species of two won't make a big difference.

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The very existence of life on planet Earth is in severe crisis, and lack of awareness about the importance of biodiversity is one of the key problems which needs to be looked into. Wondering why you should contribute your bit towards biodiversity conservation? Here are some good enough reasons for you to do so!

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The very existence of life on planet Earth is in severe crisis, and lack of awareness about the importance of biodiversity is one of the key problems which needs to be looked into. Wondering why you should contribute your bit towards biodiversity conservation? Here are some good enough reasons for you to do so!

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Natural resources are actually nature's gift to man to help him live a comfortable and peaceful life. But, at the same time, we as human beings have the responsibility of conserving natural resources by taking the right steps. This will help us maintain the environmental balance and satisfy our needs to the fullest. Importance of doing so can be conveyed to people by arranging seminars and conferences and having lectures of renowned environment experts.
How to Conserve Natural Resources?
These days, the biggest concern before us is the fast depletion of natural resources, such as forests, natural gas, wildlife, oil, petrol, etc. The main reasons for this depletion is the improper and excessive use and the growing population, which puts a tremendous strain on them. A planned and prudent use alone can protect from getting extinct.
Water
Water is the most important resource, which should be conserved by adopting strict rules and measures. Often, we see wastage of water on a large-scale, which can be avoided by conducting training and information sessions to educate people. People should use minimum water for daily needs, such as washing cars and utensils. Whenever you see open taps, you should immediately go and close them properly to save water. The simple ways to save the environment will help you know more.
Natural Gas
Apart from water, steps must also be taken to save natural gas. There are several households, which make use of natural gas for heating water in their homes. Instead, if you can have a water heater devoid of a tank, then you will be successful in minimizing excessive use of gas. Developing and using solar and hydro power can be a great idea for conservation. While the rays of the sun can be used for generating solar energy, hydro power can be generated by making use of water flow in a dam.
Fossil fuel
The amount of fossil fuels available on our earth are limited, and hence, if not used with caution, can get over and cause problems for our future generations. In order to avoid resources, like petrol, diesel, and oil to get over, we can make use of cars and vehicles running on electricity and gas. Though many private companies have come forward to manufacture such cars, much more needs to be done in this area for preserving resources.
Wildlife and Aquatic Life
According to reports presented by many wildlife conservation institutions, many species of animals are now extinct because of human intervention. Such human behavior disturbs the ecosystem and environmental balance, which is harmful for all of us. The existence of aquatic animals such as fish is in danger because of water pollution on a large-scale. So, only by enacting strict laws, wildlife and aquatic life can be preserved. Recycling and making use of renewable sources of energy is the need of the hour.
Forests
Forests are also a precious gift for humans from nature, as they provide us protection from the harmful rays of the sun and also with products, such as gums and resins. But, over the years, deforestation has affected several regions of the world in a negative way. So, we should participate in campaigns for preserving forests and also take up tasks of planting new trees for our secure future.

Keeping the environment clean and healthy for living is the responsibility of each and every person. Considering the environmental issues which we all have been facing over the years, it is high time that we realize our responsibilities and act in the right direction. Awareness programs conducted by government can play a crucial role in environmental protection.

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Natural resources are actually nature's gift to man to help him live a comfortable and peaceful life. But, at the same time, we as human beings have the responsibility of conserving natural resources by taking the right steps. This will help us maintain the environmental balance and satisfy our needs to the fullest.

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Classification of these resources can be done by means of many different criteria. However, on the basis of origin, two main categories of natural resources i.e. biotic and abiotic are formed. The ones which are extracted from the earth's biosphere are categorized as biotic. Minerals, metals and other such materials (non-living) fall in the category of abiotic natural resources.

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A Brief List of Natural Resources Many of Us are Not Aware Of

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Classification of these resources can be done by means of many different criteria. However, on the basis of origin, two main categories of natural resources i.e. biotic and abiotic are formed. The ones which are extracted from the earth's biosphere are categorized as biotic.

