Deforestimi

Deforestimi, the Albanian term for deforestation, refers to the removal of forest cover or its permanent conversion to non-forest land uses, resulting in a sustained reduction of forest area. It can occur gradually or rapidly through activities such as clearing, degradation, or abandonment of forested land, and it arises from a combination of human activity and, less frequently, natural disturbances.

Causes include agricultural expansion, especially for cattle grazing and crop production; commercial and illegal logging; infrastructure development such as roads and urbanization; mining and energy projects; and the use of fire. Economic pressures, population growth, weak governance, land tenure disputes, and markets for forest products contribute to deforestimi in different regions.

Impacts are wide-ranging. Biodiversity loss reduces habitat and species richness; soil erosion increases river sedimentation; hydrological cycles are altered, affecting water availability and flood risk; carbon stocks are released to the atmosphere, contributing to climate change; and local communities, including indigenous peoples, may lose livelihoods, cultural ties to forests, and access to resources.

Measurement and trends rely on satellite monitoring, forest inventories, and international assessments. Global reports show that while some regions experience reforestation or restoration, net forest loss remains a concern in many areas, with rates and drivers varying by country and decade.

Responses focus on sustainable forest management, protected areas, enforcement against illegal logging, tenure reform, and restoration initiatives. Programs such as REDD+ aim to compensate for reducing emissions through forest conservation and improved management. Reforestation, afforestation, and agroforestry are also pursued to recover ecological functions and livelihoods.

Deforestimi is a global environmental and development issue, intersecting climate, biodiversity, land rights, and rural economies. Addressing it requires coordinated policy, secure land tenure, and incentives for sustainable land use.