| INTRODUCTION | | | | (Lawton and May 1995). Tropical rainforests cover |
| Echo systems around the world help sustain life for | | | | about 7% of the world, but are home to more than |
| millions of species. Echo systems that are mainly | | | | half of the species living in the world. After a forest is |
| forests provide a home for a large majority of the | | | | cut down, many species cannot live without it and |
| species alive. Therefore the trees in these forests are | | | | possibly go extinct. Since we depend on these species |
| considered to be the most important species. Although | | | | for many resources, their extension will rob us of their |
| it is true, that most species are not able to sustain | | | | benefits. Perhaps we might destroy the next cure for |
| without each other. | | | | AIDS by deforestation and not know it. |
| There are many benefits that we get from our | | | | FUTURE |
| forests. Some of these include cleaner drinking water, | | | | The negative impacts of deforestation are getting |
| a home for plants and animals, economic growth, clean | | | | noticed internationally. Many countries are taking steps |
| air, recreational opportunities, reassuring future. Another | | | | to reduce the problem for a more sustainable earth. |
| benefit we get from trees is called oxygen. If there | | | | Unfortunately financial gain and high competition still |
| were no trees to give us oxygen to breath, we would | | | | exists with deforestation, and for some it's the only |
| not be able to live. So if you need one good reason | | | | way of survival. Many people are not educated about |
| why a forest should exist, staying alive is a pretty | | | | the long term results their actions may cause. Because |
| good reason. | | | | of these reasons deforestation is still a reality around |
| CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM | | | | the world in many countries. |
| Forests have many resources that people can use to | | | | With more international involvement, countries will take |
| raise their living standards. One example is the wood | | | | effective steps to bring deforestation to sustainable |
| for building houses. Certain wood materials last a long | | | | levels. But there is still a great deal of work to be done. |
| time, they keep the house warm and make it easy to | | | | For some forests it is still not too late to bring them |
| manufacture homes. Unfortunately the world is | | | | back quicker. Other forests that have been clear-cut |
| overpopulating and the demand for a higher standard | | | | might take centuries to grow to the original state. |
| of living is constantly on the rise. Therefore the | | | | Areas where pesticides were used it is possible that |
| demand for more resources is growing to levels that | | | | the echo system was damaged and may take a long |
| cannot be sustained. Since forests provide a large | | | | time to grow again. Many forests were replaced by |
| portion of the world's resources, many forests are cut | | | | large banana plantations. These plantations use |
| down or burned. | | | | pesticides that kill many species that are vital for an |
| The cause for cutting down forests is directly | | | | echo system to sustain. Erosion caused by |
| associated with the high demand for wood to | | | | deforestation may bring more water pollution in the |
| manufacture paper products and lumber for other | | | | future and may affect agriculture in the area. Other |
| manufacturing. We practically use wood for everything. | | | | reasons for deforestation are simply to provide room |
| It is used in home building, marine products, furniture and | | | | for paved roads, residential and commercial |
| the list seems like it's endless. Just look around yourself | | | | development that are caused by urban sprawl. These |
| right now and chances are you will find a product | | | | types of developments permanently destroy forests. |
| within your reach that is made of wood. Not only is | | | | Deforestation is a serious threat to life's future on our |
| wood a good building material, but it also has great | | | | planet. It has major effects on our global climate. It |
| aesthetic qualities. Most people appreciate a nice | | | | leads to the loss of millions of species that are |
| wooden dining table set or classic wooden rails on a | | | | important in sustaining a living earth. |
| staircase. Unfortunately we don't always take in to | | | | SOLUTIONS |
| account how many trees need to be cut down so we | | | | As we discussed the causes for deforestation, we |
| can have these luxuries in our lives. | | | | realize how these causes are very different. Because |
| Another major direct cause for forest depletion is | | | | the causes are often controlled by a countries |
| simply burning forests for farmland. This is more | | | | economy, overpopulation and many other social |
| common with countries that are undeveloped and | | | | reasons, it is impossible to find one solution to |
| have tropical rainforests. Many poor farmers in these | | | | deforestation. Although there are many solutions, it will |
| countries burn or cut small portions of tropical forests | | | | take time and cooperation of many different groups of |
| so they can have room for farming and cattle. But the | | | | people and organizations to make the solutions work. |
| big scale problem is created when huge corporate | | | | One popular solution that has been in effect for a few |
| farms burn thousands of square acres a year. They | | | | decades is forest conservation. We can work |
| need this much room so they can provide farming on | | | | internationally, regionally, and locally with organizations |
| a much larger scale to compete in the world market | | | | to develop policy and influence industries to help |
| for food. The reason forests are burned for the | | | | ensure a sustainable future for forests. Conservation |
| farmland is due to the rich minerals fertility of the soil. | | | | helps protect, manage, and restore the world's most |
