Land clearing, or the clearing of a forest or stand of trees, is “deforestation”. Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make land available for other uses. Deforestation is happening all over the world, although tropical rainforests are particularly targeted. If current levels of deforestation continue, the world's rainforest will disappear within just 100 years. An estimated 18 million acres (7.3 million hectares) of forest, roughly the size of the country of Panama, are lost each year. As you can see, the topic of deforestation could harm animal life, and cutting down trees could lead to a lack of oxygen. Illegal logging occurs in all types of forests on every continent, from Brazil to Indonesia, destroying nature and wildlife, removing community livelihoods and distorting trade. Illegally harvested wood ends up in major consumer markets, such as the United States and the European Union, further fueling the cycle. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Negative Effect/Impact Deforestation can have a negative impact on the environment. The most dramatic impact is the loss of habitat for millions of people. Common methods of deforestation are tree burning and clear-cutting. These tactics leave the land completely barren and are controversial practices. Clear-cutting occurs when large areas of land are felled in one fell swoop. Burning can be done quickly, over large areas of land, or more slowly with the slash-and-burn technique. Slash-and-burn farming involves cutting down a patch of trees, burning them, and growing crops on the land. The ashes of burned trees provide some food for plants and the land is free of weeds resulting from burning. When the soil becomes less nourishing and weeds begin to reappear after years of use, farmers move to a new plot of land and start the process again. Forest loss is both a cause and an effect of climate change. Climate change can damage forests, for example by drying out tropical rainforests and increasing fire damage in boreal forests. Inside forests, climate change is already harming biodiversity, a threat that will likely increase. The most common reasons are: To make more land available for housing and urbanization. Harvest wood to create trade items such as paper, furniture and houses. Create ingredients. which are highly prized consumer goods, such as palm oil. To create space for raising livestock. Deforestation and forest degradation can occur quickly, for example when a forest is clear-cut to make way for a palm oil plantation or new settlement. It may also occur gradually due to the continued degradation of forests as temperatures rise due to climate change caused by human activity. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Forests play an important role in maintaining the water cycle, providing living space for animals, maintaining environmental balance, and preventing soil erosion. Without forests, there is no..