Deforestation represents the decrease in forest areas worldwide, which are lost for different uses, including urbanization, mining activities, and agriculture. The issue represents an important study topic in the fields of biology and ecology because the cutting down of forests has significantly changed landscapes on a global scale.
Deforestation
Around two thousand years ago, 80% of Western Europe was forested, while today, only 34% of the land is filled with forests (National Geographic, 2022). In China, which has lost significant expanses of forests over the last four thousand years, only 20% of the land is forested (National Geographic, 2022).
From the perspective of biology, deforestation leads to climate change, poor air and water quality, the changes in fauna, such as species endangerment as well as desertification.
The problem remains relevant today because deforestation has not stopped but continues to occur, especially due to the rising need to urbanize areas to meet the needs of the growing population in cities.
Deforestation is the most prevalent in tropical forests, with 95% of the global loss of trees occurring there (Derouin, 2022).
Notably, Indonesia and Brazil account for almost half of the deforestation that affects land across the globe. The areas that used to be inaccessible previously now have built roads through dense forests.
The world has lost around 10% of its tropical tree cover since the year 2000, with around 47,000 square miles being destroyed in 2019 alone (Fountain, 2020).
Thus, tropical forests’ ecosystems suffer the most from deforestation as they lose their biodiversity, with many animals that rely on forests being lost as a result of tree loss. Besides, local ecosystems suffer from decreased air quality and increased climate change.
Because forests are a natural resource, they are treated as commodities, while the true impact of their removal is often overlooked.
Deforestation occurs as large areas of forest and rainforest are removed in order for the land on which they used to be to be used for livestock or farming, construction, manufacturing, or mining. Besides the trees being cut down, the timber is used as fuel (Derouin, 2022).
In addition, fires are set in forests for the land to be cleared for agricultural use.
Initially, valuable timber is harvested while the remaining plants and different vegetation are burned. This allows making way for crop planting either for commercial use or cattle grazing.
Despite the adverse effects on forest ecosystems, deforestation is beneficial for several groups of people whose livelihood depends on land and forest use.
Specifically, the patches of land that become available after trees are cut down are used by farmers who can plant crops and complete other agricultural work, such as livestock raising.
Farmers can practice both commercial and sustenance agriculture as a result of deforestation.
Workers engaged in the commercial fields also benefit from deforestation because it provides them with employment. Work becomes available to individuals who manufacture products from lumber, ranging from paper to wood furniture.
Conclusion
Finally, deforestation provides developing countries in Africa, Asia, and South America with monetary resources as governments can sell lumber to countries such as the US and use the money to sustain their living.
Forest resources are considered inexhaustible renewable, but they will only be so if used properly. The problem of deforestation is one of the most acute environmental problems on the planet, and its impact on the environment can hardly be overrated. They generally constitute a single ecosystem that affects the lives of various species of flora, fauna, soil, atmosphere, and water. Many people do not even realize what disaster deforestation will lead to if it is not stopped.
In 2019, colossal forest fires hit the country. More than 1,800,000 hectares of Amazonian forests burned down from January to August alone (Tisold, 2019). 2020 was no better, with an 81% increase in fires compared to the previous year (Amazon fires 2019). Many experts suspect that in addition to natural factors, the spread of the fire was also influenced by the conscious activity of people, with the connivance of the highest echelons of power. On the one hand, Kantian says that deforestation is contradictory (Elburz, Çubukçu, & Nijkamp, 2018). The Amazon rainforests are called the ‘lungs’ of the planet, and their eradication as a whole is impossible; otherwise, they would have been long gone (Elburz, Çubukçu, & Nijkamp, 2018). However, the theory can be challenged by the fact that deforestation undoubtedly worsens the state of the planet. Information about the increased number of fires in recent years only confirms this. The more forests are cut down, the more often they are exposed to other external influences, like fires or diseases. It leads to a decrease in the population of various animal species, not to mention the general vegetation cover.
The oxygen produced by forests and other components of the Earth’s vegetation cover is important in itself and in connection with the need to preserve the ozone screen in the Earth’s stratosphere. Ozone is formed from oxygen under the influence of solar radiation (Hua et al., 2019). Its concentration in the stratosphere is steadily decreasing under the influence of chlorofluorinated hydrocarbons (refrigerants, plastic components) (Hua et al., 2019). In addition, another important global problem associated with deforestation is the rapid increase in temperature on Earth, which is supported by widespread fires.
Industry emits significant amounts of this gas, which threatens global warming, the shift of the planet’s agricultural zones to the poles, the swamping of land areas with permafrost, the melting of glaciers, the flooding of coastal cities, and more and more frequent cataclysms (hurricanes, tornadoes and more). There is illegal logging, fueling conflict and becoming a new ‘safe’ criminal niche for drug cartels and migrant groups looking for alternative sources of income.
The problem of caring for the health and rights of future generations is more related to the position of anthropocentrism. The problem of ecocide and the need to preserve the environment can be analyzed both from the standpoint of anthropocentrism and from the standpoint of biocentrism. Anthropocentrism, as a profound principle of the European worldview and culture, lies in the understanding of man as the cause of the existence of nature and the world as a whole, as a measure of all things and values (Ezedike, 2020). This approach is based on the idea of the need to rethink and expand traditional ethical principles, mainly associated with the ethical theory of utilitarianism. Establishing an effective deforestation policy can lead to risk reduction and the reckless use of a large amount of a natural resource.
