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Deforestation

Deforestation is present everywhere in the world. The Amazon, equatorial Africa and south-east Asia are the most affected regions. In the 19th there were about 16 million square kilometres of forest. At present, there is no more than half. Each year 13 million hectares are deforested but from 2000, this number has been reduced to 7 million (0.18 % in less).

In Asia, there are about 20 hectares per minute which disappear. Most of primary forest will have disappeared by the end of the 21st century. A lot of asiatic countries are subjected to a fast deforestation which destroy natural places. The deforestation rhythm is decelerated thanks to new plantations and to forest's natural expansion. India is the 3rd wood producer in the world with 287.4 million cubic metres debited in 1993. Forest covers 23 % of the countrie's area.

	India is the 3rd wood producer in the world with 287.4 million cubic metres debited in 1993. Forest covers 23 % of the countrie's area.
Elephants without food because of deforestation

I. The main reasons

A The burning

The culture on burning represent 45% of tropical deforestation.It takes place following various stages. It begins by killing the vines, the shrubs, the little trees (big trees are saved) at a height of 1 metre. Then the trees are burned at the end of the dry season, the seeds are put in the holes made in the ash. The seeds are harvested by hand or with a sickle. Poor farmers burn and clear the forest for harvest wich last only two or three years. It is especially practiced in mountains.

B Cremation in India

The number of people who are cremated in India is estimated at 8.5 million per year. At their death, the indians are cremated. During the cremation, the body of the deceased is put in a coffin placed on a tall tower in bamboo. Then the body is placed in a sarcophagus. Then, the tower and the sarcophagus are burnt. All must be burned and the ceremony only ends when there are only ashes. As a lot of people are cremated, a lot of wood is used for such ceremonies, which is another reason for the deforestation.

C. The others reasons

- Loggings are another reasons for the deforestation. It is reponsible for many ravages, trees are cut and burnt. Each year, a lot of trees are cut uselessly. This is called clear-cutting, which involves cutting everything and keeping only what is profitable.

- Foresters eliminate natural forests to replace them new ones which have only one species of trees adapted to the needs of high-yield wood. These new forests don't reproduce the ecosystem of the forest home; characterized by a wide variety of fauna and flora at all stages of development.

II Consequences

The roots allow the conservation of grounds, the fight against avalanches and landslides; however, by deforesting this is no longer possible which has an impact on the stability of the soils.

Deforestation act on the humidity rate of the atmosphere which leads to reduced rainfall. The woods store and regulate the water cycle.

There is an impact on energy reflected by the Earth which become more important.

The carbone dioxide present in plants is released and escape in the atmosphere, which increases the green house effect and global warming. The increase of carbone dioxide causes the extension of desert and a modification of sea level. The consequences are damaging to many people (the wood is for them a source of food, of refuge), but also to more than 27 000 animal and plant species per year.