Category: Deforestation

Louis Schwartzberg once said, “Nature’s beauty is a gift that cultivates appreciation and gratitude”, but what happens if that beauty is no longer there? Nature is not only known for its beauty but also for the filtering of our air and water, providing shelter for millions of species, and producing natural resources and food for all living things. However, all around the world, deforestation permanently destroys myriads of forests which not only takes away our trees but the habitats of most of our species. It also limits the use of natural resources as well as the source of food for most living organisms. Deforestation can affect our atmosphere by releasing greenhouse gases into the air along with the erosions of our soil and more. This has been an issue that is known worldwide and this needs to stop.

It is known that forests occupy about thirty-one percent of the land area on our planet. (World Wildlife Fund 2019). However, forests around the world are under threat from the degradation of trees which is deforestation. These forests produce vital oxygen and provide a home for people and wildlife. Many of the world’s endangered animals live in forests and most of our people rely on the benefits forests provide. This includes the provision of food, fresh water, medicine, shelter, and much more. Deforestation may have an effect on our environment, but it’s actually helping out with the shaping of communities around the world. So there’s a positive and a negative side to this topic. Deforestation has always been a practice for most developing communities and has contributed to most civilizations as we know it today. Sadly, the ill effects of deforestation are mainly caused by the act of greediness. (Cotthem 2008).

The greatest driver of deforestation is horticulture. Horticulture is the practice of garden cultivation and management. This is similar to agriculture. Agriculturists slice backwoods to give more space for planting products or touching animals. Frequently, little ranchers will clear a couple of sections of land by chopping down trees and consuming them in a procedure known as slice-and-consume horticulture. (World Wildlife Fund 2019). As I’ve said earlier, there are positive consequences to this issue. Contingent upon the requirements of the social gathering concerned, deforestation has made it workable for networks to be manufactured. Woods clear a path for private houses, places of business, and plants. Governments can assemble streets to make exchange and transport simpler and accordingly progressively advantageous to occupants. Deforestation can likewise mean the transformation of backwoods’ land to gainful land for agrarian employment. This outcome in a better and increasingly plenteous generation of sustenance and materials, essentially killing times of need and need.(Cotthem 2008). Monetarily, deforestation has contributed much in allowing numerous networks the chance to roll out positive improvements in their lives.

Deforestation has increased throughout the past years. Although it might have benefits most of the work done is affecting the environment badly. Not only for us but also for the species. The negative consequences far outweigh its positive effects. First is Presenting soil to warmth and rain. At the point when woods are cleared, soil cover, which comprises mostly vegetation, is evacuated also. This uncovered the exposed soil to outrageous conditions created by the sun’s warmth and water. With these exercises rotating, the dirt rapidly compacts. As water streams, it will wash out the supplements and other natural materials that make the dirt rich and fruitful. Add to that the successive exercises of working, editing, and touching which slowly results in the corruption of the dirt’s quality. (Cotthem 2008).

These practices are extraordinarily a worry in regions where backwoods zones are drier. Horticulture practice over deforestation can result in the desertification of numerous regions. Desertification is additionally an immediate aftereffect of the interest for the dirt to deliver more (as a result of the expansion in the human populace), in this manner diminishing to a noteworthy degree the land’s conveying limit.

The second is Flooding. Deforestation can result in watersheds that are never again ready to support and control water streams from waterways and streams. Trees are exceptionally viable in engrossing water amounts, keeping the measure of water in watersheds to a reasonable dimension. The timberland additionally fills in as a cover against disintegration. When they are gone, an excessive amount of water can result in downstream flooding, a significant number of which have caused fiascos in numerous parts of the world. As fruitful topsoil is disintegrated and overwhelmed into the lower locales, numerous beachfront fisheries and coral reefs experience the ill effects of the sedimentation brought by the flooding. This outcome to negative impacts on the monetary practicality of numerous organizations and fatalities in untamed life populace.

The third one is the Non-reasonableness of deforested territories for change. The majority of the territories that have experienced deforestation are really unsatisfactory for long-haul rural utilization, for example, farming and cultivating. When denied of their woods cover, the grounds quickly corrupt in quality, losing their fruitfulness and arability. The dirt in many deforested zones is additionally inadmissible for supporting yearly harvests. A significant part of the green regions is likewise not as profitable contrasted with progressively arable soils and are in this manner not fit for long-haul dairy cattle nibbling.

Fourth is the removal of indigenous networks and their conventional lifestyle. At the point when governments choose to offer wood for deforestation mostly to open up regions for ‘cultivated’ networks, access to woodland assets by indigenous people groups is disregarded. Truth be told, indigenous people groups are not really incorporated into financial and political choices that specifically influence their lives. This infringement overlooks their rights as much as it removes the assets that their precursors have offered to them. The last is the misfortune in the quantity of biodiversity. This is presumably the most genuine result of deforestation. Put basically, it implies the devastation and elimination of many plant and creature species, a large number of whom stay obscure and whose advantages will be left unfamiliar.

These are the negative impacts of deforestation that can happen or will happen progressively if this does not stop to it. Despite the fact that it may be worthwhile, yet consider the future and what’s in store for us. Woods aren’t only for us, yet in addition, for the species that lived there before you. Their lives matter simply like how our own do. Chopping down trees may give more space for doing what and what, however, trees assume a major job in our condition. Along these lines, we should come as one and help stop this gibberish.

As an individual that is mindful of this issue, I would truly need to contribute and at any rate, have a situation in which to attempt and as far as possible this issue. I will help by advancing familiarity with how deforestation is affecting our condition and furthermore contend about how deforestation is really removing species living space. On the off chance that we matter, they matter. They presumably matter the most due to the way that they really take great consideration of our condition. My position is really to secure us and to ensure other living creatures out in nature are sheltered. We may be growing, yet in addition, consider how species are attempting to grow as well. This is the purpose behind my advancement of mindfulness and my contention.

Prior, I discussed the positive and negative results of deforestation. Some have advantages and some don’t. The principal explanation behind my position is a result of how this issue is progressively demolishing our backwoods and giving species no homes. I’ve thought of advancing mindfulness just with the goal that the general population that is doing this knows about what they’re doing to the earth. Deforestation is a specific worry in tropical rainforests in light of the fact that these timberlands are home to a significant part of the world’s biodiversity. For instance, in the Amazon around 17% of the timberland has been lost over the most recent 50 years, for the most part, because of backwoods transformation for cows farming. Deforestation in this locale is especially wild close to increasingly populated regions, streets, and waterways, however, even remote zones have been infringed upon when significant mahogany, gold, and oil are found. (World Wildlife Fund 2019).

Not just that, deforestation is additionally the purpose behind the environmental change. Woodlands assume a basic job in moderating environmental change since they go about as a carbon sink—drenching up carbon dioxide that would some way or another be free in the air and add to progressing changes in atmosphere designs. Deforestation undermines this imperative carbon sink work. It is assessed that 15% of every single nursery gas emanation is the consequence of deforestation. Cutting down trees releases these gases into the air which causes other issues to increase. For instance, the greenhouse effect. People aren’t really aware of these things and it is the reason for awareness. I’ve likewise needed to stand and contend for the security of species. It is to guarantee that they have what they possess and they have someplace to live.

I’ve really referenced this before in my paper, however, it’s great to dependably put it out there only for mindfulness. I’m by all accounts, not the only one that faced this issue, however many. A considerable lot of the general population that conflicted with this issue were superstars. They comprehend what’s happening. Without our assistance, we’re simply going to finish up having no life at everything except just dryness all over the place. When the sun achieves the dirt, it will evaporate the dirt. That is what trees are for, to secure and hold the dirt together so it is constantly moist. Further impacts of deforestation incorporate soil disintegration and waterfront flooding. Notwithstanding their recently referenced jobs, trees likewise capacity to hold water and topsoil, which gives them rich supplements to support extra timberland life. Without them, the dirt disintegrates and washes away, making ranchers proceed onward and sustain the cycle. The infertile land which is abandoned in the wake of these unsustainable horticultural practices is then progressively defenseless to flooding, explicitly in waterfront locales.(Pachamama Alliance 2019).

Questions that emerged as I was taking a shot at my paper were, ‘How am I going to do this?’ This was previously I even started my paper. It is on the grounds that this is really my first time completing an examination paper. The other inquiry was, ‘Was I expected to discuss a particular district or part of our planet where this issue is really happening?’ Well, I thought of it and it doesn’t generally appear as though it would cover ten pages so I’ve chosen to simply discuss it when all is said in done. I’ve required help more often than not, however fortunately I had my individual cohorts assist. I’ve comprehended and have looked into most about this issue and the vast majority of what I know is fundamentally the distinct sides to this issue. The rates of when and where this issue happens the most is the thing that I don’t think about. I suspected that it was excessive for me to think about and that it probably won’t have a reason in this paper.