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The causes of deforestation include the primary notion that forested land is not as economically viable as farmland. The other causes behind deforestation are:

- Need to increase land for settlements and urbanization.
- Timber, for industrial use and as fuel.
- Large-scale conversion into agricultural grounds, corruption and unequal distribution of wealth.
- Cattle ranching.
- Experimentation with forestry.

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Truly Shocking Facts About Deforestation You Simply Can't Ignore

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The causes of deforestation include the primary notion that forested land is not as economically viable as farmland. The other causes behind deforestation are: - Need to increase land for settlements and urbanization.- Timber, for industrial use and as fuel.- Large-scale conversion into agricultural grounds, corruption and unequal distribution of wealth.- Cattle ranching.- Experimentation with forestry.

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Deforestation is one of the major issues we are facing today. This is mainly due to our acts that are completely against the laws of nature. The term deforestation means the use of forestland for commercial or other purposes by man. So, why does deforestation happen? Forests are being chopped to create new land area for man. This trend displays the greed of humans and the increasing needs and demands.

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Why Does Deforestation Happen? The Answer Will Break Your Heart

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Deforestation is one of the major issues we are facing today. This is mainly due to our acts that are completely against the laws of nature. The term deforestation means the use of forestland for commercial or other purposes by man. So, why does deforestation happen?

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A compilation of deforestation statistics which puts forth the grim picture of the planet's fast-depleting forest cover. In fact, the green cover has just disappeared in various regions of the world.

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A compilation of deforestation statistics which puts forth the grim picture of the planet's fast-depleting forest cover. In fact, the green cover has just disappeared in various regions of the world.

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We often get to hear that deforestation, which can be attributed to a wide range of human activities including agriculture and logging, is to be blamed for several environmental issues that planet Earth is facing today. While destruction of forest cover can be attributed to natural processes such as volcanoes and landslides as well, their role in this destruction is easily overshadowed by the role played by humans. Does that mean deforestation and population rise are directly related to each other? There is absolutely no doubt about the fact that rising population tends to put a great deal of pressure on natural resources; and when we say natural resources we don't just refer to fossil fuels and water, which we directly come in contact with, but also refer to the forests, marine resources, etc., which, though indirectly, play a crucial role in our lives. Nevertheless, here we will stress on the relationship between deforestation and population growth, in a bid to see how the rise in population can contribute to the destruction of forest cover.
Deforestation and Population Growth
According to a report compiled by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), approximately 80 percent of the deforestation in the world today is attributed to agriculture (i.e. 48 percent to subsistence agriculture and 32 percent to commercial agriculture). Of the remaining 20 percent, roughly around 14 percent is attributed to logging, 5 percent to the use of firewood and remaining is utilized for other purposes. All these human activities which are considered to be the causes of deforestation invariably rise with the rise in population. For instance, population growth is directly related to increase in the demand for food. In order to meet this demand for food, we have to produce more crop. In order to produce more crop, we require more land; and to get more land for cultivation we have started encroaching upon the forestland, cutting down trees and turning vast tracts of lush green forests into large fields.

Deforestation in forested areas starts with human settlements mushrooming in near-forest areas. As time elapses, these settlers begin producing their own food by resorting to subsistence agriculture for which they begin clearing forest land. If the fertility of soil is less, the crop produce is low which prompts humans to cultivate more area and leads to further encroachment on forestland. While this practice is indeed helpful for us humans, species which inhabit these forested areas have to bear the brunt of this practice. Even in the age of metals, we are highly dependent on timber when it comes to construction; and this timber comes from felling of trees in various parts of the world. Large tracts of forestland are also cleared to fulfill the vested interests of the bigwigs in mining lobby with strong political influences.