The real change comes from local people in business and politicians realizing the economic value of protecting the environment. However, according to utilitarianism, the value of deforestation is determined by the usefulness of the resources needed (Ezedike, 2020). Thus, the theory of utilitarianism does not give a clear idea of environmental problems since it can both support the fight against them and contribute to their development. However, it should be remembered that further destruction of the Amazon rainforest can lead to significant changes in the ecosystem, so the problem is global and must be dealt with.
Elburz, Z., Çubukçu, K. M., &Amp; Nijkamp, P. (2018). The mutual relationship between regional income and deforestation: A study on Turkey. Metu Journal of The Faculty of Architecture.
Ezedike, E. U. (2020). Anthropocentric-utilitarian tradition and the quest for environmental justice in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Britain International of Humanities and Social Sciences (BIoHS) Journal, 2(1), 247-255.
Hua, Z., Guo, K., Kong, X., Lin, S., Wu, Z., Wang, L.,… Fang, J. (2019). PPCP degradation and DBP formation in the Solar/free chlorine system: Effects of ph and dissolved oxygen. Water Research, 150, 77-85.
Thailand is a middle developed country in Southeast Asia and has a population of about 65 million. The total land area covered by the nation is 513,115 square kilometers, with more than a quarter of it dedicated to forests. In 1961, the government of Thailand estimated the forest cover to be about 54% of the total land area.
However, the total forest cover has declined due to economic and other human activities, which have resulted in massive deforestation in several parts of the country. However, the government has initiated a number of programs to save the nation’s forest cover from further destruction.
The forests in Thailand are mainly tropical ones; the growth of tropical vegetation in the country is favored by factors such reliable rainfall, a conducive climate, favorable temperature, fertile soil, and a good terrain in most parts of the country. The forests in the country can be classified into two major categories: deciduous and evergreen. The two forest types are more or less evenly distributed throughout the country.
The forests are a very important resource in Thailand as the majority of citizens depend on them directly. Forests in Thailand have various benefits, which can be divided into two categories: economic and environmental advantages.
The forests in the country are of a great economic value to the country; for instance, the trees recovered from the forests are used to manufacture shingles, plywood, timber, and railroad ties. In addition to the wood products, some of the trees provide other products such as latex, which is used for the manufacture of rubber.
The environmental value of the forests in Thailand is evident in the efforts the government and other stakeholders undertake to conserve the environment. The forests prevent soil erosion by controlling run-off water after heavy downpours. The forests also assist in trapping and purifying the run-off water to provide the residents with clean and fresh underground water.
Forests are a natural regulator of the atmosphere; they absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen to the atmosphere; the oxygen is then used by animals for respiration. Apart from conserving the environment, the forests in Thailand act as natural habitats to many animals and plants.
The declining forest cover in Thailand is due to the massive deforestation that has been witnessed in the country. There are four main causes of deforestation in Thailand: the high population growth rate, poor agricultural and land ownership policies, and illegal logging.
The high population growth rate, especially in the northeast part of Thailand, has seen more people settle in the areas that have been preserved for forests. Some forests have also been cleared to get land to grow sufficient food to feed the ever-increasing population.
The bad farming policies in Thailand have also encouraged deforestation by endorsing the exploration of other crops such as rice. The policies have also led to the felling of trees to create land strips for the construction of feeder roads. The ambiguity of the land ownership policies has also given the citizens of Thailand an opportunity to clear forests for selfish gain.
In Thailand, the government controls the ownership of forests and determines the circumstances under which trees should be cut down. The government is responsible for initiating measures to restore the country’s forest cover, which is gradually decreasing due to illegal logging.
For instance, the government has put in place a program aimed at planting a significant number of trees each year. Forestry officials have been given the power to stop citizens from cutting down trees, particularly if they do not have valid permits from the forestry department.
Deforestation undoubtedly entails the deterioration of an individual country’s economy and the world. First of all, forestry employs a large global labor force. Second, in certain locations, forest owners or managers are compensated for providing environmental services like safeguarding watersheds, sequestering carbon, or conserving habitat. Deforestation will cause these forests to vanish, resulting in a loss of revenue from paying for environmental services. Third, the deterioration of regenerative natural resources is the outcome of deforestation. This involves the removal of trees, the degradation of the forest’s aesthetic value, and the loss of productive land.
In my local community, deforestation can cause other environmental problems, such as desertification, wildfires, and flooding. These conditions may force people to leave their homes and go to places prone to adverse living conditions. Consequently, there will be many vacant jobs, which will greatly worsen the region’s economic condition. Also, deforestation can cause such a problem as loss of jobs. In my city, a large number of people are employed in forestry. If the forests are destroyed, these people will lose their jobs, and the economy will deteriorate.
Moreover, since forests reabsorb carbon as they regenerate, they can also reduce emissions from other sources. In other words, as a natural technology for capturing and storing carbon, forests can produce net emissions with a minus sign. This is crucial for achieving the long-term goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement to mitigate climate change – to balance emissions and removals (Huang & Zhai, 2021). Ending logging and allowing damaged trees to regenerate might lower current emissions by 30% (Assis et al., 2022). Thus, addressing deforestation will help humanity mitigate several other environmental issues.
I recommend finding a replacement for this resource for industries that require cutting down trees. At the same time, people should promote associations to preserve forests and plant trees. States should allocate funds to this movement and address this pressing global problem. Trees should be planted in deforested areas to combat climate change and restore habitat for rare species. While a growing number of companies are abandoning the supply chain with deforestation, there is still much work ahead. Global brands and smaller retailers should strive to eliminate deforestation from their supply chains to ensure sustainable production. To achieve this goal, businesses need to adopt new methods and technologies that provide additional sources of wood in the supply of raw materials.
