The 2023 J.U.C. Media, Research & Writing Awards | Submitted Category: WATER ACTION For Africa
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The 2023 J.U.C. Media, Research & Writing Awards 
Submitted Category: WATER ACTION For Africa
Submission Code: WAA#1
Student Age: 15 | Word count: 1057

STOP DEFORESTATION IN CONNECTION WITH GROUNDWATER

ABSTRACT

[The 2023 J.U.C. Awards, LMGlobal.Org]
Stopping deforestation towards water in our world of today is a very big step take case that water plays an instrumental role in the livelihood of plants and animal it should therefore be curbed so as to preserve the esteem of ground water. To a greater extent deforestation should be reduced so as to avoid the esteem of special plant specials which could how ever be of great importance in the future and also serve as a great historical instrument to our unborn generation. Deforestation as we all know is the cutting down of trees without any replacement which then goes along to cause hard to society at large. This is because when you cut down a tree without replacement, in the process of cutting it down you there by destroy other plants species and also expose the soil as a whole to agents of erosion which then causes the soil to become infertile and therefore make plants to loss their grip to firmly hold ground water which could be used by plants to manufacture their food through the process of photosynthesis.

Introduction
Preserving ground water is a fundamental element which should be adopted by all and therefore one would say, whatever we do on the land affects groundwater and underground sources face greater pressure than ever from human activity. As we all know, groundwater is precious. For it is the life blood of the environment and people, plants and animals rely on it as their only source of water. As we strip the land of vital vegetation such as cutting down of trees (deforestation), and ground cover with other related activities such as farming practices and expansion of our cities, do have grave consequences. As the saying goes, “whatever we do above ground reflects just what will happen beneath our feet”.

Definition of key terms
• Deforestation.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, deforestation is the cutting down of trees in the forest in a large number without replacement. This act has always been a threat to our environment but still, many people are continuing in this ill act. It should be noted that deforestation is causing ecological imbalance yet, some people have to fill their pockets as they keep on with the act.

• Ground water.
Ground water is any water that is stored within the soil and rocks underground. About 30% of the world readily fresh water is ground water. It moves slowly through geologic formations of soil sand and rocks called aquifers. It therefore serves as a source of drinking water to humans of the world, for plants growth and manufacturing of their food. Most importantly is used for irrigation which becomes the most widely used.

•   General causes of deforestation in connection with found water
•   Mining 

This is because since there is a rise in the demand for mineral, mining in tropical areas is on the rise and as a result goes a long way to destroy the ground water which is considered as the cleanest source of water.

• Climate change
In our world of today, climate change account for about 70% of all the diseases present in the world. Climate change therefore has affected our season and in connection to ground water, too much of harsh climatic condition has greatly helped in drying off water in the soil through the process of condensation. This has then gone a long way to affect the water table causing shortage of water present in beneath the soil and within the rocks for plant growth and also for human activities like irrigation.

• Expansion and infrastructure
In our growing world of today, there’s a very high rate of expansion and infrastructure. In an area where there are more settlements, ground water turns to be threaten more because of human activities. The ecosystem is then been destroyed in the process of cutting down trees to keep up to the growing world in the area of expansion and infrastructure

• Industrial agriculture
Industrial agriculture account for about 80% of deforestation worldwide, this is because more is demanded at a high rate and therefore more should be planted. This however destroys the ground water because more inorganic chemicals has to go in to the soil in other to nitrified the plant but in a long run instead turns to destroy the ground water making no longer consumable by humans.

Just like the causes of deforestation in connection to ground water, there are however some related effects to these causes which will be seen below.

• The root of trees and other plants act as a filtering source for ground water therefore cutting down these plants means ground water is expose to danger since groundwater as it flow, it carries along some wasteful particles such as oil, fertilizer from human actions, sewage and industrial waste. Therefore the root of these plants and other plants helps to play a very important role.

• Plants also help in preventing evapotranspiration through their shades. That is it blocks direct sun light from hitting the soil directly so as not to dry off completely ground water which goes a long way in providing a lot of functions both to plants itself and humans who sully depend on it as one of their biggest source of water.

• When the groundwater level decrease, deforestation will also decrease because there won’t be any water which could be used by plant for their growth hence, plants will dry off and die.

• Deforestation will also lead to a decrease in soil infiltration of water hence, a fall in the water table with an increase in the rate of soil erosion.
Haven’t critically looked at some of the attributed consequences of deforestation in connection with groundwater, there could however be some related solutions in other to remedy the situation. This will then be view below.
• Urge our government to implement sustainable land use policies and to pass laws that forbids the sales of products linked to deforestation hence preserving ground water.
• Support campaigns that protect indigenous rights. This is because; indigenous people and other local forest communities are necessarily on the front lines of the battle to protect forest they call home. More so, this because this forest they call home provides them with a lot of opportunities thereby in a way preserves ground water.
• Invest in civil advocacy campaigns. In some parts of the world like Brazil and in other parts of south American countries are working to implement and expand cattle moratorium which would lessen the rate of exploiting the rainforest ecosystem but rather focusing more on something else which in essence helps to preserve ground water.

To conclude, one would say that stopping deforestation absolutely is a great action and preserving ground water is the best action since it serves a lot of function to plants, animals and humans. Therefore, no matter the circumstance ground water should be preserved.

The Water Action Awards For High School Students in Africa was added on at a very late stage to the 2023 J.U.C. Awards in late February 2023 toward encouraging, particularly, high school students in Africa, in support of the #UN2023WaterConference (22-24 March 2023). Since this category did not have the same duration as the rest, the given deadline for submissions, was for a brief period. Thus, the Evaluation Committee may consider evaluating above 500 words under this particular category. 
– B.Ü. LMGlobal.Org