Louis Schwartzberg once said, “Nature’s beauty is a gift that cultivates appreciation and gratitude”, but what happens if that beauty is no longer there? Nature isn’t known for its magnificence, yet additionally for the separating of our air and water, giving asylum to a huge number of animal groups and delivering common assets and nourishment for every living thing. Be that as it may, all around the globe, deforestation for all time pulverizes bunches of timberlands which removes our trees as well as the living spaces of the greater part of our species. Deforestation is the clearing, pulverizing, or generally expulsion of trees through intentional, common, or incidental methods. It can happen in any zone thickly populated by trees and other vegetation, yet most of it is right now occurring in the Amazon rainforest. My position is to help promote awareness of this issue and to help limit deforestation.

1. “Deforestation.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation.
2. Cotthem, Willem Van. “Deforestation: Positive and Negative Consequences (Technorati / Nandu Green).” DESERTIFICATION, 6 Feb. 2010, desertification.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/deforestation-positive-and-negative-consequences-technorati-nandu-green/.
3. “Effects of Deforestation | The Pachamama Alliance.” What Is Social Justice? | Define And Practice | Pachamama Alliance, www.pachamama.org/effects-of-deforestation.

Deforestation is a common issue that happens in both Malaysia and other countries which is bad because forests are vital to living beings on Earth and the planet itself. Why are forests important and why should we care about them? Forests are responsible for our air, water and et cetera. Also, many creatures rely on forests as it is their habitat. Plus, forests also offer important natural resources. For example, food, timber, and medicinal plants. Basically, you can say that without the existence of forests, our planet would be dead right now. You might think that we are taking this too deep and too seriously but the truth is forests are indeed dying. This is all because of deforestation and if we do not do anything to stop this or find a better way to deal with this it will lead to serious consequences occurring.

So, let’s talk about the reasons why deforestation happens and the effects that would occur if we continue deforestation. Starting from the most heard effect, the increment of temperature. The main villain of this effect is carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is excreted from humans and animals. While, carbon monoxide comes from our busy city filled with things like cars, factories, buildings, and much more. If you paid attention in your science class you would know the trees in the forest play a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide if there are not enough trees to process photosynthesis. Trees’ leaves absorb and store carbon dioxide and turn them into sugar which is critical for them to grow. They also release oxygen into the environment which is needed by humans and animals. Hence, cutting trees means there will be nothing left to help us absorb carbon dioxide. This can lead to more carbon dioxide and it will float up into the atmosphere. Due to the increment of temperature, it will cause forest fires. Forest fires are one of the reasons why deforestation is getting worse. So, if there is a forest fire, the increment in temperature will occur and vice versa. Forest fires do not only happen in other countries but it also happens in Malaysia.

In case you did not know, one of the atmosphere’s layers which is called the troposphere contains radiatively active or greenhouse gases that are responsible for heating up the Earth’s surface. The most important things are water vapor and carbon dioxide. Incoming solar energy is mostly short-wavelength radiation. Through interactions with the atmosphere, ocean, land, and biosphere, the short-wavelength radiation is changed into longer-wavelength radiation, which is reradiated back into space. While passing through the atmosphere, the outgoing energy encounters greenhouse gases that absorb the long-wavelength energy and retain it in the lower atmosphere in the form of heat. This process is called the greenhouse effect. So, this is why the more the amount of carbon dioxide, the higher the Earth’s temperature. With the increase in temperature, the water levels will also rise. This is due to the melting of mountain glaciers and ice caps. Rising sea levels could affect society directly by destroying homes, factories, bridges, and roads. It could also lead to economic inflation due to the crops being washed away. In the end, we keep complaining about the weather being too warm but what we do not know is that we are the ones who lead Earth to this current situation and the terrifying effect. Therefore, we need to stop deforestation, or else the temperature will continue rising and it will endanger Malaysia and the whole planet itself.

The second effect that we found is the extinction of flora and fauna. As we mentioned earlier, forests are the habitat of many species of creatures from little squirrels to big gorillas. Those animals rely on the forest to survive. The reason this effect occurs is due to illegal logging. When they cut down trees for their own profit, it decreases the number of trees in a forest. Illegal logging happens because there is a high demand for wood from other countries. Some selfish business owners do not get permission from the government in order to save money so they operate illegal logging sessions. This affects the number of natural forests in Malaysia crucially. Therefore, chopping down trees means that you are ruining the home of the animals. Would you be happy if your house gets destroyed? The animals have the same feelings, every time they hear the ominous sound of the machine they know their home is going to be destroyed and wiped out. It will force them out of their habitats and they will have to move to new ones. What if one day there aren’t any forests left? Where are they going to move to? Consequently, there will be no place for the animal to breed. When there is no breeding among animals, the chances of them being extinct from the face of Earth will get higher. Apart from that, the food chains will also be affected. For instance, if there are no plants or trees, rabbits would starve to death, and it will be even harder for the eagles to find food since they eat rabbits. Hence, if we are not careful deforestation will lead animals to their extinction.

Commercial farming is also one of the reasons why deforestation is happening. Commercial farming is cutting down trees to plant plants that can help them earn money. For example, oil palm trees, durian trees, paddy fields and et cetera. It affects the nature of the soil. This is because they use chemical fertilizers. Logging and commercial farming can cause landslides. Landslides are very dangerous and can affect the safety of people who stays near the forest. Especially forests which are located on mountains. There are a lot of small mountains in Malaysia. Even though the mountains are small but when landsides occur it can cause the lives of human beings and animals.

When deforestation happens, the landscape will change. Landscape change is affected by moisture, human activity, and temperature. For example, when logging has been done, there will be loose soil. Eventually, soil erosion will happen and it will affect the safety of living things. Deforestation exposes soil to wind and water erosion. It can cause acid rain. Acid rain speeds up the weathering of the Earth’s rocky surface. Acid rain can cause a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are released into the air. Those are the reasons why deforestation happens and how it affects us.

Now, let’s move on to the preventative measures that can be taken to reduce deforestation in Malaysia and the world. There are many ways to reduce deforestation. For example, we can carry out tree-planting activities. There are organizations that provide tree-planting activities in Malaysia. We can join these activities during our free time to improve deforestation in Malaysia. It can also promote healthy living when doing tree-planting activities. This is a win-win situation. We can also buy recycled products. This promotes the Go Green community. Besides buying we can practice the 4R. The 4Rs are recycled, reused, reduce, and rethink. The third preventative measure is we can raise awareness by operating awareness campaigns. This can educate people on why deforestation is getting worse in Malaysia and how it will affect everyone. The other preventative measure is the government can enforce the rules by increasing the fine if caught operating illegal logging sessions. Other than that, the government can also arrange for police officers to patrol the forests to make sure no one is burning down trees or logging without permission. The government can also start a press conference to tell the citizens about how Malaysia’s forests are decreasing year by year due to deforestation.

The conclusion is deforestation is getting worse in Malaysia and the whole world. This affects everyone living on planet Earth. If we reduce deforestation, we can reduce the possibility of natural causes. For example, landslides, floods, and much more. This is our beloved planet. We must protect our planet Earth. We must work together to make sure this issue doesn’t get any worse.

Deforestation is the process of removing trees and forests from a landscape. This may be done for many reasons including making way for other land uses such as agriculture and also to harvest for wood resources although it might not be something you see or hear about every day deforestation is a problem that is happening all over the world and has been for many years you might be wondering how does this affect me why should i care well think about the dessk that you are sitting at and the pencil and paper you’re writing with along with the majority of furniture rooms at home what do they have in common they’re all made from trees we use trees to make a lot of different products that we use every single day which means have to cut down a lot of trees to make them so now you may be thinking well why should I care there are lots of trees and forests on earth it’s true there are a lot of trees on earth in fact forest covers a quarter of all land surfaces on earth but the problem is the rate at which you harvest currently humans are cutting down forests at a rate of 36 football courts. 

