THE ROLE OF DEFORESTATION IN CLIMATE CHANGE
Keywords:
deforestation, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon sequestration, forest conservation, land use change, climate mitigation, biodiversity lossAbstract
This article examines the significant impact of deforestation on climate
change, exploring the complex interactions between forest ecosystems and the
Earth's climate system. It delves into the mechanisms through which deforestation
contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, alters regional climate patterns, and
exacerbates global warming. Additionally, the article discusses the socio-economic
drivers of deforestation, including agricultural expansion, logging, and infrastructure
development, and their implications for forest conservation and climate mitigation
efforts. By synthesizing scientific research and empirical evidence, the article aims
to elucidate the critical role of forests in regulating the Earth's climate and
underscore the importance of addressing deforestation as a key strategy for climate
change mitigation and adaptation.
References
Bonan, G.B. (2008). Forests and Climate Change: Forcings, Feedbacks, and
the Climate Benefits of Forests. Science, 320(5882), 1444-1449.
Betts, R.A. (2007). Climate Change and Tropical Ecosystems: Potential
Feedbacks and Impacts on Ecosystem Services. Philosophical Transactions of the
Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 362(1478), 1375-1388.
Pan, Y., et al. (2011). A Large and Persistent Carbon Sink in the World's
Forests. Science, 333(6045), 988-993.
Harris, N.L., et al. (2021). Global Maps of Twenty-First Century Forest
Carbon Fluxes. Nature Climate Change, 11(3), 234-240.
Galford, G.L., et al. (2010). Forest Disturbance from Extreme Drought and
Carbon Loss on the Colorado Plateau. Journal of Geophysical Research:
Biogeosciences, 115(G4), G04016.
Nepstad, D., et al. (2009). The End of Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon.
Science, 326(5958), 1350-1351.
Houghton, R.A. (2005). Aboveground Forest Biomass and the Global Carbon
Balance. Global Change Biology, 11(6), 945-958/
