Mainhia Moua
Midterm Paper: Deforestation
GEOG 1021, Professor McKay
October 25th, 2014
Deforestation: Lungs of Earth Did you know that the homes of 50% of plants and animals are located in tropical rainforests (“Rainforest”)? Well, this is indeed true. All of the world’s tropical rainforests are a crucial part to plants, animals, and even humans, as they provide us with several benefits: oxygen, climate, living conditions, and many more (“Panda”). But in the more recent decades as the economy is evolving, the human race has seen the need to take more of the tropical rainforests and other natural resources to fit their daily lives. Little do they know, animals, plants, and Mother Nature are being destroyed slowly as forests and lands are being
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As described by Alan F. Arbogast in his book Discovering Physical Geography, deforestation is “the process through which large tracts of land are cleared of trees by humans” (270). Today, deforestation is described as quite a major issue because the amount of forest cover in our global society is being reduced dramatically. In fact, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, continents South America and Africa experienced a -5.2% and -11.7% change in forest cover from years 1990-2010 respectively (Arbogast 271). South America and Africa’s forestland cover have declined these percentages, which many researchers believe contribute to deforestation. Too much forest cover is being used and not much attention is being paid to taking care of the land. When these natural lands are cleared, many problems can emerge, such as biodiversity in the tropical forest biomes, global warming, and ultimately, the “extinction of plant and animal species that have yet to be discovered” (Arbogast 271). Deforestation is an ongoing issue in our society today and has many reasons why it is caused in the first …show more content…
Agriculturally wise, many farmers use a technique called “slash and burn” to clear down old vegetation and set fire on these lands to provide nutrients for new land. Many countries have used this method to make a living, like the center of Africa, Southeast Asia, and northern South America. Although this practice has improved vegetation for those countries, it indirectly is contributing to indirectly harming the land (Stief). Forest cover may be lost forever in the long run. Colin Stief mentions in his article “Slash and Burn Agriculture Results in Tropical Habitat and Biodiversity Loss” that nutrients and biodiversity may be loss, land may not grow back in time, and gasses emitted may contribute to global warming
“The Earth is 4.6 billion years old. Scaling to 46 years, human have been here 4 hours, the industrial revolution began 1 minute ago, and in that time, we’ve destroyed more than half the world’s forests.” - Unknown. One major environmental problem in our world is deforestation - what is that, you ask? According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, deforestation is the action or process of clearing of forests. Some consequences of this include a large contribution to global warming and climate change (about 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year), loss of biodiversity especially in tropical rainforests, and the extinction of many known or yet to be discovered species. But, through some Debt-for-Nature Swaps, leaving forests
This article describes the history of deforestation around the world and explaining how deforestation started as part of a civilizing process. Then the article tells that human populations increase causes deforestation because humans need more land for food, water, and for living purposes. Also in the last part of the article it talks about how the future of deforestation is worse than the present, even with our reforestation efforts the environment is being destroyed to fast for us to stop especially in the
Nowadays deforestation is the one of the most important and controversial environmental issues in the world. Deforestation is cutting down, clearing away or burning trees or forests. Particularly tropical rainforests are the most waning type of forests because of its location in developing countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, India, central African countries and Brazil. Deforestation rate in those regions is high enough to worry about, because of large economic potential of forest areas. As the result of causes such as agriculture land expansion, logging for timber, fire blazing and settling infrastructure there might be serious impacts in future. For instance, extinction of endemic species of animals and plants which will be feral, increase of greenhouse gas emissions which may lead to global warming and consecutive catastrophes, destruction of home for indigenous residents which is considered as violation of human rights. Some people can argue with these drawbacks telling that deforestation have more valuable benefits such as growth of economics, production of food and providing better opportunities for life for poor families. However, these benefits are quite temporary and government of that countries and world organisations tries to halt deforestation proposing several solutions. Deforestation problem is especially acute in the Brazilian Amazon, where its rate is much high comparing with other regions. This paper will describe world-wide rainforests, causes and effects of deforestation, and evaluate possible solutions of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon.
Of all of the issues that effect the planet Earth from a Global Change standpoint, one of the most visible and highly publicized is the issue of rainforest destruction. The loss of this emerald on the planet's crown will end life as we know it, if something is not done...
Now is a critical time to address the issue of deforestation. Around the world forests are logged for timber and paper pulp. South America contains a large amount of mahogany and rosewood—highly coveted types of wood—within the Amazon basin. Forests are also cleared to make room for the planting of cash crops, such as coffee and soy, as well as livestock farms. After only a few years, overuse of these lands for crops typically causes soil erosion that quickly turns deforested regions into wastelands. Deforestation is responsible for 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is more than all emissions all motorized transportation added together. The destruction of forests does not just threaten our climate; it threatens the livelihoods of billions of people that rely on forests for food and economic activities. The modern world relies on rainforests more than for the well-known reason. People receive many of their fruits and medicines from plant species that survive solely within the heart of a rainforest. Let’s not forget that forests also serve as habitats to wildlife a...