For example, in producing fuel and building materials, recycling and reusing waste can be key to solving the issue. In addition to conservation laws, local conservation measures include cooperative land use and ecosystem management to improve human interaction with and use of the world’s forests. This is especially relevant to agribusiness and national governments, which must do more to meet commitments to reduce alarming deforestation statistics. Not buying uncertified lumber is another recommendation I have that consumers can support.
My recommendations will improve the global economy by solving the situation of deforestation. Consequently, it will no longer be such a large problem. These actions will directly affect the local economy, people will pay attention to the question, and the economy will increase because of their actions. From a global point of view, other countries will take an example and adopt a policy to preserve the forest.
Brazil has shown that a decoupling between the growth of the agricultural sector and the loss of forests is possible. In the ten years since 2004, Brazil has reduced the rate of deforestation in the Amazon by about 80% (West & Fearnside, 2021). The decline in this rate has been accompanied by an increase in soybean and beef production, which are largely responsible for deforestation. The Brazilian achievement refutes an argument often made by the forestry and agribusiness sectors and their allies in government. It states that exploiting forest resources and using forest land for other purposes are important for economic growth and rural poverty reduction.
The scientific evidence linking deforestation to a changing climate and the assessments of the benefits of woods and development policies support global collaboration to protect trees in ways compatible with inclusive growth. The missing link is performance-based finance, and while Brazil has received over $1 billion in REDD+ money, it is only a fraction of the cost of avoiding emissions through decreasing deforestation. The Green Climate Fund is developing a REDD+ funding mechanism (Streck, 2021). The U.S. state of California and the International Civil Aviation Organization are considering international forest “offsets” as part of emission reduction programs. However, these initiatives are still in their infancy and have yet to translate into tangible incentives for decision-makers in forest-rich countries.
Thus, with the right financial instruments, guaranteed public or private payments for forest-based emission reduction outcomes can turn a future stream of carbon sequestration services into an asset with a guaranteed income. Redirecting funds that currently go to fossil fuel subsidies would be the most appropriate funding source for domestic and international payments. With a significant increase in performance-based financing, REDD+ would be a great idea yet to be realized. Moreover, it would be a missed opportunity for a win-win outcome for climate change and development.
Deforestation is the cutting down of trees by human beings and animals either for use or for other reasons. Tropical rainforests are the dense vegetation areas on the earths ground and they stretch from the equator. Most of these forests are found five degrees north and five degrees south of the equator.
The tropical rainforests cover 13% of the earth’s surface and they accounted for 50% of the forests in the world. Researchers have found out that 33% of birds, amphibians and mammals on earth live in the tropical rainforests. In the recent past, these tropical rainforests have been disappearing rapidly due to deforestation.
The rate at which these tropical rainforests are being destroyed is alarming and effective ways have to be enacted to control this in order to save the current generation and future generations. Control of deforestation will also save animals in the forests and give them places to inhabit.
In order to curb this issue perfectly, the causes of deforestation should be highlighted and then each of them solved in the best way possible. As many people clear the forests to settle, governments in the affected countries ought to find better ways of settling their people (Jepma 29).
Discussion
This study aims at analyzing the causes of deforestation in tropical rainforest, the impacts of the same and the methods of controlling deforestation. The process of cutting trees begins with human beings and animals, brings about the effects that are observed, and thus is the reason a solution ought to be got, as this is a very serious issue in the entire world (Place 16).
Causes of deforestation in tropical rainforests
Causes of deforestation in tropical rainforests are categorized into two types. These are the immediate causes and the underlying causes. The first immediate cause of deforestation in these forests is logging. Companies associated with logging cut down mature trees to use as timber and as logs for other uses such as electric posts.
This cutting down of mature trees confuses many since the loggers argue that seedlings would grow naturally and the forests will regain their initial status in due time. This however is not real because of logging practices and the nature of the forests. As the logs are being transported, roads are created and they lead to further deforestation. In addition, the soil through which the machines pass is compacted and some hard layers form in the soil affecting the regeneration of the forests (Ghazoul and Sheil 86).
This cause of deforestation also opens chances for other ways of deforestation. The roads created as the logs are carried away up ways for people to enter the forests and do further destruction. The next immediate cause of deforestation in tropical rainforests is shifted cultivation, which is a method practiced in agriculture.
This comes as landless peasants follow roads created in the forests to explore the forests and find suitable areas where they clear to get land for settlement and cultivation. Landless peasants in most countries come out because of poor and unfair distribution of agricultural land.
In some countries such as Brazil, this is allowed and people have come up with slogans like “Land without men for men without land” (Corlett and Primack 92).
Source: mongabay.com.
Agriculture is another immediate cause of deforestation. People have opted to clear the forests in order to get land for growing cash crops and for ranching. It is however funny that most of these cash crops are exported to other countries, many people do not get time for growing food crops, and therefore end up in hungry.
Most of the pastoralist communities find way through the roads and lead their cattle in the forests. The people later clear the forest, since they need land for settlement. Another immediate cause of deforestation in these areas is need of fuel wood. Most of the people who use wood as fuel obtain it from tropical rainforests.
This is mostly in developing countries where many rely on traditional forms of energy. Large dams are another immediate cause of the disaster. In many countries, the forests are cleared as the hydroelectric power dams are being constructed. This also has many effects on human beings as it causes disease outbreaks to those surrounding the scene (Place 37).
Dams also lead to displacement of people who end up clearing other tropical rainforest to get land for settlement. Another immediate cause of deforestation in tropical rainforests is mining and industry. This means direct loss of land, as projects are set to reach the minerals and to build up industries.