The rapid rate at which forests are converted to agricultural lands can be attributed to the belief that forest conversion is more beneficial for humans than forest conservation. Since 1970, somewhere around 232,000 square miles of Amazon forest has been cleared to make way for agriculture and to obtain timber for construction activity. Even today, these forests are cleared at the rate of 1.5 acres per second; which in turn has left several species in these forests endangered. This destruction of tropical rainforests, like the Amazon, is bound to affect the planet as a whole as these forests are home to half the species of plants and animals on the planet. (Not to forget, these forests are referred to as the lungs of our planet as they produce a significant amount of atmospheric oxygen that we require to survive.)
Population Density and Deforestation
Studies have revealed that the forest cover of a particular region can only be retained when the density of population for that region is low. When population density is as low as two people per sq km, it is possible to keep forest cover intact as the population can be sustained on non-timber forest products rather than resorting to agriculture. However, this low population density has become more of a mythical concept of late; with the population density of the world (total land area excluding the continent of Antarctica) reaching 51 people per sq km of late. Similarly, sparsely populated regions of the world are also subjected to a considerable amount of deforestation with external factors such as timber requirement in the field of construction or cattle rearing coming into play.

While population growth continues to fuel deforestation, the effects of deforestation on population are also becoming pretty obvious in the form of climate change and related environmental issues which has put us on toes of late. That explains why developed nations like the United States and Russia have gone into a damage control mode, and are trying their best to recover forest cover which they lost to extensive deforestation during the initial phase of economic development.

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How is Deforestation Related to Population Growth?

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Even though it is quite obvious, very few people out there know that deforestation and population growth are directly related to each other in such a manner that the rise in population invariably results in a rise in the rate at which deforestation occurs. Continue reading to see how deforestation is related to population growth...

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In recent times, the ill effects of deforestation have come to light in the form of various environmental catastrophes taking place all over the world, such as tsunamis, hurricanes and earthquakes. Not to mention, how great a contributing factor deforestation is to air and water pollution as well as soil erosion. That's why, it is necessary that awareness should be spread about the fact that if the human race has to survive, the ecology and the environment have to be maintained and not be tempered with, in any form. Various steps should be taken, both at the individual and the governmental level, to prevent deforestation from happening.

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How to Prevent Deforestation and Restore the Earth's Green Canvas

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In recent times, the ill effects of deforestation have come to light in the form of various environmental catastrophes taking place all over the world, such as tsunamis, hurricanes and earthquakes. Not to mention, how great a contributing factor deforestation is to air and water pollution as well as soil erosion.

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Deforestation: A Cause of Global Warming That Goes Unnoticed

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What are the causes and effects of deforestation? What is global warming? How is it linked to deforestation? Let us find out.

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Deforestation can be defined as the clearing or removal of forests or stands of trees for specific purposes, whereby the land becomes available for non-forest use. This dissolute actions of mankind are causing an intolerable imbalance in nature, and are a major factor leading to climate change, extinction of rare animals, desertification, and displacement of population. Deforestation is also one of the major causes of a disturbed water cycle, global warming, and soil erosion. If not controlled, the imbalance is likely to threaten life on Earth.

Solutions to Deforestation
The run for profitability on the grounds of deforestation is leading the world towards devastation and desolation. There is a need to keep a check on such activities before it is too late to act. Here are a few solutions that can help save our planet from the harmful effects of deforestation.
Improved Methods of Farming
Land is needed to grow crops and rear cattle for which trees on it need to be cleared. To prevent this, farmers need to be introduced to new methods of farming. This can prevent the indiscriminate cutting down of trees.

Cyclic Agriculture
In cyclic agriculture, the land is used for cultivation till the soil loses its fertility, after which it is abandoned. Natural vegetation makes the soil fertile again in a few years. The time span in which the land remains barren can be utilized for cattle grazing and this can help in preserving forests as more trees don't have to be cut for creating lands for farming.

Crop Rotation
In this type of farming, the same plot of land is utilized to grow seasonal crops, one after the other. This prevents cutting down of trees to get new land for cultivation. Crop rotation also increases the productivity of soil.

Use of High-Yield Variety Seeds
This is a farming technique which uses highly productive seeds that are often drought and insect resistant. These seeds produce more while utilizing a smaller area of land. With the use of these seeds, the need to cut trees is lesser and a higher production is achieved from the same piece of land.

Hydroponics
It is a special farming technique of growing plants in water (without soil) containing dissolved nutrients.