The Amazon is a vast region spanning across six South America countries Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela (Walker, & Cesareo 2014). The Amazon is one of the most developed rainforest of anywhere in the world. Over two-thirds of all the fresh water and 20% of the earth’s oxygen are produced in the Amazons (wcupa.edu). Despite the vital role of the Amazons, carless practices continue the rapid deforestation of the ecosystem. (Mainville, et al, 2006). The main causes of deforestation include unsustainable logging, agriculture, invasive species, fire, fuel wood gathering, and livestock grazing (Thompson, et al. 2013). The widespread of this issue is of importance in global policy processes, which deals with biodiversity, climate change, and forest management (Thompson, et al. 2013). The Ecuador has some of the highest rates of deforestation; an estimated 3% of the land is yearly destroyed (Mecham, 2001). “The Ecuador’s interandean basin native vegetation has been practically eliminated since colonial times, replaced by crops, pasture, towns and cities, and exotic tree plantations. This area suffers severe soil erosion problems even today” (Mecham, 2001). The continuum of deforestation issues continues to destroy the ecological habitat of the Amazonian Indians (Mecham, 2001). In the area of Napo River Valley West of the Ecuadorian Amazon, deforestation has resulted in an abrupt end of harmony between man and nature (Mainville, et al., 2006). The desire for economic profits continues to fuel the already alarming rate of the Amazon. According to the Rain Forest foundation, “When Texaco entered the Ecuadorean Oriente in, 1967; the area was considered the most biodiverse place on Earth. Since then, more than 20 billi...
Is deforestation nicknamed “the modern day plague” by national geographic a global issue in the 21st century? This question breeds a lot of debate when it comes to the controversial topic of deforestation but, the answer is simply yes. The reasons behind deforestation being such a global issue stems from the affects that it has on the sustainability of the air for living organisms such as people, variables that also cause changes in the weather, and negative alterations within the food supply. The reasons behind deforestation being such a controversial topic are the fact that this project carries a lot of pros behind it, but many believe the pros do not outweigh the cons. One major con behind this being the utilization of heavy machinery and the removal of trees through deforestation are very damaging to the environment.
Rainforests once covered 14% of the worlds land surface, however now it only covers a mere 6%. It is estimated that all rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years. Trees are becoming more needed and used everyday. We need them cut down for many reasons such as paper and timber, while also needing them ‘untouched’ for other reasons like oxygen, we have to ask ourselves, which is more important? At the current rate, most of the rainforests are being cut down for resources like paper and timber, but less importance is being placed on main resources like oxygen.
Many people believe that deforestation is a necessity for mankind for many reasons. “Deforestation has made it possible for many communities and cities to be built” (Cotthem 14). Deforestation has made many things possible such as…”communities and cities have been built” (Pryzborski 12). It has provided humans with many things. It has been providing land and raw materials for humans for hundreds and thousands of years. “Governments are able to build roads to make trade and transportation easier and more convenient to residents” (Cotthem1). Even though it destroys homes and forests, it is a main reliability for humans to get raw materials. Also, without the use of deforestation by man kind, there would be very few places that families could go to for shelter and food sources. “Deforestation can also mean the conservation of forest land to productive for agricultureal areas” (Cotthem 1).
In fact, that cause some serious problems to the public health. For example, according to Pakenham (2013), the CO2 level has been high in the atmospheric. This example shows how human are responsible for most of the accumulation of this gas by burning trees. Also, deforestation lead to lack of food. Many people today cannot find vegetables and the cost to get some is considerably expansive because there are not enough trees to fulfil consumers’ demands.
Deforestation is the permanent removal of forests to make room for other uses of the land (McIntyre). The Amazon rainforest stretches for 1.6 million square miles, holds 1/10 of the world’s species and provides natural assets for both regional and national economies (“Deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest”). Despite its great importance to the Earth, the Amazon rainforest is perhaps the most threatened area of deforestation around the world. Timothy Casey reports that in Brazil alone, 5.4 million acres of rainforest have been destroyed for the past 30 years, decreasing the size of the Amazon by eighteen percent (13). A main aspect of this issue is that it destroys habitats for important species, causing extinction and endangerment. The Golden Lion Tamarin, one of the most endangered species in the world, is in jeopardy of disappearing with the rainforest. Their habitats have been fragmented into small, unconnected areas and their food sources limited (Lang). Once the golden lion tamarins disappear, it can no longer fulfill its niche and the entire system is threatened.
Deforestation is a major concern in today’s society. The destruction of the world’s forest areas are leaving millions of acres uninhabitable. The varied species of animals and insects that use to live and thrive from these forests are rapidly becoming extinct. The destruction of the forest is also having a detrimental effect on the people through displacement thus forcing them to seek new living accommodations. Many of these people are loosing their heritage and cultures leaving them with a sense of hopelessness. The barren land left by deforestation is also causing many ecological problems. Increased flooding and soil erosion are two of the other problems facing several countries like China, Brazil, and the Philippines. To gain a better understanding of the immense significance of this matter perhaps a look at the past, present and future are needed.
At least two-thirds of the total plant species grows in the rainforests. The hot and humid climate of rainforest is very supportive to the growth of plants and animals. It is believed that there will be many millions of species of plants, insects and micro-organisms thriving in rainforest which have not been discovered still. The main benefit of rainforests is that they supply much of the earth’s oxygen. They absorb carbon dioxide produced by man-made activities and produce oxygen on which all humans and animals survive. They also contain millions of species of exotic plants and animals. Rainforest supplies many things essential for the survival of human and other living
Urquhart, G., Chomentowski, W., Skole, D., & Barker, C. (2001). Tropical Deforestation (1st ed., pp. 1-8). NASA. Retrieved from http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Deforestation/tropical_deforestation_2001.pdf
People have been deforesting the Earth for thousands of years, primarily to clear land for crops or livestock. Although tropical forests are largely confined to developing countries, they aren’t just meeting local or national needs; economic globalization means that the needs and wants of the global population are bearing down on them as well. Direct causes of deforestation are agricultural expansion, wood extraction (e.g., logging or wood harvest for domestic fuel or charcoal), and infrastructure expansion such as road building and urbanization. Rarely is there a single direct cause for deforestation. Most often, multiple processes work simultaneously or sequentially to cause deforestation.