DEFORESTATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

Abstract

Deforestation is one of the most serious environmental challenges of the twenty-first century because forests are closely connected with climate regulation, biodiversity, water resources, soil conservation and human livelihoods. Forests absorb and store carbon dioxide, regulate local and regional rainfall, protect soils and provide habitat for a large share of terrestrial biodiversity. When forests are cleared or severely degraded, this ecological balance is disturbed. Carbon stored in vegetation and soils can be released into the atmosphere, while the capacity of landscapes to remove carbon from the atmosphere is reduced. At the same time, deforestation can increase soil erosion, alter water cycles, reduce biodiversity and make local communities more vulnerable to floods, droughts and extreme temperatures.This paper examines the relationship between deforestation and climate change, focusing on environmental impacts and sustainable solutions. The study is based on secondary information from international organisations and peer-reviewed research, particularly the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), scientific literature on forest-cover change, REDD+, forest restoration and climate mitigation. The analysis uses a descriptive and comparative approach, supported by a year-wise review of major developments in forest and climate research and global forest statistics.