Deforestation in Florida Essay Example

look at deforestation in Florida and the impact of climate change on the state by exploring the state’s economy and local ecological features.

Florida was initially covered with large tracts of forested land, prairies, mangrove forests, and large swampy areas presently called the Everglades. Initial inhabitants of the city depended mainly on subsistence farming (McGoun, 2002). However, the boom in human population coupled with the new technology of draining swampy areas created the need to develop large acres of land for future development. Huge forest lands were thus cleared so as to create space for the construction of roads, highways, schools and hospitals. Tree cutting is especially intense in Brickell and downtown Miami so as to create room for the construction of apartment buildings. Timber obtained from the logging process is used for the construction of homes, furniture, and other wooden equipment. Deforestation has thus led to high environmental degradation and climate change both locally and globally.

Among the effects of deforestation include climate change caused by increased greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide, disruption of water cycles, increased soil erosion and the disruption of livelihoods (Burgess, & National Bureau of Economic Research, 2011). The state’s economy and local ecological features have been affected tremendously by climate change. Warm temperatures on land have increased the average air conditioning bills, and the beautiful beaches are disappearing due to the ever rising sea water levels. Mangroves form part of the state’s ecological features, and they play a critical role in trapping and circulating different organic materials, chemical elements and nutrients as well as shelter for many animal species. Human impact has, however, had devastating effects on these forests. Among

the bays that have lost large coastal wetland acreage include Tampa and Charlotte Harbor where mangroves have been replacing with urbanization. Such loss of mangrove forests has forced local authorities to enforce laws aimed at protecting the state’s mangrove forests.

The warm temperatures and changes in seasonal rainfall patterns will also have a tremendous impact on plant and animal species distribution within the state, their life cycles, and interactions. Climate change will negatively affect terrestrial species and ecosystems as different species will have to either adapt, seek new habitats or face extinction in the long run as many of the protected areas may no longer be suitable habitats for many wild animals. Increased amounts of dissolved carbon dioxide will lead to acidification of water bodies hence causing coral bleaching and loss of coral habitats for associated species. Marine food chains will also face interruptions thus resulting in the extinction of some marine plant and animal species. Freshwater species and ecosystems will also suffer similar effects as a direct consequence of global warming. The Florida panther faces extinction due to increased human encroachment into its natural habitats making it difficult for them to hunt for food. This invasion has led to changes in their migration routes and reduced their hunting and breeding grounds.

The melting of glaciers has led to the high tides and full spread destruction from storms (Carey, 2010). Such storms will have profound effects on the state including an increase in the number of surge floods affecting the coastal regions, increased erosion and greater fluctuations in water levels. In the coming years, the state will experience extreme weather conditions characterized by other dry and rainy

seasons. Such heavy rainfall will heavily affect the state’s coastline thus interrupting the livelihoods of close to 20 million people. This disruption will affect two-thirds of the state’s economy as coastal developments such as roads, apartment buildings and bridges face inevitable destruction. The rate of erosion of the state beaches is also very high.

The shoreline will move inland due to the unprecedented rise in ocean levels. Such rise in sea levels will affect different facilities that include the county sewage-treatment plant in Virginia Key and the nuclear power plant located at Turkey point. Florida’s flat coastline makes it more vulnerable to flooding. Economists’ estimate that the total value of the property at risk due to these floods ranges between $5 and $15 billion as higher seas will lead to more destruction from storms (Brosnan, 2010). The storm-related losses could increase by $2 billion a year in the next two decades. The rising temperature will have a harmful effect on human health as close to 2000 heat-related deaths are expected to occur each year within the state.

Property insurers have increased their premiums as the risks faced by properties within the coastal strip have become more profound. Insurers have thus begun rolling out climate-related insurance policies so as to cater for such climate-related destructions. Insurers consider the state as being at significant risk of property loss not only because of its long sea coast and expensive real estate but also due to its low elevation and high water table. These facts make the area prone to inland flooding especially during high tides and from water rising through the ground. Miami building land contains porous limestone that allows

seawater to pass through it even if these areas are protected by barriers.

The state's manufacturing industry faces enormous economic losses due to its reliance on transport infrastructures such as roads, rivers and ports and workers being at high risk from suffering from strokes due to high temperatures in the region (Romm, 2016). Food manufacturers will face losses due to decreased crop yields and lower production and fertility amongst livestock.

In conclusion, it’s apparently clear that deforestation will have devastating effects on both the economy and ecosystem of the state of Florida. The most destructive effects will come about as a result of global warming due to the increased amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere (Jakab, 2011). Local and state authorities thus need to take up different measures aimed at curbing the effects of deforestation and global warming.

References

1. Brosnan, K. A. (2010). Encyclopedia of American environmental history. New York, N.Y: Facts on File.
2. Burgess, R., & National Bureau of Economic Research. (2011). the political economy of deforestation in the tropics. Cambridge, Mass: National Bureau of Economic Research.
3. Carey, M. (2010). In the shadow of melting glaciers: Climate change and Andean society. New York: Oxford University Press.
4. Gorte, R. W. (2013). Deforestation and climate change. Place of publication not identified: Bibliogov.
5. Jakab, C. (2011). Greenhouse gases. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark.
6. McGoun, W. E. (2002). Ancient Miamians: The Tequesta of South Florida. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida.
7. Romm, J. J. (2016). Climate change: What everyone needs to know.