Mining and industries also create roads in the tropical rainforests leading to further attraction of human settlement. Tourism is the last immediate cause of deforestation. Initially, game parks served to conserve the forests in order to preserve the ecosystems in the rainforests. However, they have now opened access to the public since. Tourism is a way of generating income and thus it is being encouraged in many countries.
As tourists move in the forests viewing attractive cites, they disturb the habitats of wild animals. In addition, the construction of roads within the park is destructive since trees have to be cut down to pave way for road construction. A case of this is seen in Australia where more forests are been destroyed due to growing tourism (Jepma 123).
Source: mongabay.com.
The first underlying cause of deforestation in tropical rainforests is development and overconsumption. As viewed, development is the growth of industries in a country and opening up large markets for trade. As these industries are being set, forests are cleared to set up them. The immediate causes are also promoted by development as more crops are grown and the tourism sector expanded for higher marketing.
The second underlying cause is colonialism. Although colonialism took place many years ago, it has impacts that are still felt to date. As the colonies introduced agriculture and used the countries as sources of raw materials, more people were interested in this.
After colonization, more forests were cleared for crop cultivation as sources of raw materials for overseas corporations hence making colonialism a cause of deforestation. The debt burden is another underlying cause. Most of developing countries have huge debts they are expected to pay.
To get the money, more money-generating projects are set and this then causes destruction for agriculture since most economies in developing countries depend on agriculture as a primary source of growth. The last underlying cause of deforestation is poverty and overpopulation. The forests are cleared as the surplus population is settled and to help poor people get food (Place 49).
Source: travel.mongabay.com.
Effects of deforestation of tropical rainforests
Since most of the nutrients in the forests are found in the vegetation, cutting down of this vegetation will leave the soils poor and very thin. This will automatically lead to soil erosion in which minerals in the soil are carried away. The soil is also compacted as people and machinery enter the forests and this makes the forests to be unable to recover.
In most of these cleared forests, there are indigenous plants that are very important for various scientific and medicinal values that end up being cut. Moreover, the indigenous trees are hard to find and take long periods to grow to maturity. Therefore, deforestation leads to loss and vanishing of various rare species of trees that cannot be grown to maturity fast (Jepma 78).
People who depend on hunting and gathering to get their living are affected by deforestation since their source of livelihood is destroyed. In some areas, deforestation has acted as a cause of conflicts between different parties. For instance, it has led to conflicts between the public and the government especially where the rare resources such as land and the natural environment are in contention.
As these conflicts are being resolved, many may end up losing pressures resources and even life in the process. Many wild animals in the forests are at the risk as they are exposed to human and living threats as the forests are cleared. This has even led to extinction of some animal species.
In spite of all this, deforestation of the tropical rainforests has enabled the settlement of the landless peasants. It has also led to generation of wealth for instance through tourism and mining. This has also provided jobs for people as some are employed in the projects set up after the clearance of the forests (Corlett and Primack 40).
Source: photos.wildmadagascar.org.
Methods of controlling deforestation of tropical rainforests
In controlling deforestation of tropical rainforests, the causes of the same are the ones that are resolved. The first method in resolving this issue is by the governments opposing it then imposing laws against deforestation. This method can serve better as it will reach many people. Campaigns against the crime should be promoted.
People should be taught the effects of deforestation and its prevention. This has already started working as some organizations like the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) have began campaigning and educating people on the epidemic. Farmers are supposed to practice better methods of farming such as contour farming and not to engage in shifting cultivation.
The governments in affected countries are supposed to ensure that land is equally shared and that every person has a good share. The public is also supposed to be educated on family planning to control overpopulation. This is effective in Germany and it has fully controlled overpopulation. Lastly, better and clean sources of power should be used to stop use of wood fuel (Ooi 46).
Conclusion
Deforestation of tropical rainforests has become one key issue that is affecting the whole world. The causes of deforestation are grouped into immediate causes and underlying causes. The immediate causes are logging, shifting cultivation, agriculture, fuel wood, large dams, mining, industry, and tourism. The underlying causes are development and overconsumption, colonialism, debt burden and poverty and overpopulation.
These have great impacts to the soil, wild animals, human beings and the environment. Deforestation in tropical rainforests is ought to be controlled to save future generations. The governments in the affected countries should lead in the anti-deforestation campaigns and the public will have no obligation to follow suit.
Works Cited
Corlett, Richard and Primack, Richard. Tropical Rain Forests: An Ecological and Biogeographical Comparison. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, 2011.
Ghazoul, Jaboury and Sheil, Douglas. Tropical Rain Forest Ecology, Diversity, and Conservation. London: Oxford University Press, 2010.
Jepma, Chris. Tropical deforestation: a socio-economic approach. London: Earthscan, 1995.
Ooi, Jin-Bee. Tropical deforestation: the tyranny of time. London: NUS Press, 1993.
Place, Susan. Tropical rainforests: Latin American nature and society in transition. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 2001.
The topic that will be discussed in this presentation is deforestation, which is defined as the cutting down of forest areas worldwide to free lands for other uses, such as urbanization, mining activities, and agriculture. The problem has been exacerbated due to the increase in human activity. For example, 2000 years ago, 80% of Western Europe was forested, while today, only 34% of the land is filled with forests (National Geographic, 2022). Deforestation increases the speed of climate change, reduces air and water quality, as well as leads to the endangerment of species. More efforts are necessary to curb the cutting of forests and reduce their adverse influence on life on the planet.