Deforestation affects many ecosystem functions but the question we’re asking is how does this affect the climate. First off, let’s talk about Carbon cycling. Think about how you breathe in oxygen and breath out Carbon Dioxide. Plants and trees do the opposite, they absorb C2D and release Oxygen through a process called photosynthesis. When we cut down large amounts of trees Carbon Dioxide is no longer absorbed and it stays in the atmosphere. This is a problem because C2D acts as a greenhouse gas, this means it acts like a greenhouse by absorbing and readmitting radiation back down to earth we further contribute to this when we burn forest materials because the carbon stored in them is then released into the atmosphere greenhouse gases have a warming effect and because amounts are being released into the atmosphere all around the world. They are having a global warming effect on the local scale however deforestation is having a different effect. First, let’s talk about Albedo. The Albedo is the amount of light that is reflected off a surface. The main control of albedo is a surface color picture of a black car in the Sun. 

Deforestation is the act of cutting down and clearing forests to meet the wants and needs of people and clearing can be done by accident or deliberate action for housing, agricultural, and industrial use according to, Conserve Energy Future,(CEF) in its article “Deforestation: Compromises of a Growing World”(CEF). One of the many reasons for deforestation is agriculture with the need for food for growing populations and space for cattle grazing(CEF). For industrial use forests are cleared for logging to produce paper products and mining (CEF). The use of land for housing is not just for as the name implies homes, but also roads for transport and settlements(CEF). Forests are also in danger because of the random chance of forest fires or desertification of land that might have human involvement as a part of it(CEF).

Deforestation for its many causes is not a victimless crime and is in fact one that threatens everything on earth and not just the people who live near forests and people who make a living off forests. The obvious group affected would be animals and plants inhabiting forests worldwide and people who make a living off them because in Livescience the article “Deforestation: Facts, Causes & Effects” by Alina Bradford tells the loss of habitats some animals are pushed towards extinction and this has repercussions for hunters and researcher alike(Bradford). And with four-fifths of most land organisms having homes in forests, deforestation endangers many species according to National Geographic and shows how deforestation is a threat to the biodiversity of forests (Nunez). One unforeseen consequence of deforestation is the contributing factor it has towards climate change explains the World Wildlife Fund, (WWF), in its article about deforestation. The article elaborates that carbon is released in wood when cut or burned so deforestation comes out being 15% of greenhouse gas emissions(WWF). The article “Solutions for Deforestation-Free Wood Products” by the Union of Concerned Scientists, UCS, explains how trees take in and store carbon with their presence and growth, and when felled the stored carbon will eventually escape back out to the world showing a reason bringing down forests is contributing to climate change (UCSUSA). Deforestation also has other effects on the environment with its effect on the water cycle and soil erosion. The article by LiveScience it tells how trees regulate water pollution and water vapor in the atmosphere this illustrates how without trees water would be more likely to be unsafe and hint at the effects it could have on the locations near former forests (Bradford). An article by the Pachamama Alliance titled “Effects of Deforestation,” informs us about the added feature of trees to keep topsoil and water in the ground telling how without tree roots to keep the soil together it would wash away and make flooding worse and also indicating that landslides being more likely with soil being looser and less water being retained by soil (Pachamama). Deforestation does not limit itself to indirectly hurting people in LiveScience it tells how deforestation destroys homes and lifestyles of tribes inhabiting rainforests around the world and tells of an example from a film that documented how reverence tribal communities have toward the rainforest and reinforces how much deforestation would destroy the lives of people (Bradford). Tribes are not the only group of people to be abused and in this case shown by the WWF, it includes actual abuse. In the article, it is told that in Brazil the poor would be attracted to plantations and be forced and abused at gunpoint to work no matter the conditions showing the further impact of deforestation for agricultural needs resulting in ruined lives (WWF). So with the obviousness of deforestation being horrible and costing more than it is worth, the question here would be “What is the best solution to address deforestation and its effects?”

To counteract deforestation the methods used would entail fixed and renewed ecosystems, less carbon in the environment, and rebuilding of natural habitats as listed by LiveScience with rebuilt habitats the industries, culture, and livelihoods that depended on it could be rebuilt too (Bradford). The first solution for the evaluation would be government involvement in the protection, proliferation, and restoration of forests of all types. With the powers that governments hold they would be able to make rules, regulations, and laws on banning clearing forests when cutting them or make it a requirement that after cutting down mature trees young trees must be planted to replace them as CEF suggests (CEF). This is one way that government intervention would seem to be a good way to curb deforestation and would seem easy enough for governments to implement and be the advantage the governments have in getting involved with powers to make actual legitimate and enforced laws. And this can be seen in an article by Zee News titled “Indonesia Now Country with World`s Highest Deforestation Rate” It tells how the Indonesian government placed a ban, although temporary, on the removal of native intact forests showing that government involvement can get laws passed and he is a real viable option for solving deforestation (Zee News). And government involvement could also limit deforestation in other countries around the world even if they have no real power over countries. This is possible because countries could have laws that restrict the entrance of illegal wood products into their territory and protect forests and the Greenpeace article titled “Solutions to Deforestation” it gives a list of laws the United States has that shows this with the Wilderness Act and the Roadless Rule that accomplish the goals told and these laws would help against deforestation from other countries as it shuts out a market for selling illegal wood products to be sold to and so disincentives continual clearing of trees (Greenpeace). But government involvement has its own limits and flaws in the protection of forests. One major flaw is that laws created and implemented might overlook and not cover as much as they should. An example of this is pointed out by the Zee News article tells “the moratorium was responsible for 98 percent of the loss of primary forests in the unprotected category” and tells that it caused major destruction of habitats and displacement of endangered species and caused massive amounts of carbon to return to the atmosphere and caused the title of the article to be “Country with World`s Highest Deforestation Rate” (Zee News). This example shows that governments can sometimes not go far enough in protection and miss a detail that can result in massive problems for themselves and the world. Another worry would be governments abolishing protections with new administrations or other pressures making the choice of governments leading the protection of forests seem not as attractive.

The second solution up for review is for corporations to come to the cause for support and solve the problem of deforestation. And the practicality of corporations helping can be seen in the Yale Environment 360 article by Rhett Butler titled “As Rain Forests Disappear, A Market Solution Emerges” where it tells how they list how donors and major firms invest in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, REDD, programs to deal with deforestation and its effects (Butler). In the article it tells how Merrill Lynch in Sumatra in collaboration with the local government and conservation groups was able to make a $432 million dollar investment fund to work towards the preservation of rainforests in the Aceh province (Butler). These examples paint a picture of how working with firms can help with saving the Earth’s forests by giving and investing money into fuel government programs and conservation efforts. But the involvement of firms can have flaws and concerns connected to them. One major one is told in the Yale article that tells about the concern of REDD programs causing leakage a problem that is explained as when work in protecting forests and stopping deforestation in one place to another, be it from one area to another or one country to another, showing a major flaw in solving deforestation(Butler). But this problem of leakage however can be argued to be a risk for every option for addressing the problem of deforestation with nothing stopping it from happening for other solutions as well. Another problem is revealed in Science Direct by Lee Hannah in “Climate Change Biology” where he addresses the concern of REDD programs negatively affecting locals that have to endure the efforts to reduce deforestation (Hannah). This could mean that jobs they do for a living like harvesting wood or other natural resources and expanding farms for more crops would be gone and have to work to replant trees instead or other actions for deforestation. But it can be argued that to deal with this flaw deals could be made directed at national governments and local ones so that actions on the national and local layers are recognized as suggested by Science Direct (Hannah).

The Third way to fight deforestation is to use the power of communities and the common people to help efforts and cause change. This path would include people in local communities coming together and working towards an activity that would help solve problems that affect the communities. And one example of this in the American Museum of Natural History, AMNH, in “Mangrove Threats and Solutions” which provides an example of the power of local communities to make changes in where in Florida in the Everglades projects are being made and put into actions with efforts such “small-scale mangrove replanting” and “replumbing the Everglades”(AMNH). An action the common person can do is suggested by Greenpeace which it explains that as consumers we can “less stuff, eat sustainable food, and choose recycled or certified sustainable wood products” showing that it would not be so hard to make a difference in the world because it would just be more awareness towards the world and a small change in daily habits (Greenpeace). But this also has its flaw, that people would not be aware of the problem of deforestation or be motivated enough to even care. This problem could be solved by better informing the public and educating people about deforestation which would require money or the powers of government.

Before doing research about this topic I believed that the best way to address deforestation, or any environmental problem, would be for the government to lead and direct the efforts to solve the problem, but after learning more about ways to fix deforestation I have come to see the more practical extent of power various groups wield. And so I realized that deforestation was not as easy to deal with as I thought. And through my research about my topic, my view on the matter has changed. As with the knowledge of how each group would deal with the same problem with each having different weaknesses and strengths. And so I would argue that using communities and the common people would be the best way to solve deforestation. This is because the people would have the power to choose leaders who would help deal with their issues and be able to control companies with the object they care most about, their wallets by choosing to support their business. And with the common people already having made non-profit organizations to fight deforestation and this path would be a way to further their work.

