Forest trees help to absorb greenhouse gasses and carbon emissions that are caused by human activities. Hence the mass and rapid clearing of rain forests through burning in Indonesia can be said to bring about higher carbon and greenhouse gasses emissions, contributing to global warming.
According to the World Resources Institute, Forest loss contributes between 12 percent and 17 percent of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.
These greenhouse gas emissions brings about the greenhouse effect, where these gases absorbs thermal radiation, and re-radiate it back to the surface, resulting in the elevation of surface temperatures. Although the increase in temperature is small, however it has a large impact in climate patterns, which affect sea levels and agriculture yields.
The rising sea levels threaten coastline and low-lying cities, increasing the frequency of floods or even wipe out beaches and islands. With the increased in temperature, it might stifle the growth of certain crops as it exceeds its optimaltemperature, resulting in lowered agriculture yield.
Photo: Global Warming and Greenhouse Effect Source: http://www.elements-srm.com.au/what-is-climate-change-and-global-warming/