Deforestation: Who, Where, How
In terms of location, deforestation is the most prevalent in tropical forests, with 95% of the global loss of trees occurring there (Derouin, 2022). Among specific countries, Brazil and Indonesia have the highest rates of deforestation worldwide. In terms of the process, deforestation takes place as vast forest areas are removed to be used for livestock or farming, construction, manufacturing, or mining (Derouin, 2022). In terms of the parties affected, farmers benefit from deforestation as they can use new free lands to plant crops and complete other agricultural work. Besides, commercial workers benefit because they are given jobs, while populations in Africa, Asia, and South America benefit from selling their forests, which helps their economic stability.
Biological Concepts
The ecosystem context is the most relevant to deforestation because the process influences wildlife systematically. At the level of ecosystems, deforestation leads to the reduction of water and air quality. While water quality reduces due to leeching, air quality reduces due to the increased concentration of greenhouse emissions when forests are eliminated. Deforestation is applicable to such concepts as sensitivity or response to the environment, homeostasis, and adaptation. Sensitivity or response to the environment refers to the reaction of living beings to changes occurring due to deforestation, while homeostasis is the ability of an organism to function despite changes. Finally, adaptation refers to the capability to adapt to environmental changes.
In terms of the relationship between deforestation and response to the environment, deforestation disrupts the usual surroundings. Besides, forests are crucial for helping living beings maintain homeostasis, while in terms of adaptation, when forests change the environment, living beings are expected to adapt to the change. Notably, when deforestation takes place, homeostasis gets disrupted because there is no stability in climate, water, temperature, numbers of plant and animal populations, and nutrient cycles (Nguyen, 2019). Even though humans and animals are expected to adapt to the changes that appear due to deforestation, it is not always possible because of the significant ecosystem changes that are nearly impossible to reverse.
Future Directions
To address the issue of deforestation, it is expected to increase the control over deforestation strategies and make tree-cutting regulated. More efforts aimed at education are necessary to save forests from being cut down (Butler, 2020). Public education to teach people about the environment will improve the overall ecological awareness of the population. In terms of solutions, it is necessary to implement government policies that will enforce strict rules and laws controlling deforestation efforts. Besides, to mitigate adverse effects, reforestation is recommended.
Conclusion
The concluding part of the topic is divided into the ethical perspective, the positive-negative balance, and personal impact. Overall, the public is aware that deforestation leads to environmental devastation, and community efforts are made to preserve forests. However, there is the other side that states that forest cutting is necessary for economic stability and wellness, especially among lower-income economies. Within the positive-negative balance, the negative side prevails because the forest is a limited resource, and its elimination leads to wildlife extinction and drought development due to the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. On a personal level, people are expected to raise awareness of deforestation in the local community as a problem that needs solving.
This term refers to the intentional destruction of the forests through the logging process and the burning of the other remains of trees after the logs are gotten (Mraqulis 15). It is related to a wide variety of reasons. Trees may be cut to be used in the preparation of charcoal or they may be intended to be sold for the fuel purposes or at other times cutting down of the trees may be due to create land for plantations and pasture growth as well as to accommodate population. Deforestation does damage largely the wild animals haunt and biodiversity is lost to aridity.
In Mexico deforestation is one of the major challenges that the government struggles with day in day out due to the majority of negative effects that are associated with it. Deforestation in the country is due to the increases in the population of the realm in a rate that is alarming and as they seek regions to settle, they turn into forest reserves (Spilsbury 74). More so, the need to provide a meal for the family does facilitate deforestation as the citizens try to find out the extra piece of the scarce land to farm on. Fuel shortage also does encourage deforestation and coupled by the poverty levels that the citizens of the nation thrive in, the logging is doubled for sale of woods.
Main body
In Mexico, the forestry process has been one of the most destructive ventures simply because the community owns a bigger share of the forestland. It has at least 48.6-million forestland in hectares but all this is lost at an alarming rate of 370,000 hectares annually due to inconsistent policies that are related to developments as well as the farming edge expansion and the distribution of the agrarian. On top to this, the country has laws and policies that are encouraging the felling of trees. Such polices include the green insurgency and the programs on woodcutting as well as the law changes for agrarian benefit plus the governmental policies favoring the rising of cattle. The inadequate involvement by the communities affected by this deforestation in the decision making process on how the natural resources are supposed to be utilized and their exploitation do as well promote deforestation.
Knowledge deficiency on the hi-tech and the edifying developments of the indigenous society and lack of employment as well as the ecological culture and responsiveness lack are some of the other reason behind deforestation in Mexico (Royston 98).
Statistics show that 531 hectares of land were lost in 1998 through forest fires. The natural wherewithal damage is more on the Purepecha plateau due to the rampart degradation of the social and political state conditions related to policies, programs, and communal basic requirements. This study is designed to investigate the reminder forest resources, the degradation, their causes, and the effect to the immediate neighbors.
From a historical point of view, the destruction of the innate wealth in Mexico has happened with a unfair distribution of the relative advantages. Ever since 1950 the forest loss in Mexico has been rampart and this was during a period which the country had an experience of the population sudden surge and the increment of the agricultural land tracts as well as their redistribution that resulted to the loss of nearly ten million of the forestland in hectares. During the era of 1970s, the introduction of agrarian laws and emerald faction as well as the alteration of land previously used for agriculture into ranching too did influence deforestation. The rates declined in the 1980s due to the eliminations of land change policies and the summarization of clearance programs. Despite this, it is proven by the reduction of biomass that degradation of the forests still went on.
According to Palmer &Engel (123), deforestation in Mexico has led to the disturbance of about 22.2 million hectares of the forestland with an estimate of three hundred and seventy thousand hectares of forested land being lost every year.82% of this is as a result of forest clearance and the national rates of deforestation are about 3.7 times more than what reforestation effort do. Population pressure too does reduce forestland as they look for the firewood.
