How does deforestation influence global carbon levels?

Deforestation increases global carbon levels by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by trees and releasing stored carbon.

Trees play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. They absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, a process that converts carbon dioxide and sunlight into oxygen and glucose. This glucose is then used for growth, effectively storing the carbon in the tree's biomass. When forests are cut down, this important carbon sink is lost, leading to higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Moreover, when trees are felled, the carbon stored in their biomass is released back into the atmosphere. This can occur through decomposition if the trees are left to rot, or through combustion if the wood is burned. Either way, the result is a significant release of carbon dioxide. In fact, deforestation is responsible for about 10% of all global greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition to this direct release of carbon, deforestation can also lead to soil degradation. Forests help to maintain healthy soils by recycling nutrients and preventing erosion. When they are removed, the soil can become degraded and lose its ability to store carbon, leading to further increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

Furthermore, deforestation often leads to the replacement of forests with other land uses, such as agriculture or urban development. These new land uses typically store much less carbon than forests, and can even be sources of carbon emissions. For example, the conversion of forests to agricultural land often involves the burning of vegetation and the release of carbon-rich soil particles into the atmosphere.

In conclusion, deforestation has a significant impact on global carbon levels. It reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that can be absorbed from the atmosphere, releases stored carbon, degrades soils, and often leads to land uses that are less effective at storing carbon. As such, efforts to reduce deforestation are an important part of strategies to mitigate climate change.