Whether or not the power of communities and the common people are the way to solve deforestation, with the efforts and results of the fight on all sides coming in as time passes arguments for all solutions will continue to pile up. With that, some will argue this group’s actions are ineffective or this group is better at this. This topic will continue to be argued and added upon as all solutions are tested until one or all of them succeeds.

Introduction

Deforestation, the deliberate clearance of forests by human activity, stands as one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. This essay aims to critically analyze the multifaceted impacts of deforestation, exploring its environmental, social, and economic consequences. While often viewed through the lens of environmental degradation, the effects of deforestation extend far beyond mere loss of trees. Understanding the complexities of this phenomenon is crucial in devising effective strategies for mitigation and conservation.

At its core, deforestation disrupts the delicate balance of ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss, soil erosion, and climate change. The destruction of forests not only diminishes the habitats of countless species but also reduces the planet’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, exacerbating global warming.

Furthermore, deforestation has far-reaching economic implications, affecting industries such as agriculture, tourism, and pharmaceuticals. While short-term gains may be realized through the conversion of forests into agricultural land or logging operations, the long-term costs of environmental degradation often outweigh these benefits.

By examining deforestation through a critical lens, this essay seeks to shed light on the urgency of addressing this global crisis. Effective solutions must not only focus on conservation efforts but also address the root causes of deforestation, including unsustainable land use practices, urbanization, and consumer demand for products linked to deforestation.

100 Words Essay about Deforestation

Deforestation, the systematic removal of forests, presents a complex web of environmental, social, and economic repercussions. Ecologically, it disrupts biodiversity, exacerbates climate change, and threatens ecosystem stability. Socially, it displaces indigenous communities, erodes cultural heritage, and sparks conflicts over land use. Economically, it impacts livelihoods dependent on forests, jeopardizes industries reliant on forest resources, and engenders long-term economic instability. Through critical analysis, we uncover the underlying drivers of deforestation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive solutions that address root causes and balance human needs with environmental sustainability. Only through holistic approaches can we safeguard forests for future generations.

250 Words Essay about Deforestation

Deforestation, the deliberate clearance of forests, is a complex issue with profound implications for the environment, society, and economy. An analytical exploration of deforestation reveals the intricate dynamics driving this phenomenon and the wide-ranging impacts it engenders.

Ecologically, deforestation disrupts the delicate balance of ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss, soil erosion, and altered hydrological cycles. Forests are vital habitats for numerous plant and animal species, and their destruction threatens the survival of diverse ecosystems. Furthermore, deforestation contributes to climate change by reducing the Earth’s capacity to sequester carbon dioxide, exacerbating global warming and its associated environmental consequences.

Socially, deforestation disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, including indigenous peoples and rural populations dependent on forests for their livelihoods. The displacement of communities, loss of cultural heritage, and conflicts over land rights are common outcomes of deforestation, exacerbating social inequalities and injustices.

Economically, while deforestation may yield short-term economic gains through activities such as agriculture, logging, and infrastructure development, the long-term costs are substantial. These include the depletion of ecosystem services, loss of biodiversity, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters.

To address deforestation effectively, a multifaceted approach is necessary. This includes implementing sustainable land-use practices, strengthening forest governance, promoting conservation initiatives, and supporting alternative livelihoods for forest-dependent communities. International cooperation and awareness-raising efforts are also crucial in tackling this global challenge.

In conclusion, through analytical examination, we gain insight into the complexities of deforestation and can develop informed strategies to mitigate its impacts. By prioritizing sustainability and conservation, we can strive to preserve the invaluable ecosystems provided by forests for future generations.

400 Words Essay about Deforestation

Deforestation stands as a testament to humanity’s complex relationship with the environment, reflecting both our dependence on forests for resources and our disregard for their intrinsic value. This analytical essay seeks to unravel the multifaceted dimensions of deforestation, exploring its environmental, social, and economic ramifications.

At its heart, deforestation represents a stark assault on biodiversity and ecological integrity. Forests are not mere collections of trees but intricate ecosystems teeming with life. They provide habitat for countless plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. When forests are cleared, these habitats are destroyed, leading to species extinction and irreparable loss of biodiversity. Furthermore, forests play a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Deforestation disrupts this vital carbon sink, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating climate change.

Moreover, deforestation reverberates through human societies, exacerbating social inequities and undermining cultural heritage. Indigenous communities, in particular, bear the brunt of forest loss, as they often rely on forests for their livelihoods, cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs. Deforestation not only deprives these communities of essential resources but also erodes their cultural identity and social cohesion. Additionally, forest clearance can lead to conflicts over land rights and exacerbate social tensions, perpetuating cycles of poverty and marginalization.

Furthermore, deforestation carries significant economic costs, both locally and globally. While it may yield short-term gains through timber extraction, agriculture, or urbanization, the long-term consequences are dire. Deforestation leads to soil erosion, loss of water resources, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters such as floods and droughts. These environmental degradation effects undermine agricultural productivity, threaten food security, and impede sustainable development efforts. Moreover, forests provide invaluable ecosystem services such as pollination, water purification, and climate regulation, which have immense economic value but are often undervalued and overlooked.

In conclusion, deforestation is a complex issue with far-reaching implications for the environment, society, and economy. Addressing this crisis requires concerted efforts at the local, national, and international levels. Sustainable forest management practices, conservation initiatives, and policies that prioritize forest protection and restoration are essential. Moreover, fostering inclusive governance frameworks that respect indigenous rights and empower local communities is imperative. Only through collaborative action can we mitigate the impacts of deforestation and safeguard the invaluable benefits that forests provide to humanity and the planet.

500 Words Essay about Deforestation

Deforestation, the widespread clearance of forests for various purposes, is a complex phenomenon with profound implications for the environment, society, and economy. This analytical essay seeks to unravel the intricate web of factors contributing to deforestation and explore its multifaceted consequences.

At its core, deforestation poses a significant threat to biodiversity and ecological integrity. Forests are hubs of biological diversity, providing habitat for countless plant and animal species. When forests are cleared, these habitats are destroyed, leading to species extinction and irreversible loss of biodiversity. Furthermore, forests play a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, deforestation disrupts this vital carbon sink, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating climate change. The resulting impacts, including more frequent and severe droughts, floods, and wildfires, have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems and human societies alike.

Deforestation also has profound social ramifications, disproportionately affecting indigenous communities and marginalized populations. Indigenous peoples often have deep cultural and spiritual connections to forests, relying on them for sustenance, shelter, and traditional practices. Consequently, deforestation not only deprives these communities of essential resources but also erodes their cultural identity and social cohesion. Moreover, forest clearance often leads to conflicts over land rights and exacerbates social inequalities, as powerful interests exploit natural resources at the expense of marginalized communities. In this way, deforestation perpetuates cycles of poverty, marginalization, and social injustice.

From an economic perspective, deforestation carries both short-term gains and long-term costs. While it may offer immediate economic benefits through timber extraction, agriculture, or urbanization, the long-term consequences are severe. Deforestation leads to soil erosion, loss of water resources, and decreased agricultural productivity, undermining food security and impeding sustainable development efforts. Additionally, forests provide invaluable ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, water purification, and soil fertility maintenance, which have significant economic value but are often undervalued and overlooked. The loss of these services further exacerbates the economic toll of deforestation, affecting industries reliant on ecosystem health, such as agriculture, tourism, and pharmaceuticals.

Addressing deforestation requires coordinated action at multiple levels, from local communities to international governance frameworks. Sustainable forest management practices, conservation initiatives, and policies that prioritize forest protection and restoration are essential. Furthermore, fostering inclusive governance frameworks that respect indigenous rights and empower local communities is imperative. International cooperation and financial incentives are also crucial to support developing countries in their efforts to combat deforestation and promote sustainable land use practices.

Furthermore, deforestation exacerbates the loss of crucial ecosystem services that are essential for human well-being. Forests play a vital role in regulating local and regional climates, moderating temperatures, and influencing rainfall patterns. Moreover, forests act as natural filters, purifying air and water and mitigating the impacts of pollution. The degradation of these ecosystem services due to deforestation not only compromises environmental health but also undermines public health and quality of life.