These techniques, if followed in the right manner, can definitely help prevent deforestation. Farmers should also be made aware of the harmful effects of cutting trees and of intensive farming, which leads to erosion and infertility.

Several programs have been drafted to limit and control the rate of trees being cut in the recent years.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) is a program initiated to provide monetary assistance to developing countries facing the problem of deforestation. The money is utilized to roll back or limit deforestation and stop practices that are harmful to the environment.

Another initiative taken by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a non-profit organization aims at minimizing the impact of commercial logging on forests around the world. It provides certifications to timber logs and products that have originated from sustainable forests. It ensures that logging does not exceed capacities of forests, thus allowing long-term sustainable harvesting. Such initiatives should be encouraged. A small way could be to buy wood products with the FSC trademark and help FSC achieve its mission of saving more forests.

As a national initiative, the government of every country needs to impose rules so as to put a stop to deforestation and take a strict action against offenders. Initiatives for the planting of trees need to be taken in both urban, as well as rural areas. Urban development programs should use barren land, and forest covers should not be disturbed for the same. Forest areas should be guarded and logging practices should be watched on. Measures should be taken to compensate for the loss of trees.

The government should also allow special incentives to organizations that take part in afforestation. Tax cuts should be granted to corporations, to get them actively interested in reforestation.

Trees cannot be grown in areas deficient in water supply. Scarcity of water can falter an entire eco-system. Conservation and proper distribution of water can help solve this problem. Water management programs should ensure that water wastage is reduced. Making water available in areas where it is scarce, can help promote the growth of trees in those areas.
Monitoring and Reforestation

Deforestation needs regular monitoring. It is important to keep a check on areas with high rates of deforestation and this can be done with the help of aerial photos, satellite imagery, or hotspot analysis. Keeping a check on deforestation can help in taking concrete conservation steps. Monitoring also helps in verifying the total damage done.

Reforestation
Reforestation helps in improving the quality of the environment as well as of human life. Trees help in reducing pollution and in mitigating global warming. Many East Asian countries have successfully managed to reverse deforestation. China has shown a tremendous change in converting land areas to forest covers in the last decade. As a special initiative for reforestation, China has also declared a "National Tree Planting Day" in the country. Many other countries, such as Germany, Canada and the United States, have taken an initiative and are in the process of increasing their forest areas through reforestation.

It is necessary to make people realize the importance of trees. Schools and other educational institutions should teach students the need of trees and the environmental impact of their felling. They should help spread awareness about the importance of forest covers on the planet and how cutting of trees can be detrimental to life. Seminars, stage shows, and office campaigns can help in creating a basic understanding of the need for afforestation. Campaigns like these can help in educating people and making them aware of the ill-effects of deforestation.

Saving Wood Fuel
Trees are cut down for fuel. It is important that people understand the need of trees, and substitute wood fuel with other forms of fuel such as biomass, biofuel, or coal.

Using Recycled Products
Recycling is the process of utilizing used or abandoned material to create new products. Using recycled paper products, such as paper pads, shopping bags, books, tissue paper, etc., can be helpful in preserving forests as using recycled products reduces the need for the cutting of trees.

Planting Trees
Initiatives for planting trees should be taken at an individual level. Afforestation can start at a very basic level if each of us decides to plant, say, one tree every month. Group initiatives to plant trees on hills, on fertile patches of land in the outskirts of the city or on riversides can surely help. It does not take much to start with planting a tree or two in one's own garden or an area around one's school or workplace. If done regularly, it can contribute to the spread of green cover. This should also help in making up for the loss of trees in the past and promote a healthier environment.

Plant more trees, save the environment and make the Earth a better place to live.

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Solutions to Deforestation That Make Perfect Sense

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The rapid cutting down of trees is endangering the environment. Deforestation stands out as a major concern that needs immediate attention. It's high time we take the initiative to save trees. Let's come together to make the planet greener and healthier by devising effective solutions for deforestation.

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What's Ungreening the Forests? Causes and Effects of Deforestation

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Here are some of the main causes and effects of deforestation.