Impacts of Deforestation (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Many of the impacts of deforestation are environmental including:

• Areas that have been deforested are planted with monoculture which reduces biodiversity

• Interception and infiltration decrease which reduces evapotranspiration and as result precipitation decreases

• This also increases overland flow which leads to soil erosion and sedimentation of the rivers

• Sediment builds up on river beds reducing their capacity and increasing the flood risk

• Lack of interception increases the leaching of nutrients

• Fewer trees to absorb CO₂ means an increase the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere adding to the enhanced greenhouse effect
  

Indigenous communities have less land to sustain their traditional way of life this means:

Land does not get the opportunity to recover

Less food available 

Improved quality of life for some people due to increased income and jobs

Indigenous communities may give up their way of life leading to a loss of culture and traditions

Increased risk of landslides which can destroy homes and block roads

Loss of potential medicines 

Increased risk of flooding of settlements

More jobs available in mining, forestry, agriculture and HEP

Increased income for the country through the export of goods from the forest - minerals, timber, crops

Almost a quarter of Brazil's GDP comes from activities in the deforested areas of the Amazon