In conclusion, deforestation is a complex issue with profound implications for the environment, society, and economy. Addressing this crisis requires holistic and interdisciplinary approaches that prioritize conservation, sustainable land management, and social justice. Efforts to combat deforestation must be rooted in respect for indigenous rights, community empowerment, and equitable governance frameworks.

Introduction:

Deforestation is a pressing environmental issue that affects countries worldwide. In Guatemala, deforestation has become a significant concern due to its detrimental effects on ecosystems, biodiversity, and local communities. This essay will provide an informative analysis of deforestation in Guatemala, including its causes, impacts, and potential solutions.

Body:

Causes of Deforestation:

1. Agriculture and Livestock: Guatemala’s agricultural practices, including slash-and-burn agriculture and the expansion of cattle ranching, contribute significantly to deforestation. The demand for agricultural land and grazing areas leads to the clearing of forests.
2. Illegal Logging: The illegal logging industry is prevalent in Guatemala, driven by the demand for timber and valuable hardwood species. This practice not only contributes to deforestation but also undermines sustainable forest management efforts.
3. Infrastructure Development: Infrastructure projects, such as road construction and hydroelectric dams, often result in the clearance of large forested areas. These projects aim to support economic growth but can have severe consequences for the environment.

Impacts of Deforestation:

1. Loss of Biodiversity: Guatemala is home to diverse ecosystems, including rainforests, cloud forests, and mangroves, which house numerous plant and animal species. Deforestation disrupts these habitats, leading to the loss of biodiversity and threatening vulnerable species.
2. Soil Erosion and Land Degradation: Without tree cover, the soil becomes more susceptible to erosion by wind and water, leading to reduced fertility and productivity. Deforestation also increases the risk of landslides and floods, further exacerbating the environmental impact.
3. Climate Change: Forests play a crucial role in regulating the climate by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Deforestation contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change and its associated impacts.
4. Disruption of Indigenous Communities: Many indigenous communities in Guatemala depend on forests for their livelihoods and cultural practices. Deforestation disrupts their way of life, leading to the loss of traditional knowledge and socio-economic hardships.

Solutions to Deforestation:

1. Sustainable Forest Management: Implementing sustainable forest management practices can help mitigate deforestation. This includes promoting responsible logging practices, enforcing forest protection laws, and supporting community-led conservation initiatives.
2. Reforestation and Afforestation: Initiatives focused on reforestation and afforestation can help restore and expand forested areas. This involves planting native tree species and engaging local communities in tree-planting campaigns.
3. Conservation and Protected Areas: Establishing and effectively managing protected areas can safeguard biodiversity and ecosystems. Strengthening enforcement mechanisms and promoting ecotourism can provide economic incentives for conservation efforts.
4. Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihoods: Encouraging sustainable agricultural practices, such as agroforestry and organic farming, can reduce the pressure on forests. Supporting alternative livelihood options, such as eco-tourism and sustainable forestry, can provide economic alternatives to deforestation.

Conclusion:

Deforestation in Guatemala poses significant environmental and socio-economic challenges. The causes, including agriculture, illegal logging, and infrastructure development, have led to severe consequences such as biodiversity loss, soil erosion, and climate change. However, various solutions, including sustainable forest management, reforestation, protected areas, and promoting sustainable livelihoods, offer pathways towards combating deforestation. It is crucial for stakeholders, including the government, local communities, and international organizations, to work together to address this issue effectively. By implementing sustainable practices and raising awareness about the importance of forests, Guatemala can protect its natural resources for future generations and ensure a more sustainable and resilient future.

What are the impacts of deforestation on a sustainable future?

Deforestation is the process of removing trees and forests from a landscape. This may be done for many reasons including making space for other land uses such as to harvest for wood resources or for agriculture. Although it might not be something that we see or hear about every day, deforestation is a widespread problem, which exists all across the globe and has been there for many years.

It is true that there are a lot of trees on earth in fact forest covers a quarter of all land surfaces on earth but the problem is the rate at which we harvest them. Currently, humans are cutting down forests at a rate of 36 football fields per minute. I believe deforestation has adverse effects, which could only be mitigated by taking the right actions timely. Hence, I think this is a relevant topic to tackle.

A sustainable future refers to making the world a better and safer place for everyone without destroying the possibilities for the next generations. If you wonder if something is sustainable you can ask yourself can we do this over and over again forever?

Main research:

Impacts of deforestation

The aftermath of deforestation is devastating. The aftermath includes loss of biodiversity, global warming, climate imbalance, and soil erosion.

All the consequences of deforestation have severe impacts on a sustainable life. From previous generations plants have been utilized for different purposes and even today many plants are being used e.g. Khella and Quinine are used for medical treatments. Loss of biodiversity means the extinction of such plants. If we lose these plants we will be putting a negative effect on sustainable living. Our upcoming generations may not have access to these plants.

Tropical deforestation is held responsible for approximately 21% of world greenhouse gas emissions. The forests of the world are more than just collections of trees. Forests help regulate the atmosphere by alleviating carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global climate change. Global warming leads to the melting of glaciers and poor air quality, this means if deforestation continues at this pace our future generations will lack pure drinking water and will have to face such air which will cause different diseases e.g. lung cancer.

Trees maintain humidity and regulate temperatures. Removing trees means loss of transpiration which means fewer clouds forming and a drier climate. Also, the loss of tree roots means massive erosion so very little can grow in the area. Without trees, there would be no other way to maintain and regulate the earth’s climate. If we keep on cutting trees, it is going to have adverse effects on our upcoming sons, grandsons, and so on because they no longer would have clean air and would face increased humidity.

Additionally, trees play a key role in the earth’s water cycle by balancing water in the atmosphere and water on land. If deforestation continues at its current rate then in many areas there will be soil erosion as there will be no trees to regulate moisture in the ground. Infertile soil means no crops thus this will make its impact on a sustainable life.

Sustainability is meeting the needs of the current generation without harming the needs of the future ones, however, such rapid deforestation will leave no trees for the upcoming ones. The future generation will then have no timber or any other by-products.

Global Perspective

Deforestation is prevalent all across the world. Several countries are already suffering from its adverse effects. It sounds ironic but the truth is that the more developed and highly industrialized, countries suffer from the highest rates of deforestation. There are various factors held responsible for such problems- overpopulation, industrialization, and inefficient plans to control the rapid rate of deforestation.

According to FAO, 50% of the world’s tropical forests have been cleared. A report from 2017 claims that each day, at least 100 species are killed within rainforests.

The following are the causes of deforestation:

• Logging: One of the main reasons for deforestation is logging, which is the gathering of trees so that the wood can be utilized for construction or manufacturing. Aside from this, wood-based industries like furniture, matchsticks, or paper also require a substantial amount of wood.
• Urbanization: Another big reason why trees are rapidly being removed is urbanization. With cities becoming overpopulated trees are cleared to further expand cities and create roads.
• Agricultural purposes: The overgrowing demand for food production requires trees to be cleared so that the land can be utilized for agricultural purposes such as farming and cattle ranching.
• Mining: The need for mining is also another reason for the clearance of trees. Different types of mining require a vast amount of empty land in order to mine for deposits of minerals and metals etc.

Continentally, Africa is most affected by deforestation. Sources state that deforestation has already wiped out around 90% of West Africa’s original forest. According to the analytical view provided by FAO, during the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, Africa lost the highest percentage of tropical forests among all continents. Congo and Nigeria are listed among the countries, which are affected by large-scale deforestation. The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has stated Nigeria is one of the worst countries when it comes to deforestation. Although the African government has been taking action by implementing laws and taking different measures, those are not just enough.

The reason for such high rates of deforestation in Nigeria is a large demand for wood. Research depicts that over 60% of Nigerians use firewood for cooking. Large-scale deforestation takes place, especially in developing countries where there is rapid growth in industries. In Asia, China, Indonesia, and India is one of those countries that are facing problems due to deforestation. The United States and Australia sadly are also listed on this list.¬

Few countries from Europe have comparatively a low rate of deforestation. This is because many projects and campaigns are being held in order to prevent deforestation. In these countries, not only the government but the people there selves are enthusiastically helping to solve the problem of the rapid cutting of trees. Sweden and Finland are the countries in Europe with the most forest cover each having more than twenty hundred thousand hectares. These countries have tried their best to maintain the forests by controlling deforestation.

Such projects and campaigns lead to a healthier life and tend to reduce dangerous diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. The lack of such projects and campaigns in Africa and some parts of Asia is the reason why malaria and dengue are so widespread and common.

