Industrial air pollution, particularly common in some temperate forests, also reduces forest health. Loss of biodiversity. These problems are contributing to a rapid reduction in ecosystem, species and genetic diversity. This lowers the world s biological potential for improving material, food and medicine production. With tropical forests being perhaps the major repository of biodiversity, forest abuse in tropical regions is causing particular concern.
Forests play a major role in carbon storage.
It is probable that the cumulative effect of global forest loss and environmental degradation will be a net contribution to regional and global climate change. Replacement or alteration of forests by other land uses has produced economic and social benefits in many countries. In particular, the clearance of forest for agriculture has been deliberate and has been looked upon as advancing possibilities for development, either by increasing food security or providing cash crops to fuel income growth. Yet there are costs. The problem is that those who reap the benefits generally do not pay the costs.