The Deforestation Carbon Cycle

Deforestation is the permanent removal of forests in order to convert the land for other purposes. Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the Universe.¹ The carbon cycle is the transfer of carbon between different reservoirs on Earth.² It is instrumental in maintaining a stable climate and carbon balance.³ So, how does deforestation affect the carbon cycle?

The carbon cycle

Our planet has a closed system of carbon. This means that the total amount of carbon never changes. However, the state and reservoir in which it is stored are in perpetual flux.⁵ 

Most of our carbon is stored in rocks, minerals and sediment beneath the planet’s surface.⁶ The rest exists in the ocean, atmosphere, plants, soil and fossil fuels.⁷ Carbon moves from one reservoir to another through various processes. 

For instance, burning fossil fuels, such as petroleum, coal or natural gas, releases large quantities of stored carbon. Combustion converts it to CO2, and in this gaseous form, it enters the Earth’s atmosphere.⁸ As a consequence of human activities, the atmospheric level of CO2 is higher than at any point in the past 800,000 years.⁹ 

How does deforestation affect the carbon cycle?

Trees and plants capture CO2 from the atmosphere to make food through photosynthesis.¹⁰ They sequester the carbon in their biomass or the surrounding soil. When trees are cut down and the wood is burned or left to rot, the stored carbon is released into the atmosphere as CO2.¹¹ CO2 is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming by trapping heat.¹² In this way, deforestation accounts for at least 10 per cent of all anthropogenic emissions.¹³

Can reducing deforestation prevent climate change?

Deforestation facilitates one part of the carbon cycle, increasing the CO2 in the atmosphere. It also prevents forests from absorbing any further carbon by destroying the trees. It, therefore, inhibits this aspect of the cycle and leads to increased levels of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Reducing deforestation would curtail this process and give the remaining trees a chance to redress the imbalance by pulling carbon out of the atmosphere.

Preventing climate change depends on two shifts in human behaviour as it relates to the carbon cycle. We must stop emitting so many greenhouse gases by transitioning away from dirty fossil fuels that produce high levels of carbon. Switching to clean energy sources, such as wind and solar, can provide our energy needs without jeopardising the planet. Meanwhile, a huge reduction in deforestation and a simultaneous effort to enhance existing forests by planting new trees is needed. This will help the carbon cycle convert CO2 from the atmosphere and reduce the effects of global warming. 

1. Riebeek, H. (2011). The Carbon Cycle. [online] Nasa.gov. Available at: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/CarbonCycle.
2. National Geographic Society (2019). The Carbon Cycle. [online] National Geographic Society. Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/carbon-cycle/.
3. National Geographic Society (2019). The Carbon Cycle. [online] National Geographic Society. Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/carbon-cycle/.
5. This means the total amount of carbon never changes.⁴National Geographic Society (2019). The Carbon Cycle. [online] National Geographic Society. Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/carbon-cycle/.
6. National Geographic Society (2019). The Carbon Cycle. [online] National Geographic Society. Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/carbon-cycle/.
7. Riebeek, H. (2011). The Carbon Cycle. [online] Nasa.gov. Available at: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/CarbonCycle.
8. Denchak, M. (2018). Fossil Fuels: The Dirty Facts. [online] NRDC. Available at: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/fossil-fuels-dirty-facts#:~:text=Fossil%20fuels%20produce%20large%20quantities.
9. Lindsey, R. (2020). Climate Change: Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide | NOAA Climate.gov. [online] Climate.gov. Available at: https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-atmospheric-carbon-dioxide.
10. National Geographic Society (2019). The Carbon Cycle. [online] National Geographic Society. Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/carbon-cycle/.
11. Union of Concerned Scientists (2012). Tropical Deforestation and Global Warming | Union of Concerned Scientists. [online] www.ucsusa.org. Available at: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/tropical-deforestation-and-global-warming#:~:text=When%20trees%20are%20cut%20down.
12. NASA (2018). The Causes of Climate Change. [online] Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. Available at: https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/.
13. Rainforest Alliance. (2018). What is the Relationship Between Deforestation And Climate Change? [online] Available at: https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/relationship-between-deforestation-climate-change.