Forests provide a rich food supply to both animals and humans, and prevent soil erosion by anchoring the soil with the roots. Also, forests, especially tropical rainforests, are the home to many threatened and endangered species.  One interesting process that I learned about while reading about this topic was that of carbon sink. In this process, forests absorb large amounts of Carbon Dioxide, which in turn helps prevent buildup in the atmosphere (WWF).

Another interesting phenomenon that I learned about while researching this topic was how droughts can be caused by deforestation. Since forests absorb rainwater constantly to survive, the rainy climate in tropical rainforests is sustained by the continuous recycling of water by the lush forests. Interestingly, when deforestation occurs this recycling cycle is prevented and the climate of the area can actually change to that of a drought.  A related article by the Center for International Forest Research provides current evidence of this detrimental process that is the result of deforestation.  The article explains how deforestation in Brazil has caused unprecedented drought in the region. In fact, only until recently have scientists been able to provide evidence that “much of the rainfall in the interior continents is recycled”(Verchot).  The preservation of this vital ecological process, known as a biotic pump, is crucial to stopping further drought in regions such as the Amazon Basin (Verchot).

Driving human factors for continued deforestation include clear-cutting for agriculture, fires, logging for construction and wood industry, and deforestation due to human induced climate change (WWF). Ranching, or the clearing of land for livestock has become a driving, directly human related, reason for deforestation. According to the WWF website, 17 percent of the Amazon rainforest has been lost due to ranching in the past 50 years (WWF).  It remains clear that a plethora reasons exist for humans to continue deforestation, each with important ethical consequences that must be addressed in both the sectors of business and politics.

Politicians can do much to prevent deforestation, and many are now being convinced to take action in light of new evidence of the harsh effects of deforestation. In countries such as Brazil, the drought is spreading throughout the region into other countries like Argentina and thus calls for the need of an International approach to the problem (Verchot).  In all countries, legislation preventing deforestation and increased enforcement of environmental crimes may be one approach to this problem. Another interesting approach to dealing with the problems of drought caused by deforestation that was mentioned in the Center for International Forestry Research article was the need to accommodate the expected drought into the economic systems of the affected areas, as well as providing improved water storageand other means of water supply (Verchot). Not only is it vital to prevent deforestation, but also to react accordingly to the effects of it.