The continued and varying rates of the forestland loss are because of relationship degradation between the collective processes and the natural ecosystems. These are made more intense by the production processes and malpractices. Due to deforestation, more so in the Purepecha plateau, many residents have migrated to the United States to look for other alternatives leaving behind women to take care of the family.
The biophysical aspect have been affected to the larger extent and the tropical forests of Purepecha plateau that used to home a great biodiversity of animals that include the wild chicken and coyotes have been left without any animals. This is due to the harshness of the natural aspect that used to sustain life in the forest for these animals. The wide variety of medical plants has too gone down significantly due to the deforestation perspective that had harmed the biophysical combinations of fauna.
Social economically, the deforestation of Mexico has led to the scaring away of the potential investors which has made the economic base to depreciate significantly as well. The citizens are the owners of the vast forestland but that are faced by abject poverty, which is related to the poor economy of the region.
The graphical representation below does depict the statistical rates of deforestation the Mexican and Brazilian areas (Spillsbury 265).
The human impact on deforestation can be checked through the formulation of strict laws that spell out the borderline between the forest reserves and communal land. Since time immemorial, Mexico has never formulated laws that are prosecuting to the intruders of the forestland. Thus, it has not been able to prevent deforestation and encroachment by the human activity. To mitigate the deforestation effects the Mexican government has to ensure it formulates as a matter of urgency policies that restrict human effort towards deforestation (Williams 153).
The higher population pressure should be avoided through the encouragement of family planning procedures. People should be made to know how to avoid unwanted pregnancies and how to control population growth rate. Even if the government shall be compensating the families that do not give rise to a child anyhow for the longest duration, it is justifiable towards the prevention of deforestation.
Technology such as the electrical fencing of the forested areas as well as the fitting of camera to monitor the borderlines of the forest can also be adopted to prevent illegal logging. Electricity fencing should be the better option towards the mitigation of the problem and if supported by the camera, it is going to ensure the deforestation malpractices are avoided in a greater magnitude.
Population control step is effective in a way that it’s realistic though a long-term step. It is just ensuring that the citizens are aware of their ways that can be used to take care of the pregnancies that are not planned for through conducting seminars and familiarization on how to use the various methods of pregnancy prevention.
The fixing of the electrical fence all around the forested areas would be the most effective approach for the time being. This approach effects are realizable once the installation procedures are done and the power button turned on. From then henceforth, anybody who will have to go to the forest reserves shall have to use the recommended entrance hence killing completely the illegal logging malpractices.
A Failure may too be realized if the government just educates people on the ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies without necessarily supplying the prevention measures. To be more effective, this shall need the supply of the tools of prevention as well. The installation of the electrical fence on the other hand would take too long such that by the time it is implemented the forest are already degraded. Both failures may be realized due to the poverty levels that are in Mexico and the poor economy as well.
To be able to fully manage the deforestation menace in México, the government should play its part which neglecting for a long time has resulted to the destruction of the countries tropical heritage, which was a habitat of rare animal species and plant. Let it create jobs for the unemployed, modify the laws that govern natural resources and make sure that they will uplift the poverty levels in the country to ensure that those who practice logging business have alternatives to turn to rather that it.
Conclusion
Deforestation is a serious problem not only in Mexico alone but also in many places of the globe. It is an excessive kind of cutting down trees that are paramount to the support of both the animals and plant life leading to higher amounts of biogas in the atmosphere as opposed to the pure oxygenated air as nature dictates. Such a reduction in the right portions of oxygen in the atmosphere makes it breathing hard hence reading to illnesses and poor performance of duties and responsibilities that a employee is obliged to. It does degrade the natural heritage through the depletion of the natural resources that are needed for the sustainability of life and good health. Deforestation lowers the productivity of a place and continued degrading of it results to a desert. In Mexico, the degrading of the northern end had facilitated the fierce nature of Purepecha plateau. This has in turn led to extreme poverty that drives people to United States of America as they seek refuge of what they initiated. Responsiveness towards fighting it is what the governmental factions that are charged with the responsibility of ensuring natural resources are utilized reasonably should adopt. Any more delays towards the preservation of resources would see not only Mexico natural ecosystem go down but hew impact shall be global.
Works cited
Mraqulis, Sergio. Causes of Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. New York. World Bank Publications.2009. Print.
Over the past several centuries, humans have turned the world into a forest of concrete buildings scattered across the globe. Urban areas are constantly expanding, and this translates into the development of vast areas with tall buildings replacing natural vegetation. Human settlements are also a contributing factor in the changes witnessed in the earth’s biosphere. While the earth appears as a shining planet from space, with green patches of vegetation being visible from space, this characteristic may not hold for long. In his quest for survival, man eliminates indigenous forests and natural vegetation from vast land masses to settle.
This has a negative impact to the ecology because it eliminates survival factors for animals and plants that naturally inhabit the lands. Industrious cities in the developed nations like China and Japan occupy large masses of land, leaving limited space for the natural vegetation to thrive. This phenomenon alters the balance of nature for vegetation and animals, and it is the main cause of extinction in living organisms.
The earth’s biosphere is constantly losing its vegetation cover because of human activities, and this has dire impacts on other parts of the earth like the atmosphere. Vegetation cover is responsible for converting carbon dioxide to oxygen to balance the constituents of the atmosphere. Excessive clearing of vegetation on the earth’s service results to an alteration of the equilibrium in gaseous volumes in the atmosphere, and the current levels of greenhouse gases are alarming, especially in the urban areas. Man has single-handedly made the biosphere inhabitable for other living organisms, and this trend will continue as long as man continues to develop settlement areas (Raven, Berg & Hassenzahl, 2011).
