DEFORESTATION PRESENTATION

Deforestation

II.I.S. MEDI, Italy

start

Index

DEFINiTION

ITaly

cAUSES

sicily

EFFECTS

possible solutions

quote

ViDEOs

MAP

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Deforestation: what are we talking about?

Much of Earth’s farmland was once forests. Deforestation has dramatically altered landscapes around the world. When we talk about deforestation, we talk about the purposeful clearing of woodland. Forests cover 31% of the planet’s surface: they help people survive by purifying water and air and providing jobs for people( about 13.2 million people worldwide have jobs in this industry). Animals in particular rely on forests, which are home to more than three quarters of the world’s life on earth. Forests also play a key role in mitigating climate change because they absorb carbon that would otherwise be free in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change. But forests around the world are threatened, jeopardizing these benefits.

Causes

The causes of deforestation on Earth are mainly consequences of human activities.

1) Industrial agriculture: The conversion of forests into cultivated land icaused at least 50% of global deforestation. 2) Intensive livestock or fodder farming: in Europe, 20% of deforestation is caused by grazing livestock. 3)Urbanization: in particular the construction and expansion of roads in the middle of forests to facilitate their exploitation. 4)The need to use wood as fuel: one third of the world’s population needs wood to heat their homes; 5)Climate change: is both a cause and a consequence of deforestation and forest degradation. Extreme events such as fires, droughts and floods affect forests.

Causes

Effects

excessive felling of trees has several negative effects, which are:

The causes of deforestation on Earth are mainly consequences of human activities:

1) Industrial agriculture: The conversion of forests into cultivated land icaused at least 50% of global deforestation. 2) Intensive livestock or fodder farming: in Europe, 20% of deforestation is caused by grazing livestock. 3)Urbanization: in particular the construction and expansion of roads in the middle of forests to facilitate their exploitation. 4)The need to use wood as fuel: one third of the world’s population needs wood to heat their homes; 5)Climate change: is both a cause and a consequence of deforestation and forest degradation. Extreme events such as fires, droughts and floods affect forests.

1) The intensification of the greenhouse effect and climate change: plants and trees, through the process of chlorophyll photosynthesis, transform the carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere into oxygen. The presence of a few trees causes an increase in CO2 and consequently a global warming. 2) Lower biodiversity: the destruction of forests causes the extinction of many plant and animal species, resulting in genetic impoverishment. The loss of biodiversity means an irreversible loss of future opportunities for man. 3) Land hydrogeological hazards: trees play an important role in soil maintenance. Excessive logging significantly increases the risk of landslides, floods and landslides.

People are suffering, they are dying. Whole ecosystems are collapsing. We are at the beginning of a mass extinction.

Greta Thunberg

Map

35%

21%

19%

These are the main areas subjected to forest fires.

Italy

the disaster of our country

Deforestation in Italy dates back to the Roman Empire, where wood was used for fuel, construction, and shipbuilding. In Italy the regions most subject to forest fires are: Sicily, Calabria, Campania, Tuscany, Lazio and Puglia. Above all, the "jewels of the country" are in danger: protected areas and world heritage sites. Today, Sicily has one of the highest deforestation rates in Europe due to urbanization, agriculture, and wildfires.

Sicily

+info

sicily, the island of fire

78

The number of hectares burned in Sicily amounted to 78,000 in 2021 alone, making it one of the Italian regions most affected by the effects of climate change and at risk of desertification.

thousand

A consequence of the burning of steep slopes such as those of the island, which is not very evident, is the serious risk of subsequent denudation of the soil and the formation of erosive or even landslide phenomena, especially in case of violent rains, that are also characterizing this era.

Possible solutions

solution 03

solution 01

solution 02

Promoting sustainable forestry practices, such as selective logging and reforestation efforts.

Enforcing stricter laws and regulations on logging and land-use practices.

Encouraging the use of alternative materials to reduce the demand for wood products

solution 05

solution 04

Developing and implementing better warning systems to alert people when a fire is approaching.

Increasing public education about preventing forest fires, such as avoiding campfires during dry conditions.

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by Aurora, Carlotta, Giorgia, Maria Chiara