GLOBAL DEFORESTATION
What Causes Deforestion?
Global deforestation is the complete removal of the forest canopy, and global degradation is the loss of carbon (but the canopy remains intact). Both are occurring at an alarming rate. There are many variables that compound this problem, but we can identify the largest catalyst as being an economic one: Large commercial agriculture and timber enterprises are the principal agents of tropical deforestation. On a smaller scale, expanding populations of subsistence farmers attribute to the deforestation for agricultural needs, such as firewood and farming, as well as building. Depending on the region, there are various economic drivers for deforestation (in other words, clearing forests in order to produce a different cash crop). Some of these are:
But truly, we can sum up the root cause of deforestation as destructive human activity without replenishing what SHOULD be a renewable resource. |
What is Deforestation?
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So where is this happening? The top ten countries that is is a big issue for are listed below.
- Honduras (-37%)
- Nigeria (-36%)
- The Philippines (-32%)
- Benin (-31%)
- Ghana (-28%)
- Indonesia (-26%)
- Nepal and North Korea (-25%)
- Ecuador and Haiti (-22%)
Why?
Let's focus on the top three countries for now. Why are their forests being depleted at such alarming rates?
HONDURAS -37% of forests
Honduras's high rate of deforestation stems from its poverty. Deforestation results from agricultural colonization by subsistence farmers, clearing for cattle pasture, collection of fuelwood (65% of the country's energy comes from fuelwood), mining activities, and timber harvesting.
Honduras's high rate of deforestation stems from its poverty. Deforestation results from agricultural colonization by subsistence farmers, clearing for cattle pasture, collection of fuelwood (65% of the country's energy comes from fuelwood), mining activities, and timber harvesting.
NIGERIA -36% of forests
Logging, subsistence agriculture, and the collection of fuelwood are cited as leading causes of forest clearing in the West African country. There is also a significant amount of timber export from Nigeria.
Logging, subsistence agriculture, and the collection of fuelwood are cited as leading causes of forest clearing in the West African country. There is also a significant amount of timber export from Nigeria.
THE PHILLIPPINES -32% of forests
Expansion has led to a significant increase in commercial logging (introduced by American colonizers), which is a primary cause for deforestation in the Philippines. Deforestation worsened during the Marcos dictatorship, when the logging industry was monopolized by the political elite and foreign companies.
Expansion has led to a significant increase in commercial logging (introduced by American colonizers), which is a primary cause for deforestation in the Philippines. Deforestation worsened during the Marcos dictatorship, when the logging industry was monopolized by the political elite and foreign companies.
Effects of Deforestation
EROSION OF SOIL
When forest areas are cleared, it results in exposing the soil to the sun, making it very dry and eventually infertile (due to volatile nutrients being lost, like nitrogen). Large tracts of land will be rendered permanently impoverished and easy to wash away. |
FLOODING AND DROUGHT
One of the vital functions of a forest is to absorb and store large amounts of water quickly when there are heavy rains. When forests are cut down, the regulation of the flow of water is disrupted, which leads to alternating periods of drought and floods. |
GLOBAL WARMING
Trees play a critical role in absorbing the greenhouse gases that fuel global warming. Fewer forests means larger amounts of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere—and increased speed and severity of global warming. |
LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY
The most dramatic impact is a loss of habitat for millions of species. Seventy percent of Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive the deforestation that destroys their homes. |
So what can we do?
The easiest solution would be to simply stop cutting down trees. However, this isn't a very practical solution to put into action. A more realistic plan would be to carefully manage forest resources by eliminating clear-cutting practices; this would make sure that forest environments remain intact over time. The cutting that DOES occur should be balanced by planting (more than) enough young trees to replace the older ones that have been felled in any given forest. While the number of new tree plantations is growing each year, their total only equals just a tiny fraction of our planet's forested land.
So...................................
SOLUTION #1
Require companies to introduce zero-deforestation policies that require suppliers to produce commodities such as timber, beef, soy, palm oil and paper fiber in a way that has a minimal impact on natural forests and the climate. Also require these companies to enforce replanting of young trees to ensure the continuation of the forests for future generations.
SOLUTION #2
Provide consumers with viable alternatives to wood to reduce the economic demand for clear-cutting forests. Encourage purchase of products made using recycled wood or alternatives to wood.
SOLUTION #3
Support and use treaties like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to protect forests, and the endangered animal and plan species that rely on those forests for their habitats.
So...................................
SOLUTION #1
Require companies to introduce zero-deforestation policies that require suppliers to produce commodities such as timber, beef, soy, palm oil and paper fiber in a way that has a minimal impact on natural forests and the climate. Also require these companies to enforce replanting of young trees to ensure the continuation of the forests for future generations.
SOLUTION #2
Provide consumers with viable alternatives to wood to reduce the economic demand for clear-cutting forests. Encourage purchase of products made using recycled wood or alternatives to wood.
SOLUTION #3
Support and use treaties like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to protect forests, and the endangered animal and plan species that rely on those forests for their habitats.
REFLECTION
Until I completed this assignment, I didn't understand how many different things deforestation truly affects on our planet. I always knew we had fewer trees, but I didn't comprehend how intertwined the forests are with the well being of the earth. I learned that the forests are connected to the life cycle of the earth in many ways....human populations are affected, biodiversity is affected and greatly reduced, water cycles are disrupted (once again, affecting human and animal populations) and even climate change and global warming are all tied back into the forests.
Moving forward I will be much more aware of the effect I have on this problem...because individual people can definitely help turn the tide. By paying attention to what products are made of, and choosing only to support companies that use recycled materials, I can help drive the solution forward. I also want to get involved with reforestation by helping to plant new young trees and supporting institutions that are working to build new tree plantations.
The biggest thing I can contribute at this point is to help drive awareness. I believe many people are under-informed about the impact of deforestation, and I believe that most people would understand the necessity of reversing this disturbing trend, and could help propel the movement to save the forests forward.
Moving forward I will be much more aware of the effect I have on this problem...because individual people can definitely help turn the tide. By paying attention to what products are made of, and choosing only to support companies that use recycled materials, I can help drive the solution forward. I also want to get involved with reforestation by helping to plant new young trees and supporting institutions that are working to build new tree plantations.
The biggest thing I can contribute at this point is to help drive awareness. I believe many people are under-informed about the impact of deforestation, and I believe that most people would understand the necessity of reversing this disturbing trend, and could help propel the movement to save the forests forward.
SOURCES
http://www.ucsusa.org/http://www.greenpeace.org/
http://www.treehugger.com/
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/
http://news.mongabay.com/
http://www.kalikasan.net/
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/
http://www.ucsusa.org/http://www.greenpeace.org/
http://www.treehugger.com/
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/
http://news.mongabay.com/
http://www.kalikasan.net/
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/