National Perspective

Pakistan is a developing country. Every day new societies are inaugurated and due to such massive urbanization my country Pakistan faces severe problems related to deforestation. According to a report less than 5 % of Pakistan’s area is covered with forests. The rate of deforestation 1.5% is very high and alarming. This deforestation has adverse effects on Pakistan’s sustainable life.

Regrettably, Pakistan has one of the highest rates of deforestation. Punjab and Sindh have been affected by the effects of deforestation. Cites such as Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi have become highly populated mainly due to rural-urban migration. Now, this increased population means an increase in cutting down trees. This gives rise to the birth of different diseases and many other problems.

Pakistan has fertile land in certain places, In fact, the crops grown in these lands are one of the major sources of revenue generated by the country. However, when we start cutting off the trees, the water from the hills will freely fall down the slope, this will cause floods and will lead to the destruction of crops and lands. Places like Swat, Chitral, and Dir have been affected in this way. Loss of crops will harm the goals of sustainable living. Though we might be able to fulfill our requirements our upcoming generations will remain to starve.

Industrialization in Pakistan is at its peak. The new factories established in Pakistan bring along a lot of pollution. Pakistan already has a very limited number of trees to balance the environment and of course, the increasing pollution is not helping. Due to this, the air becomes dirtier, which then causes problems with people to breathe. There are a number of diseases caused by this:

• Lung diseases and respiratory problems
  • Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Cardiovascular problems
  • Heart diseases, other cardiovascular disorders

There have been 20,000 deaths caused by pollution in Pakistan. The polluted air of Pakistan does not allow it to follow a sustainable living.

Personal Perspective

According to my perspective, Industrialization is the major cause of deforestation, which then impacts sustainable life. Lately, the whole world has developed and many industries have been established. Firstly these industries require vast lands, which they could be built on, and this causes limited land left for upcoming generations. Some industries are so huge that sometimes they don’t even need that much of an area. To me, this is very upsetting.

Secondly, established industries pollute the environment. Air pollution, sound pollution, and even water pollution are caused by these industries. This means that our future generations will lack pure drinking water and will also have poor air.

Statistics also show the development of industries being one of the major causes of deforestation, however, I firmly believe that we can do a lot to prevent this from happening.

Possible scenarios

One of the major world issues today is deforestation, which is predicted to rise even further because of urbanization, industries, and many other contributing factors.

Deforestation has adverse effects on sustainable living. It leaves no crops and other necessary resources for future generations. The goal of a sustainable life is harmed.

If this continues at the same pace then the world will soon run out of essential resources. Clean air would not be available. There will be a shortage of clean water, crops, and fertile land. The environment is harmed and if people can die today because of this then ten times more people can die in the following years. If not acted upon right now, the world’s future could be very horrific.

Possible courses of action

The rapid rate of deforestation should be immediately put to an end. By taking simple steps we can prevent deforestation and can reduce its rate by a great margin. All of us together can make a big change in stopping the swift cutting down of trees.

The following are some ways to do this

• Starting from the basics, we need to plant a tree. Reforestation and afforestation programmers should be focused upon.
• Spreading awareness regarding the significance of trees and the effects it has on a sustainable life.
• Strict laws should be formed in order to prevent further deforestation

These are a few primary steps we can take. By taking these steps I believe we can produce a big change.

Personal response

After having realized the importance of trees and their effects on a sustainable life, I have decided to take some steps in response. I have promised myself that I will plant more trees around me and also water the ones we currently have.

Furthermore, I take this as my duty to spread awareness among people. I use social media all the time so why not create a page on creating awareness?

I believe these small steps if taken by everybody, can make a drastic change. These can allow us to counter rapid deforestation, thus taking steps towards a sustainable life.

A drone camera soars over a timber yard where thousands of tons of logs are strewn across the ground. In one clip, a bulldozer scoops up a heap of wood while black smoke billows out of its exhaust pipe. In another, workers load wood onto the back of several truck beds. The wood is not being prepared for sale, but will be used for another purpose: to fuel fires that will keep the electricity running in the large garment factory attached to the timber yard, located about an hour south of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Laurie Parsons, a geographer at the University of London’s Royal Holloway, says this particular factory produces clothes for major brands in the U.K., and also provides ironing services for other garment factories. When this factory is at peak capacity, Parsons estimates, it uses hundreds of tons of firewood each day to help keep the fires burning.

Where is this wood coming from? In many cases, it’s being illegally taken from forests, adding pressure to Cambodia’s considerable deforestation issue, according to a recent report published Oct. 13 by Royal Holloway.

In June and July 2021, a team of researchers visited and surveyed hundreds of garment factories in Cambodia that make clothes for companies like Lidl, Gap, and H&M. Out of about 600 factories registered with the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC), they found that about one in three were using some forest wood on a regular basis, despite it being illegal to harvest and use forest wood for fires in Cambodia.

“It’s still widely used,” Parsons, the lead author of the new report, tells Mongabay in a video call. “It just demonstrates the scale of the issue.”

Cambodia has experienced one of the highest rates of deforestation of any country in the past several decades. In 1970, Cambodia had an estimated 13.2 million hectares (32.6 million acres) of forest cover, which accounted for more than 73% of the country’s territory. But the expansion of agriculture and industry has led to a dramatic decrease in forest cover, with deforestation accelerating in the last two decades.

Between 2001 and 2019, Cambodia lost an estimated 2.7 million hectares (6.7 million acres) of forest, according to a recent report published by the Land Portal Foundation. This deforestation represents about 26.4% of the forest cover that existed in 2000. Data collected by Global Forest Watch also showed that between 2001 and 2018, the country lost 557,000 hectares (1.38 million acres) of tree cover in protected areas, accounting for an 11.7% loss in these regions. A report published this year by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime notes that some protected areas in Cambodia have become so degraded that “they no longer have much, if any, natural habitat.”

The Royal Holloway report says the Cambodian garment industry’s contribution to deforestation, in combination with its carbon emissions, represents a “substantial concern.” However, the authors say the issue has gotten very little attention, as deforestation in Cambodia is mostly attributed to “land concessions linked to high value wood.”

Cambodian garment factories represented by GMAC are said to burn an average of 562 tons of forest wood every day, the equivalent of 810-1,418 hectares (2,002-3,504 acres) of forest being burned each year, according to the report.

Parsons says these numbers are likely to be an underestimate, since “some of the biggest offenders were most difficult to reach and least likely to cooperate.” For instance, Parsons and his team were not able to get any information from the large garment factory featured in the drone footage.

There is also an accompanying issue of factories burning garment waste — offcuts of fabric left over from the clothes-making process. A report produced by GIZ, the German government’s international development agency, found that some garment factories in Cambodia only produced a few tons of cutting waste each month, while others produced more than 50 ton every month — about half the weight of a blue whale. While some factories may send this waste to landfills, others will use it in their combustion stoves to help generate the factory’s electricity and avoid having to pay for waste disposal.

“It kills two birds with one stone, essentially,” Parsons says. “You have to pay to get rid of the garment waste in the first instance … so you can save that cost, and you can save the cost of kindling.”

The Royal Holloway report provides firsthand accounts of smoky fumes from burning garment waste being emitted from factory chimneys. “Those living in the vicinity of the factories that burn garments for fuel complain of persistent health problems and the need to cover their possessions when prevailing winds draw the fumes to their homes,” the authors write.

While some garment factories use acacia, eucalyptus or rubber wood grown on farms to keep their electricity running, Parsons says many prefer forest wood since it burns more slowly and is therefore more cost-effective.

Large-scale timber felling is actually outlawed under Cambodia’s forestry law, and the government says it is cracking down on illegal activity. But this has just moved logging underground, Parsons says.

“Previously, the garment industry would be essentially fed by a direct linkage between areas of massive deforestation with these huge trucks that would come straight from deforested areas and just deposit large amounts of wood straight at the garment factory door,” he says. “Now it has to happen underneath the radar. So instead, you get local people collecting firewood, under cover of darkness, or simply using small-scale tractors. Then ultimately, that goes to a kind of depository area and then [the wood is] transported by truck to garment factories.”

Local informants and wood sellers interviewed for the Royal Holloway report say firewood is collected in many forested regions, including those around and even inside national parks like Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in northern Cambodia.

Ida Theilade, a professor at the University of Copenhagen, says deforestation related to the garment industry taps into the larger issue of organized illegal trade of timber, which has “detrimental consequences for the local and indigenous peoples living on the lands being devastated by land grabs and deforestation.” This has led to the persecution, arrests and murders of Cambodian environmental defenders, she adds.

