Effect of forest cover on climate with implications for agriculture, animal husbandry and water provisions

Abstract

Meta data gleaned from the literature was modeled to determine one of the functions of forests in Ethiopia to explain their reported key role in boosting food production.  This refers to their function in regulating climate across four forested regions of Ethiopia. Forest cover significantly explained variations in averages of precipitation and temperature which was also shown to have significant effects on food production, availability of surface water and ground water. The results showed forests are responsible for high precipitation and cooler climate which were shown to be the requirements for high productivity of crops and animal husbandry which are dependent upon the availability of surface and ground water that are respectively affected positively and negatively by the levels of precipitation and temperature. The conclusion from the paper is deforestation enhances the warming of the climate with consequences such as significant decline in food production and availability of both surface and ground water. Forest conservation is thus vital for the economy ensuring not only humans survive but flourish also.

Keywords: Climate, Forest Cover, Crop Production, Livestock Production, Surface Water, Ground Water