Deforestation’s Impact on Biodiversity

Research has found that when the need for goods are high, the spotlight on environmental issues dwindles. The everlasting need for paper products is causing the need for commercial deforestation practices and they are finding their way into some of the most specie abundant landscapes. Biodiversity is the natural occurrence of the interactions between community and natural structures. Current research on biodiversity and species richness loss in forested areas suggests that human practices are a leading factor in the depletion of these two important aspects of forest stability and growth. While there are several factors that contribute to the loss of habitat, eventually leading to a loss in biodiversity, a common occurrence is the method of commercial logging practices in the areas being effected. Furthermore, researchers have found that the rate of deforestation due to human interaction is an ongoing issue, but there seems to be a debate on determining the most effective conservation solution to give rainforests, and other diverse forests alike, their best shot at maintaining biodiversity and abundance. However, researchers can agree that if this ongoing issue is not resolved, the consequences can be detrimental to the natural environment and our overall well-being.

Several conversationalists are concerned with the livelihood activities that create an increase in biodiversity loss in forested regions. Authors of The State and Conservation of Southeast Asian Biodiversity and Southeast Asian Biodiversity: an Impending Disaster relay a similar focus on the region on Southeast Asia and the degree of importance on conservation in the area. Sodhi et al. highlight that Southeast Asia has the highest deforestation rate and could lose 75% of its original forest and up to 42% of its biodiversity by 2100 and consider this a biodiversity crisis. Likely to develop into a full-fledged disaster…. Similarly, Sodhi et al. agrees that Southeast Asia's' deforestation rate is the highest in the tropics and could result in projected losses of 13-85% of biodiversity in the region by 2100. Biodiversity loss is a global issue and can be found over all parts of the world. Benhin and Barbier emphasis on the biodiversity loss in Ghana and agree that biodiversity loss is an increasing concern for the future of conservation. They exemplify the apprehension by stating that the species are so severely impacted that many flora and fauna are reaching, if not already on, the endangered species list. Alternatively, Clark et al.'s study in China's forested areas suggested that animal abundance (in mammals specifically) varied with forest regrowth and the timeline of study. This does not say much for the flora species and the fauna that are dependent on the forest habitat. Although the study found a loophole in the overall assumption on biodiversity loss, researchers agree that regions with abundant species richness and biodiversity are in a crisis due to deforestation practices on the land.

One of the most detrimental sources of biodiversity loss is due to deforestation, specifically, researcher's emphasis the use of logging practices in the forested regions. Conservationists Ahrend et al. find that approximately one-third of remaining tropical forests has been degraded through selective logging…. To exasperate the message even further, Bradshaw et al. states that and average of 1.2% of total rainforest area is lost each year… due to rates of deforestation. The growing economic demand for timber, expressed by Bradshaw et al., accelerates the clearance of forests and the increase in logging activities.

This deforestation has major impact on biodiversity, biological diversity is the connection between all organisms and their ecosystems in which every species has a particular role in the web of life. Equally, biodiversity health impacts human health and livelihoods. Humans are dependent on the resources around them, and a continuation of logging and other deforestation practices will eventually wipe out resources necessary for a sustainable life. Researchers have found that the rate of deforestation due to human interaction is an ongoing issue that is directly effecting biodiversity in forested areas. Nevertheless, determining the most effective conservation solution to give diverse forests their best shot at maintaining biodiversity and abundance is up to debate among researchers and conservationists. However, scholars can agree that if this ongoing issue is not resolved, the consequences can be detrimental to the natural environment and our overall well-being. The debate between researchers whether governmental, social, or economical assistance is the right choice for a conservation solution is a step in the right direction. I believe that to find the right solution, conservationists need to combine their efforts and refer to the three pillars of sustainability, which are economic prosperity, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship.

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