Causes and Effects of Rainforest Destruction

Technology and analytics executive Brad Surak led the global division of GE Digital before joining Hitachi Vantara as the president of digital solutions. Brad Surak has spearheaded initiatives that promote the use of advanced technology to enhance environmental conservation efforts. Previously, he collaborated with the nonprofit, Rainforest Connection, which supplies monitoring software to organizations working to prevent deforestation.

Rainforests are some of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world and play an essential role in Earth’s carbon cycle. However, human activities such as logging, mining, and clearing land for agriculture and ranching purposes have led to accelerated deforestation. In the past 100 years, nearly half of the world’s rainforests have been wiped out.

The consequences of rainforest destruction are vast. At a local level, millions of animal and plant species lose their habitat, which results in their extinction. Further, many rainforests are also home to Indigenous populations who risk losing their culture. At a wider scale, rainforest destruction results in higher levels of atmospheric carbon, a primary driver of climate change. Rainforests also regulate the Earth’s water cycle. Reduction in forest cover can cause drought in many areas, impacting crop yields and contributing to soil erosion.