An impending storm : Impacts of deforestation on weather patterns and agriculture
Forests currently cover around 30% of the Earth’s land surface, but are being
lost at an “alarming rate” (FAO, 2010). Deforestation is highest in the tropical
areas of South America, central West Africa, and South and Southeast Asia, with
13 million hectares of global forest lost each year (FAO, 2010). Forests provide
ecosystem services that include the regulation of weather and climate at local,
regional and even global levels. Therefore, deforestation not only causes a direct
loss of forest habitat but also leads to indirect impacts as ecosystem services
deteriorate or fail. While it is well known that deforestation emits carbon dioxide
that contributes to global climate change, less well known are the projected
impacts on weather patterns. This report reviews published studies on these
indirect impacts of deforestation and their potential impact on agriculture.
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