Climate Change is Exacerbated by Mountain Deforestation

Some of the places where one can most visibly see the impacts of human induced climate change are in mountain regions. Rapidly melting glaciers, reduction in mountain snow and extreme changes in weather patterns are recorded in mountain regions worldwide.However the way that mountain deforestation and mountain region ecosystem degradation is impacting upon climate change is often overlooked.

Climatologists and microbiologists have demonstrated, that the relationship between plants, forests, biodiversity and global atmospherics are not simply a one-way affair. It is well known that glaciers in mountain regions are an essential element in climate regulation worldwide. Yet it is less understood, how much the mixed forests of these regions affect the on-going replenishment of these snows and glaciers and therefore what a pivotal role they play in atmospheric and climatic regulation. Fortunately there is a growing awareness and recognition of this interdependent relationship.

For greater effectiveness in dealing with and addressing climate change, the ecological restoration side of the equation needs to be placed in the forefront. There is presently a lot of focus directed towards stopping or reducing activity that harmfully impacts upon the climate. However ecological restoration needs to be allotted equal importance. Considering the important role that mountain forests play in naturally regulating climate, protecting, conserving and restoring the crucial biodiversity and ecosystems of these regions worldwide should be a central part of mitigating climate change. The impacts of this would yield more positive and restorative affects than simply focussing upon neutralising negative impacts.

Forests play a major role in Earth’s carbon cycle. Trees convert atmospheric carbon from CO2 into organic woody biomass as part of a respiratory process called photosynthesis. Trees then store the carbon until the woody biomass is destroyed. This carbon storage is called sequestration. When forests are cut down, not only does photosynthesis– and thus carbon absorption– cease, but also the carbon stored in the wood of the trees is released into the atmosphere as CO2 if the wood is burned or decays.

This research is another indicator that in order to truly address human induced climatic instability, we need to call upon the
ingenious services that healthy functioning ecosystems provide.

This is no longer something to be set aside while we focus on further research, new technology or war. This is also not an issue to be adopted for fast profit schemes. The success of these mixed forest protection and restoration projects ultimately affect the lives and long-term well being of all humanity and all other species upon Earth.

The fact that this has been allowed to continue by those with the powers to stop it is an act of criminal negligence. The consequences of marginalising or essentially disregarding this yet again are fatal for all life on Earth. Now that this knowledge is understood and has been readily available for many years all large-scale deforestation programs throughout the world, especially those targeting primal forests should be regarded as crimes against humanity, as they seriously threaten all our lives and those of future generations.