How do agriculture and forestry practices impact climate change?
Agriculture and forestry practices impact climate change by releasing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Deforestation and land-use changes reduce carbon storage, exacerbating warming. Conversely, sustainable practices like reforestation and improved soil management can sequester carbon, mitigating climate change effects.
What sustainable practices can be implemented in agriculture and forestry to conserve biodiversity?
Sustainable practices in agriculture and forestry to conserve biodiversity include agroforestry, crop rotation, reduced pesticide use, integrated pest management, conservation tillage, maintaining buffer zones, reforestation, selective logging, and protecting existing natural habitats. These practices help preserve habitats, improve soil health, and promote species diversity.
How do modern agriculture and forestry practices affect soil health?
Modern agriculture and forestry practices can degrade soil health by disrupting nutrient cycles, increasing erosion, and decreasing organic matter through extensive tillage and monoculture planting. However, sustainable practices such as crop rotation, agroforestry, and reduced tillage can improve soil structure, enhance biodiversity, and promote nutrient retention.
What role do agriculture and forestry play in carbon sequestration?
Agriculture and forestry play a crucial role in carbon sequestration by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Trees and plants store carbon in their biomass and soil, reducing atmospheric CO2 levels. Sustainable practices enhance this capacity, contributing to climate change mitigation. Deforestation and soil degradation, however, release stored carbon back into the atmosphere.
How do agriculture and forestry practices contribute to water pollution?
Agriculture and forestry practices contribute to water pollution through runoff containing pesticides, fertilizers, and sediments that contaminate water bodies. This runoff promotes eutrophication, causes harm to aquatic life, and leads to the degradation of water quality. Deforestation increases erosion, further exacerbating sediment pollution in waterways.