The Impact of Illegal Logging on the Environment

Losses from illegal logging

The economic impacts emerging from illegal logging are not only due to financial losses due to deforestation of tree loss, but more to the economy in a broader sense, such as the loss of opportunities to exploit the diversity of products in the future (opprotunity cost). The real income earned by illegal loggers from illegal activities is very small, since the largest revenue portion is picked by funders (cukong).

The loss of soil fertility

When the forest is tripped by its trees, it causes the soil to absorb too much sunlight to become very dry and arid. Until nutrients in the soil are volatile. In addition, rain can sweep away the nutrients from the soil. Therefore, when the soil has lost a lot of nutrients, then reforestation becomes difficult and cultivation on the land becomes impossible. (read: soil erosion)

Lower water resources

Trees strongly contribute to maintaining the water cycle, through the roots of trees absorbing water which is then streamed to the leaf and then evaporating and released into the atmosphere layer. When trees are felled and the area becomes arid, nothing else helps the soil absorb more water, thereby, eventually leading to a decrease in water resources.

Extinction of biodiversity

Although tropical rainforests cover only 6% of the earth's surface, but about 80-90% of the species are in it. As a result of massive logging of trees, there are about 100 species of animals declining each day, the biodiversity of various regions is lost on a large scale, many living things, both animals and plants have disappeared from the face of the earth. (read: how to prevent deforestation)

Causes flooding

One of the functions of the forest is to absorb quickly and store large amounts of water when heavy rains occur. However, when the forests are cleared, this is of course disturbing the flow of water and causing stagnant water and flooding that flows into the settlements. (read: causes of flooding)

Global Warming

Deforestation also affects global warming. Trees play a role in storing carbon dioxide which is then used to produce carbohydrates, fats and proteins that make up trees, in this process biology called photosynthesis. When deforestation occurs, many trees are burned down, cut down, resulting in the release of carbon dioxide in them, causing high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. By looking at the terrible impact, then forest conservation is necessary and should be implemented immediately. The continuous exploitation of forests, lasting until now without being accompanied by replanting, causes forest areas to be damaged.

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