Unit 3 AoS 1 - Deforestation

Percentage of the world's land covered by forests

About 31% of the world's total land area.

FAO definition of deforestation

The long-term reduction of tree canopy cover to below 10-30% depending on the forest type.

Three main categories of forest based on human activity

Primary forests, secondary (regrowth) forests, and plantations.

World's largest terrestrial carbon sink

Forests — they absorb about 2 billion tonnes of CO₂ per year.

Last Glacial Maximum occurrence

Approximately 20,000 years ago.

Forest coverage during the Holocene Climatic Optimum

About 47% of Earth's land area.

Afforestation

Planting trees on land that was not previously forested.

Reforestation

Re-establishing forest cover on land that was previously forested.

Regions with accelerating loss of tropical forests since mid-20th century

South-East Asia and parts of Africa and Latin America.

Greatest direct cause of deforestation worldwide

Agricultural expansion (responsible for about 73% of global deforestation).

Percentage of global deforestation caused by logging

Approximately 19%.

Two indirect causes of deforestation

Infrastructure projects (e.g. roads, dams) and weak enforcement of forest protection laws.

Two natural processes affecting forest land cover

Pest invasions (e.g. mountain pine beetle) and wildfires.

Global carbon emissions responsible by deforestation

Around 10%, with tropical rainforests contributing nearly 20%.

Positive environmental impact of deforestation

Clearing dense rainforest can allow ecological surveys and conservation monitoring.

Negative environmental impact of deforestation

Habitat destruction for endangered species such as forest elephants and gorillas.

Positive social impact of deforestation

Creation of employment opportunities in timber and agriculture industries.

Negative social impact of deforestation

Loss of livelihoods for Indigenous groups reliant on forests for food, medicine and culture.

Positive economic impact of deforestation

Increased land for cash crops such as cocoa, coffee, bananas and oil palm.

Negative economic impact of deforestation

Soil erosion and flood damage reduce long-term economic productivity.

Main issue associated with biodiversity loss in Cameroon

Forest clearing destroys habitats for endangered species like forest elephants and gorillas.

Main challenge associated with illegal logging in Cameroon

Weak governance, corruption, and poor enforcement make it difficult to control illegal activity.

Yenga Community Forest - a local response

A Baka-managed community forest in Cameroon established in 2013 to support sustainable management and community development.

Aim of Global Forest Watch (GFW) - a global and geospatial response

To provide transparent, real-time forest data to support better conservation and management decisions.

Strength and limitation of GFW

Strength: Real-time forest monitoring. Limitation: Cloud cover can delay detection in tropical regions.