Logging

Logging occurs for various reasons such as to clear room for the planting of pulpwood trees which are then used to produce paper at a tremendous rate and for valuable wood for building materials.  Even though there are restrictions placed by the Brazilian government illegal logging unfortunately does still occur.


Deforestation clears the area of trees that typically absorb moisture... this lead to excess run off which leads to an increase in flooding.  In addition during drier times of the year moisture is unable to be absorbed by the trees which leads to quicker evaporation leading to drought.  This phenomenon greatly affects agriculture and villages and cities living by the water.  Moreover what occurs in Brazil can affect areas as far away as Mexico and Texas.

On a global scale deforestation greatly increases CO2 in the atmosphere.  Ideally one would think that an increase in carbon would cause an increase in productivity for example causing photosynthesis to occur at a quicker, more frequent rate.  In actuality in short term studies done where plants have been exposed to elevated CO2 levels there is often a buildup of non structural carbon in the plant and little or no growth.  In addition an increase in temperature due to an increase of carbon in the atmosphere will increase rates of respiration exponentially while rates of photosynthesis will reach a maximum and then decline (Clark).  Carbon emissions are detrimental to growth in the Amazon, but unfortunately the systematic deforestation of the rainforest itself is causing a significant amount of pollution in our atmosphere.

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Additionally because of logging edges are created in the area which create unfavorable environments in the area.  It has been stated that "Forests near edges are generally hotter, drier, and more likely to experience elevated wind turbulence than intact forests leading to elevated forest desiccation."(Numata, et.all)  Consequently tree mortality results in significant loss of above ground biomass in forest fragments and is a significant source of atmospheric carbon emissions (Numata, et.all)  In addition decaying biomass all adds carbon to the atmosphere.

Figure 1. Forest fragmentation in the Brazilian Amazon in 2001 and 2010. Areas in different colors indicate the classes of total forest edge length (km) within each 5 km × 5 km grid cell. Blue:1-15; Yellow: 16-30; Red: >30     (Numata, et.all)

Figure 1. Forest fragmentation in the Brazilian Amazon in 2001 and 2010. Areas in different colors indicate the classes of total forest edge length (km) within each 5 km × 5 km grid cell.
Blue:1-15; Yellow: 16-30; Red: >30     (Numata, et.all)