“It is the youth and the Indigenous Peoples bearing brunt of the price,” Theilade says in an email to Mongabay. “The garment industry has a responsibility not to fuel these environmental and socially destructive supply chains.”

The report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime says that “laws, regulations and policies designed to afford protection for Cambodian forests and the local and indigenous people” are being abused. Because of this, illegal logging continues to intensify in Prey Lang, which was designated as a wildlife protective area in 2016.

Hoeun Sopheap of the Prey Lang Community Network, an award-winning group that monitors Prey Lang for illegal activity, confirms that deforestation in Prey Lang “continues to escalate,” and that community members and Indigenous peoples are feeling the impacts as they lose natural resources and the cultural importance of the forest.

“The environment in the world is getting more and more polluted [and] there may be natural disasters such as wind, heat, irregular rain,” Sopheap tells Mongabay in an email.

Deforestation may even be a factor in the ongoing drought in Cambodia, although this connection has not yet been extensively studied. However, the Royal Holloway report says that “local climate narratives unequivocally support this relationship,” and that other studies have linked deforestation to dry-season intensity in parts of the Amazon.

Cambodia has experienced many years of drought, but one of the worst occurred in 2016, when 2.5 million people were affected across the nation due to a lack of water.

‘Vanishing forests’

The Royal Holloway report says the U.K. plays a significant role in the destruction of Cambodian forests through the garment trade. Parsons says supermarket chain Lidl was found to be the “worst offender,” while other brands such as Tu, C&A, Next, Bestseller, Gap, Levi Strauss, Ralph Lauren, and H&M play a contributing role as well.

“The brands aren’t regulating these things,” Parsons says. “There’s not a regular survey. And so these things completely fly beneath the radar.”

Mongabay reached out to all of the brands listed above, but at the time of publication only received a response from Tu, a clothing brand owned by Sainsbury’s that claims to have high sustainability standards. (Sainsbury’s was also the “principal supermarket partner” of the recent COP26 climate summit held in Glasgow, Scotland.) A representative from Tu said the company doesn’t “currently work” with two of the factories surveyed by Parsons and his team, and said it was “in touch” with a third to “discuss the findings of the report.”

While the Royal Holloway report suggests the garment industry is playing a role in Cambodia’s deforestation, researcher Jean-Christophe Diepart says that role is actually a very small one. Diepart, author of the Land Portal Foundation report, says the garment industry only accounts for 1% of Cambodia’s deforestation. The main driver of deforestation is agricultural expansion, mainly due to economic land concessions granted by the government to agro-industrial groups in Cambodia and abroad, and the expansion of smallholder farms, he says.

“It’s a very important report [because it] focuses attention on issues which have been underdocumented so far,” Diepart tells Mongabay in a phone interview. “But [the garment industry contributes] to a very small aspect of deforestation. [The Royal Holloway report] draws the line and it connects deforestation and the European market without really taking into account the big picture of the problem.”

Theilade agrees that economic land concessions are largely responsible for large-scale deforestation in Cambodia. She adds the international community can help foster change through the implementation of sanctions and the redirection of funds to civil society members working to protect Cambodia’s forests, rather than to government ministries that may be complicit in deforestation.

“In the end,” she says, “it is only public participation and engagement that can save the vanishing forests.”

Most people never really think about how important trees are in life. The trees around tend to seem unimportant as people go outside. Most only see them as the scenery and background in life. However, people use trees in their everyday lives. For example, the furniture they sit on, the paper they write on, the fruit they eat and, most importantly, the air they breathe. As consumers, people rely heavily on forests and trees without even realizing it. The problem is that forests are shrinking due to deforestation.

So what is deforestation? According to Dictionary.com (2019), deforestation is defined as “to divest or clear forests by slash and burn or clear cutting.” Deforestation is an issue that is very important and is not addressed enough in today’s world. Due to misused resources, deforestation is causing biodiversity loss, erosion of soils, and climate change. After watching Before the Flood, I was interested in the topic deforestation; therefore, I chose to make the claim about biodiversity loss. I researched this on google scholar and found that biological diversity is declining due to the expansion of human society (Swatson, 1998). Today the thing that forms human society is money (Stehr, 2019). Money influences society in more ways than people care to admit.

Money brings out the good and bad in people, which becomes an average of what kind of society we live in. It makes people hate each other, love each other, envy each other, be jealous of each other and take notice in each other (Stehr, 2019). Large companies are the biggest factor when it comes to losing our biological diversity. Companies want to save money so they have come up with the cheapest types of products they can find. The one product that most companies use today is palm oil. Palm oil is the world’s least expensive and highest yielding vegetable oil. It is the preferred cooking oil for millions of people around the world and it is used as a source of biodiesel due to being so cheap. Palm oil and its derivatives are common ingredients in fast foods, packaged foods, cosmetics, personal care products, and cleaners for households (Vijay & Pimm, 2016).

According to Vijay & Pimm (2016), “driven by demand for these products, palm oil production doubled between 2003 and 2013 and is supposed to continue increasing.” This shows that if humans do not put a stop to it now, then it could takeover as a result of leaving no forests left in our world. In order to produce palm oil companies need land. Companies tend to buy forest land because they feel like there’s endless abundance of it, even though there are only three big tropical rainforests that remain on the planet: the Amazon, the Congo Basin, and the Southeast Asian Rainforest. These companies are destroying habitats and increasing the vulnerability of animals, therefore threatening Earth’s biodiversity (World Rainforest Movement, 2001).

According to Skorpa (1986), “almost 80% of the worlds documented species live in rainforests.” When people burn or cut down the forests, they threaten these animals and ruin their homes. During this, most individuals are unable to escape from these destructive measures, and their lives are lost in the process. With no stop to this, many more different species will go extinct. When water cycles become disrupted it causes the surrounding climate to become much drier. Soil erosion happens quicker because the trees are no longer there to protect and keep the soil in place. Through deforestation, people are harming and disrupting wildlife, which causes an imbalance in the environment (Fraser & MacRae, 2011). Not only does deforestation kill animals, but it also is causing the erosion of soils (Khormali, 2009). Before the flood also made me interested in doing research on the erosion of soils.

I researched on google scholar and found that the loss of trees, which anchor the soil with their roots, causes widespread erosion throughout the forests. Small areas have good soils, which after clearing are quickly washed away by heavy rains. After heavy tropical rains fall on cleared forest lands, the run-off carries this ground into local creeks and rivers. The rivers carry the erosion downstream, causing significant problems. When a forest is cut down, the trees that were once able to hold this nutrient-rich ground in place are gone; however, the results of this on flat land or minor compared to those on angled slopes. Erosion and rainfall in such places can cause huge mudslides, which can cause serious land degradation. This in turn disrupts any new growth from happening, worsening the problem (Khormali, 2009). Logging companies tend to compound the effects of erosion and deforestation on the ecosystem.

There heavy logging trucks compact the layer of thin soil and which prevents new plant growth. Logging trucks leave deep tire marks which then erode at a fast pace and deposit a high volume of sediment into rivers and streams. Land that has been cleared to make way for agriculture easily dries out which then kills many organisms that perform beneficial ecosystem services for vegetation (Hunt, 2010). Deforested rainforest soil becomes dry and nutrient-deficient as there is no longer vegetation to hold water and nutrients in place. Heavy rains will then erode soil and saturate waterways with excess nutrients, disrupting the food chain of tropical ecosystems (Khormali, 2009). The last thing that before the flood influenced me to look up was the effects that deforestation has on climate change. I found on Google Scholar that soil erosion is an important aspect of deforestation; equally important is climate change (Bosetti, 2010). Deforestation is one of the leading factors when it comes to man-made climate change (Domroes, 1991). According to Malhi & Roberts (2008), “Approximately 30% of the world’s climate change is caused in part by deforestation.”

It leads to an increased rate of global warming because it weakens the Earth’s ability to get rid of greenhouse gasses. Rainforests absorb carbon from the atmosphere storing it in leaves and organic matter. When people begin the process of slash and burn, a carbon bomb is released and carbon goes back into the atmosphere. Sadly to say, deforestation emits more carbon daily than the entire U.S economy. Without lots of trees to combat the increasing levels of carbon dioxide, climate change will continue at a faster pace (Candall & Raupach, 2008). Obviously, climate change caused by deforestation is easily preventable. More often than not, people do not need to cut down forests in order to live our lives the way that they currently do. Even when people do need to cut down trees, there are ways to lessen the damage that is done to the planet. For example, people can change their diets by cutting down on meat intake and they can eat as many vegetarian meals as possible, stop printing and go paperless, recycle as much as possible, and stop using firewood to heat their homes (Heinz-Herb, 2016). Not everyone agrees with this argument, however.

