Deforestation refers to a situation whereby land that was once forest losses its trees and ceases to be forest. Or deforestation may be defined as the indiscriminate cutting down of trees without replacement.


CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION

1. Bush fires

2. Human settlement

3. Mining activities

4. Fuel wood and charcoal

5. Road construction

6. Lumbering and logging: the cutting of trees for timber and other uses contribute to the depleting of the forest. This situation is more serious when loggers have to cut down small trees in order to access big trees. All these contribute to the fast depletion of the forest.

7. Infrastructural development 


EFFECTS OF DEFORESTATION

Below are some of the effects of deforestation:

1. Loss of medicine; Herbal practitioners depend  on the leaves and roots of trees which exist in the forest for herbal medicines. As many of the trees are cut down, medicines in the forest become scarce. The long term effect  is that it affect the health and well being of people who depend of these herbal medicines.

2. It leads to the drying up of water bodies

3. It leads to global warming

4. It accelerates desertification

5. It deprives wildlife their natural habitat.


MEASURES TO CONSERVE THE FOREST

There are many ways by which the forest can be conserved. Amongst them include:

1. Reafforestation

2. Creation of forest reserves

3. Adopting better farming practices

4. Public education


BENEFITS GHANA DESERVES FROM HER FOREST.

1.  Foreign exchange from the export of timber

2. Generation of revenue to the government

3. For domestic purposes

4. Medicinal supply

5. Construction works