Carbon cycle
Excessive clearing of indigenous vegetation in the vast lands across the world affects the earth’s carbon cycle. Clearing forests, farming land, and grasslands results to an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. Trees and other plants making up the earth’s vegetation are responsible for reducing the levels of carbon dioxide in the air through photosynthesis. Urban areas experience escalated levels of carbon dioxide, which leads to global warming and climate change.
Disrupting the carbon cycle in the quest for industrialization and modernization is likely to cause negative effects on the survival of vegetation in the future because of the adverse effects of climate change. Some parts of the world are already experiencing the consequences of disrupting the earth’s carbon cycle, which in turn affects the hydro cycle of the planet (Bala et al., 2007).
Counter-measures
The global society is aware of the effects of human settlement and deforestation, and the relevant authorities have set some measures to counter the effects on the carbon cycle. Planting forests around urban areas and by the roadsides in urban areas is one of the measures that seem to help in alleviating the issue. NGOs dealing with environmental issues, conduct advocacy campaigns across the globe to prevent developments leading to deforestation. Some of the environmentalists like the late Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize winner, impacted the African society to plant trees to reclaim the lost forest cover in the continent (Maathai, 2004).
The society also plays a big role in influencing the authorities to plan for sustainable developments with minimal negative effects to the ecosystem. For instance, the UK society contends with the government against the construction of roads passing through natural forests in some of the urban areas.
References
Bala, G., Caldeira, K., Wickett, M., Phillips, T. J., Lobell, D. B., Delire, C., & Mirin, A. (2007). Combined climate and carbon-cycle effects of large-scale deforestation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 104(16), 6550-6555. Web.
Maathai, W. (2004). The Green Belt Movement: Sharing the approach and the experience. New York: Lantern Books. Web.
Raven, P. H., Berg, L. R., & Hassenzahl, D. M. (2011). Environment, 8th Edition. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Web.
Environmental stewardship refers to the act of protecting and conserving the environment. According to Aldo Leopold, environmental stewardship is promoted through the improvement of the relationship between humans and the environment (Sauve, 2010). It includes activities that improve and conserve the environment.
On the other hand, environmental sustainability involves making decisions that ensure long-term conservation and protection of the environment. Also, it involves taking part in activities that improve the capability of the environment to support life (Sauve, 2010). Both aspects are aimed at reducing the negative impacts that degrade the environment. Environmental stewardship and sustainability are important because conserve vacation and sustenance of the environment is important to support the rapidly growing global population.
Deforestation refers to the act of cutting trees for industrial and domestic use (Sauve, 2010). Destruction of the Amazon forest is one of the problems environmental conservationists are experiencing today. Deforestation is the main cause of Amazon Rainforest’s destruction.
It is caused by rising demand for agricultural land, need for firewood, need for land to build factories and businesses, and need for timber. Since it is difficult to control the rate of population growth, it is important to conserve the environment. Negative effects of deforestation include soil erosion, destruction of habitats, and global warming.
Deforestation causes soil erosion because it exposes soil to wind and water. Soil erosion has negative effects such as low productivity and destruction of plants and soil microorganisms (Sauve, 2010). Also, trees act as windbreakers. Therefore, they prevent soil erosion by lowering the speed of the wind. Deforestation exposes soil to the strong wind that carries soil away. When soil is carried away, nutrients that nourish plants and trees in the forest become unavailable.
Deforestation is a major cause of global warming. Trees play a vital role in maintaining balance by regulating energy and nutrient cycles. Deforestation leads to the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As a result, the gas absorbs radiation waves from the sun, which are not released into the atmosphere after bouncing off the earth surface.
This phenomenon is referred to as the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect causes global warming because trapped radiation is converted to heat energy, which increases global temperatures (Sauve, 2010). High temperatures cause global warming.
Deforestation also destroys habitats. The Amazon Rainforest is home to many animals. Also, it is a source of food for animals. Deforestation kills animals because it destroys their food and shelter. Animals such as lions, elephants, and buffaloes live in the Amazon forest. Deforestation leads to immigration or the death of these animals due to the unavailability of food and shelter. Other animals migrate to favorable habitats.
The Amazon Rainforest can be conserved through wise use of available resources. For example, tree planting should be encouraged. Softwood trees that have short maturity periods should be planted to ensure that tree population is maintained despite the use of trees for economic gains (Sauve, 2010). Also, access to the Amazon forest should be restricted. Activities such as research should be allowed on a small scale.
For example, medicinal trees could be used for research purposes. Laws should be enacted to eradicate deforestation. These laws should include rules and regulations to guide the use of the forest for purposes that pose a threat to environmental sustainability and conservation. It is possible to use the Amazon Rainforest and at the same time, ensure its sustainability and conservation.
Reference
Sauve, D. (2010). Effects of Deforestation. New York: Clinton Gilkie.
Central Africa is home to the second largest rainforest in the world, and for that reason, it attracts great interest when it comes to matters regarding environmental issues at a time when global leaders are concerned with the conservation of rainforests around the world (Duveiller et al. 197). There is no doubt that deforestation is the biggest threat facing forests today as a result of numerous human activities.
However, even though the rate of deforestation is relatively low in this part of Africa compared to other major forest regions in the planet, the trend poses serious threats to the well being of the people in those regions. Some environmentalists in the region have expressed concern that the entire Central African region is experiencing increased deforestation as land is cleared for oil and sugar production, among other products that are becoming common in the region.
This would have the meaning that Central Africa might soon be on the verge of serious environmental consequences that can be associated with deforestation. This paper talks about deforestation in Central Africa whereby the causes, problems, and possible solutions to this environmental issue are well presented and analyzed.