Some actually claim that deforestation is an advantage to the world (Cattaneo, 2018). Deforestation makes it possible for communities to be built. Forests make it possible for factories, residential houses and office buildings. The government is able to build roads to make transport and trade easier and therefore more convenient to residents. Deforestation can also mean the conversion of forest land to productive land for agricultural uses. In doing this, it allows people to grow crops for consumption and making products; however, in doing this, it only contributes to the loss of the ever-shrinking forests we have left on this planet. This results in better and more abundant production of food and materials for the people. It also allows for cheaper products due to the use of palm oil. Economically, deforestation has contributed much in giving many communities the opportunity to make positive changes in their lives (Cattaneo, 2018). As stated before, deforestation harms the biodiversity of animals, erosion of soils, and it is causing climate change.

Unfortunately, the negative consequences of deforestation outweigh the positive effects. As people pass trees or parks, they should take a moment to be grateful and think of how much it really impacts their lives. They should take a moment to think about the future lives of their descendants and family. They should think about what would happen if there were no more forests. They should think about the environment and what they could do to help. Examples of how they could help would be to become an advocate against deforestation by planting a tree, educating people about the effects of their actions, such as palm oil consumption, or even start a protest against harming the environment (Buntaine & Hamilton 2015). Effort needs to be put into saving the forests. If people in the world all come together to tackle the problem of deforestation, they can help build a more sustainable future.

Deforestation, as one of the most uprising environmental problems in today’s time, has been recorded as the foremost serious threat to the environmental ecosystem and one of the main factors that have contributed to the green cover change. This paper depicts various methods used for the identification and prediction of deforestation. Over the years, numerous methods were implemented for this purpose; however, they were restricted to a specific area. In this survey paper, we have described many such techniques and have compared their identification and predictions.

Deforestation is one of the most concerning problems that must be handled on an urgent basis by finding an efficient solution, as it has affected biodiversity, habitat loss, and climate change exponentially, causing a massive loss to natural elements. Regardless of its negative impact, most nations don’t have itemized statistics on the level of deforestation. We hope to tackle this problem by using satellite data to track deforestation and help researchers better understand where, how, and why deforestation happens and how to respond to it. #

There have been many developments in Satellite imagery technology, which has led to better deforestation detection and has made it faster, more convenient, and more accurate than ever before. A Real-Time System for Detection of Deforestation has been implemented in Brazil to reduce the deforestation rate by almost 80% since 2004 by alerting environmental officials about the large-scale forest clearing. Current tracking efforts within rainforests largely depends on coarse-resolution imagery from Landsat (30-meter pixels) or MODIS (250-meter pixels). Limited effectiveness in the detection of small-scale deforestation or differentiating between human causes of forest loss and natural causes were the challenges faced by these methods.

The Planet, the designer and builder of Earth-imaging satellites, has a labeled land surface dataset at the 3-5-meter resolution. It helps in building modern deep learning techniques to identify activities happening within the images. Using these images from multiple sources like google earth engine, the Planet, the neural network models can be built to predict the required data.

The author Eric Xu and Orien Zeng from Stanford University describe a model using a platform Planet, the designer and builder of Earth-imaging satellites have a labeled land surface dataset at the 3-5-meter resolution. They have collected JPEG images of size 256×256 containing four data channels: red, green, blue, and near-infrared. Each of the training images was labeled with a subset of seventeen different labels. These seventeen labels were organized into the group of atmospheric conditions, primary land cover, and rare land cover. The atmospheric condition labels were cloudy, partly cloudy, haze, and clear. The standard land labels were primary, water, road, agriculture, cultivation, bare ground, and habitation. The rare land labels were artisanal mine, blooming, blowdown, conventional mine, selective logging, and slash burn.[1]

Vahid Ahmadi, Tarbiat Modares University, in his research, to predict deforestation, modeled green cover changes using an artificial neural network as it provides remarkable results for the development of nonlinear complex models. The procedure involves image processing, classification of images using various algorithms, preparing maps of deforested regions, determining layers for the model training, and designing a multi-layer neural network to predict deforestation. The satellite images for this study were from the area in Hong Kong captured from 2012 to 2016. The results of the study show that the neural networks approach can be used for predicting deforestation, and its outcomes show the areas that were reduced during the research period.[2]

The author developed a multi-layer perceptron neural network model to predict the area most vulnerable to future deforestation based on the anthropogenic transformation of forest in southern Belize using variables that mostly affected the deforestation. These variables were acquired from remote sensing techniques. In this research, due to human activities like agriculture, vulnerable areas were defined as regions susceptible to forest loss.[3]

In this study, authors Pablo Pozzobon de Bem, Osmar Abílio de Carvalho Junior, Renato Fontes Guimarães, and Roberto Arnaldo Trancoso Gomes selected three areas from the Brazilian Amazon for this study. Two-third of the data was used for training, and the rest were used as validation. The Landsat 8 imagery for the years 2017, 2018, and 2019 was obtained, and a bi-temporal modeling approach was used. Multitemporal images from similar periods of the year reduce variations in the phenology and sun-terrain-sensor geometry. To reduce the noise content in the images, they were collected from the dry seasons only.[4]

Author Aleksandr Lukoshkin in his study used two different sites Juuka and Karttula. The dataset includes LiDAR measurements, aerial photographs, and forest parameters of count 38 variables, two feature variables, and four target variables, respectively. The variables from LiDAR measurements include cumulative percentile of the first and last pulse heights of non-ground hits, percentile intensities of first and last pulse intensities of non-ground impacts, means of first pulse heights > 5m, standard deviation(SD) of first pulse height, and the number of measurements < 2m of first and last pulse heights divided by the total number of the same measures of each plot. The features derived from aerial images represent the percentage of all pixels in an image of a plot classified as hardwood (Hwd) and coniferous trees (Cnf). A human interpreter was used for the classification. The target variables of the forest standings dataset consisted of Vt - the total volume and species-specific volumes of V1 - Scots pine, V2 - Norway spruce, and V3 – for hardwoods treated as a group, but mostly comprised of birch.[5]

Their model predicts the labels of over 60000 JPEG images in a test set in the final test evaluation. The average score provided by the author is only for the half dataset, while the score for the other half was hidden. An F2 score evaluates the model so that recall (ratio of true positives to all actual positives) is weighted higher than precision (ratio of true positives to all predicted positives). The final F2 score is formed by averaging the individual F2 scores of each label. They concluded that the VGGNet performs the best in analyzing the satellite images [1]

The studied area by the author is a forest in Hong Kong, China. Extension Georeferencing was used to retrieve the images in the ArcGIS environment. The images were classified into forest, sea, and urban classes using the algorithm most similarly to these features using ERDAS software and then loaded back to the ArcGIS. The initial input for the network were the two layers of forest cover index. The next layer for the network was the proximity of the nearby cities, which was calculated using two classes of urban and non-urban, and the last input is height. The model was trained using this data, and the author obtained the resulting precision of 98 Network convergence.[2]

The author collected the data of the Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) data via Google Earth Engine for the years 2014, 2016, and 2017 and classified the forest cover using the supervised classification. To enhance the features of the imagery, False-color composites and normalized difference vegetation indexes were computed. They performed the supervised classification of Landsat imagery and used a stratified random sampling design to split the data into training and validation sets. This classification achieved an accuracy of 88%, 94%, and 95% for the years 2014, 2016, and 2017 respectively. Class-specific producer’s and user’s accuracies ranged from 86% to 96%.[3]

The author has made the addition of two classical Machine Learning algorithms, random forest, and a simple multilayer perceptron architecture, in order to assess the DL models. The Landsat 8 imagery for the years 2017, 2018, and 2019 was obtained, and a bi-temporal modeling approach was used. To reduce the noise content in the images, they were collected from the dry seasons only. ResUnet model had the best results except for the precision score for 2017-2018. The similar but slightly better results were provided by harpMask and U-Net models.[4]

From the above discussions, we can conclude that many algorithms and models have been implemented that predict deforestation with high accuracy but are restricted to a limited region with no temporal predictions. Further, the similar features along with additional ones like data history, climatic data, population growth rate, etc. can be used to build a general model that can take input of any geographical location to predict its deforestation and the time within which the green cover should be retrieved to avoid crossing the threshold limit.