| Unfortunately even the large scale farmers in | | | | important forests by identifying threats and developing |
| undeveloped countries are not educated on how they | | | | solutions to them. |
| can maximize their results when reusing the soil. | | | | Decrease the amount of products that are made as a |
| Therefore the soil is used up and left as a desert while | | | | result of deforestation. For example, using materials |
| the farmers burn more forest to make another farm. | | | | other than wood to build homes, furniture and other |
| The Amazon rainforest which is the largest in the | | | | common products made of wood. Encourage |
| world has fallen victim to such deforestations. This | | | | recyclable materials so people don't go back to wood |
| forest is located in South America where countries are | | | | again. Switching from wood to other materials will |
| having tough financial times. Brazil's market is a third of | | | | decrease the demand/supply for wood. |
| all the Latin countries included. Yet "Brazil's foreign debt, | | | | Implement more efficient farming methods to |
| except in the most implausible of positive economic | | | | encourage the reuse of land. |
| circumstances, is simply unsustainable in the years | | | | Educate people around the world about the negative |
| ahead" (CRF.org 2002). Economical pressure on a | | | | impacts of deforestation, and what can be done to |
| country is another big cause that will force a country | | | | prevent it. Help finance more educational programs. |
| to deforestation such as the case in Brazil. Basic | | | | Help countries make the right economic decisions. |
| Science and Remote Sensing Initiative (BSRSI) show | | | | Sign international treaties and make laws/regulations to |
| data that between 1978 to 1988 230,000 square miles, | | | | control annual deforestation. |
| nearly the size of Texas was affected by | | | | Import meat and dairy products from markets that do |
| deforestation (bsrsi.msu.edu). That is 16.5% of the | | | | not cause deforestation. |
| whole rainforest in the Amazon. | | | | The solution that I believe will be very effective is the |
| The next example shows the cause of deforestation | | | | second one. As far as cutting down trees, this is a |
| for farming. According to The Center for International | | | | very workable solution. We have too many products |
| Forestry Research (CIFOR), "Between 1990 and 2001 | | | | that are made of wood today. As economies grow |
| the percentage of Europe's processed meat imports | | | | around the world, the middle class will also grow. This |
| that came from Brazil rose from 40 to 74 percent" | | | | middle class will demand more and more products that |
| and by 2003 "For the first time ever, the growth in | | | | are made of wood. The American middle class is |
| Brazilian cattle production-80 percent of which was in | | | | obsessed with wood products and we don't even |
| the Amazon-was largely export driven." As more | | | | realize it. A large portion of our homes are built from |
| roads are built to provide access to forests in | | | | wood, and so is our furniture. Most cabinets alone |
| undeveloped countries more deforestation is evident. | | | | require so much wood. If we like wood products so will |
| EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM | | | | the rest of the world. |
| As mentioned earlier, we get a large portion of our | | | | The solution is to take the majority of the wood |
| oxygen from vegetation such as trees. Since most | | | | products and find alternative materials to them. This of |
| trees live in forests it is important to realize the | | | | course is not as easy as it sounds, but it is very |
| negative impact deforestation may have on our air | | | | doable. Once it is done, it will extremely decrease the |
| quality. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a gas that has an | | | | demand for wood, therefore reducing deforestation. |
| impact on the greenhouse effect. There is a cycle | | | | With such high advances in technology we can travel |
| between CO2 producers such as cars and CO2 | | | | in space and replace hearts. Therefore it is possible to |
| consumers such as plants. Together they create the | | | | make materials that are safe for the environment and |
| "Global Carbon Cycle". The plants and soil of tropical | | | | replace wood. Maybe even make materials that share |
| forests hold 460-575 billion metric tons of carbon | | | | most of the properties that wood has. We can even |
| worldwide (McKane et al. 1995). From 1850 to 1990, | | | | invent materials that imitate wood like the "burled |
| deforestation worldwide released 122 billion metric tons | | | | wood" in our cars today. This "burled wood" in most |
| of carbon into the atmosphere, with the current rate | | | | cars isn't even wood anymore, it is some kind of a |
| being between 1.6 billion metric tons per year (Skole et | | | | plastic and a pattern to imitate the look of the wood. |
| al. 1998). In comparison, all of the fossil fuels (coal, oil, | | | | Speaking of the auto industry, I can't believe how |
| and gas) burned during a year release about 6 billion | | | | advanced our cars have become. These are cars that |
| tons per year. Therefore deforestation even when | | | | we drive everyday. Yet we live in new houses that |
| compared to all the other pollution plays a significant | | | | were built with an ancient method of wood and nails. I |
| role in Global Warming and clean air. | | | | think that is ridiculous. Perhaps the solution to replace |
| Another extent of the problem with deforestation is a | | | | wood with alternative materials will also lead to more |
| decrease in biodiversity. Biodiversity is important for | | | | efficient assembly methods and a safer environment. |
| Ecosystem sustainability, agriculture, medicine, | | | | And most importantly the first solution is changing our |
| recreation, aesthetic and commercial value. There are | | | | attitude to help prevent deforestation. |
| about 5 to 80 million species that live on this earth | | | | |