Effects of Clearcutting on the Environment
Clearcutting has many negative effects on the environment. Clearcutting can significantly alter rivers, the water cycle, and habitats, as well as affecting the atmosphere. This is caused by the abrupt removal of trees, which drastically changes the surrounding land.
Rivers
Clearcutting can drastically affect rivers if the logging occurs nearby the riverbank. If it does, the shade supplied by the trees is eliminated, which allows the temperature of the water to increase. Even a few degrees can have a huge effect on native plants, fish, and amphibians. Extensive clearcutting could lead to the extinction of certain fish species as the fish are driven out of their natural habitat because of the warmer water temperature. Elevated temperatures can decrease the level of dissolved oxygen in the water, as well as increasing the growth rates of plants, which could lead to algae bloom. Also, the couple degrees of change in the water temperature can negatively affect mortality and reproduction through slight changes in cells. The loss of tree roots also enables erosion, which can cause the riverbanks to collapse into the river.
Water Cycle
While trees grow, they help trap and retain water and topsoil. Once trees are removed, water will run over the surface of the earth instead of being absorbed into the soil and filtering down to the aquifier. Water runoff can cause flooding and carry away more topsoil with it. As the water flows downhill, it carries the topsoil into rivers, turning the rivers brown, murky, and muddy. The useful nutrients are then taken out to sea with the river water. These excess nutrients in the marine environment can be harmful to various marine organisms and cause population damage, which can extend for several miles offshore.
Habitat Loss
Clearcutting destroys the habitats of many diffrent animals, including some endangered species. Birds, reptiles, and mammals are all affected by habitat destruction from clearcutting. It is difficult for these animals to find a new habitat because usually either the surrounding area has already been clearcut or it may be filled with human inhabitants. Some animals have adverse reactions when met with humans, which include large predator species and animals such as raccoons which readily adapt to human encroachment on their habitat. Other animals are incapable of adapting and simply die off. The effects will then extend into the ecosystem by destroying a link in the food chain.
Atmosphere
Clearcutting impacts the quality of the atmosphere as well. Trees filter pollutants from the air, and also are an important part of the carbon cycle. When a tree is cut down, it releases all of the carbon dioxide it has collected, filling the atmosphere with greenhouse gases.