The Roles of Forest in Environment Modification

Abstract

By the late 1990s the environmental problems included the greenhouse effect and global warming, the
hole in the ozone layer, acid rain, and the destruction of tropical forests. But whilst the problems appear to
be largely physical (environmental), the causes and solution lie more in people’s attitude, values and
expectation. It is expected that the environment should be all things to all people (It is to be life supporting,
it is to be useful, and it is to be beautiful). Unfortunately the environment cannot meet all these needs at
the same time. Cutting trees from large areas (deforestation) without adequate replanting has resulted to
almost half of the world’s tropical forest being cleared. Each year about 170,000 square kilometers of these
forests are cut and equivalent portion is degraded. Within 30-50 years there may be little of these forests
left, many of the remaining diverse, old-growth forests are being cleared and replaced with single species
tree farms (plantations), greatly reducing wild life habitats and biodiversity. Eliminating or decimating wild
species through destruction of habitats, commercial hunting, pest control and pollution. Each year
thousands of wild life species become extinct, mostly because of human activities. If habitat destruction
continues at present rates, as many as 1.5 million species could disappear over the next 25 years - drastic
loss of vital earth capital, polluting renewable air, and water and soil so that they are unusable. This work
therefore, x-rayed the benefits of forests to the environment, the concept of environmental sustainability
and management of forests to enhance functional environment.