The issue of deforestation in Central Africa and other regions of the world has become a key point of discussion in the ongoing debates on environment conservation across the world. There is a need to protect the rain forests from further depletion, considering the significant role these natural resources play in promoting human health and the wellbeing of their habitats.
Generally, deforestation refers to the act of getting rid of forest cover so as to turn the land into a non-forest use such as for industrial purpose and farming, among other things. Some of the common drivers of deforestation in Central Africa over the last two decades would include mining, small-scale farming, urbanization, and felling trees for energy resources (Conway 24).
Apart from the above drivers, economic and social reasons have been the major causes of deforestation in the region, with industrial logging production and conversion of forests into farming plantations being among the main factors here.
Timber industry has become a major employer in Central Africa Republic and the surrounding regions following the significant increase in logging over the last few decades. In this regard, many people in those regions tend to rely on logging industries as a source of livelihood. Local subsistence activities have also contributed to deforestation in Central Africa as poor communities who rely on farming continue to clear forest for agriculture.
Other critical threats of forest cover in the Central African region are things such as climate change, hunting of game meat, and population growth. Climate change as a result of deforestation and other factors has also contributed significantly to deforestation in Central Africa over the years (Cleaver 75).
As it would be observed, global warming is a major factor of concern in the contemporary society, considering the vast environmental problems this international issue has brought to people and ecosystems across the world. Climate change is one of the major impacts of global warming that have continued to raise serious implications on forest cover across the world (Scholze et al. 134)
Deforestation has brought many negative impacts in Central Africa and other parts of the world. These impacts include, but are not limited to, climate change, desertification, loss of biodiversity, changes to ecosystems, and increased loss of wood for industrial use. In regard with climate change, the carbons of the forest biomass in the Central African region, particularly the Congo River Basin area, have significantly gone up as a result of heavy logging and other activities of deforestation (Zhang, Christopher and Paul 208).
As a result of this outcome, higher levels of carbon are released into the atmosphere nowadays than at any other time in the past, thus contributing to changes in climatic conditions. More importantly, degradation of the Central African rain forests over the years has had a direct impact on precipitation, and this has generated a cascade of problems as far as climate change is concerned. Another problem associated with deforestation in Central Africa due to logging and overpopulation is that it has placed regional economies under great risk.
For instance, wildlife is likely to vanish as forest cover disappears, and this would mean that economies in the region will be seriously affected. Moreover, as degradation of forest continues to occur, the lives of the people of forest are threatened and endemic species that are found in the heart of the forests are endangered (Laurance et al. 128).
One of the highest deforestation rates in Central Africa was observed between 1990 and 2000, where the region lost approximately 91,000 km2 to this infamous trend (Zhang et al. 77). Given this alarming extend and rate of natural forest degradation for human activities, it is very clear that only a few large segments of undisturbed vegetation cover will be present in the next five decades.
In this regard, there is need for immediate actions to help minimize depletion of the Congo basin rainforest which is a major source of livelihood for millions of people around the Central African region. The idea of taking full control of deforestation in Central Africa is not an easy approach though, considering the presence of various factors whose long-term threat to biodiversity is of significant impact. For instance, apart from the growing populations in Central Africa, the current global demand for timber resources makes conservation efforts in the region impossible.
In order to effectively address the problem of deforestation in Central Africa, people must first of all come into terms with the current situation and be able to identify some of the key factors that have played a role in facilitating degradation of forests in the region (Laurance. et al 455). The debate on environmental issues has become a common subject matter in the contemporary society.
This, however, has raised much concern on the type of mitigation measures that should be taken in ensuring that further depletion of rain forests across the world is avoided. As a matter of fact, there is no other possible way by which deforestation can be controlled other than through improved living standards (Rudel et al. 139).
This would include things such as improved public services, more employment opportunities, better education, better infrastructure, and more business opportunities, among other priorities that would be of great significance to the society. As it has been shown in numerous empirical studies, plans about the control of deforestation in Central Africa and other regions of the world should be well integrated in the above areas if they are to be successful.
Works Cited
Cleaver, Kevin. “Deforestation in the western and central African forest: the agricultural and demographic causes, and some solutions.” Conservation of West and Central African Rain Forests. The World Bank, Washington DC, USA (1992): 65-78. Print.
Conway, Gordon. “The science of climate change in Africa: impacts and adaptation.” Grantham Institute for Climate Change Discussion Paper 1 (2009): 24. Print.
Duveiller, Gregory, et al. “Deforestation in Central Africa: Estimates at regional, national and landscape levels by advanced processing of systematically-distributed Landsat extracts.” Remote Sensing of Environment 112.5 (2008): 196-198. Print.
Laurance, William F., et al. “Challenges for forest conservation in Gabon, Central Africa.” Futures 38.4 (2006): 454-470. Print.
Laurance, William F., et al. “Impacts of roads and hunting on central African rainforest mammals.” Conservation Biology 20.4 (2006): 125-128. Print.
Rudel, Thomas K., et al. “Changing drivers of deforestation and new opportunities for conservation.” Conservation Biology 23.6 (2009): 139-140. Print.
Scholze, Marko, et al. “A climate-change risk analysis for world ecosystems.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 103.35 (2006): 131-137. Print.
Zhang, Quanfa, Christopher O. Justice, and Paul V. Desanker. “Impacts of simulated shifting cultivation on deforestation and the carbon stocks of the forests of central Africa.” Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 90.2 (2002): 203-209. Print.
Zhang, Quanfa, et al. “Mapping tropical deforestation in Central Africa.” Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 101.1-3 (2005): 69-83. Print.
