Not all deforestation is intentional. Some forest removal is caused by a combination of human and natural factors like wildfires and subsequent overgrazing, which may prevent the growth of young trees. (www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview)
There are, however, many reasons why large scale deforestation is still executed all over the world. For one, the intrinsic value of the actual forest has been disregarded and the primary notion behind forested land is that it is more economically viable than farmland(www.buzzle). This ideology, together with corrupt government institutions, deficient environmental law, urbanization, overpopulation and the inequitable distribution of wealth and power is viewed as the main reason why deforestation still takes place. (www.globalchange.current/lectures/deforest/deforest.html)
One can further argue this point using the theory that defines Nature as an Economic resource. Nationalist governments all over the world, believe that, in the economic climate, one is either a person, or property. In this case, nature is seen as property and therefore has no rights. It can be bought and sold, harvested or built upon and has become an obvious attribution of wealth, hence its consideration as an economic resource. The converse of this theory then reads: In order to restore balance with the earth and live sustainably, humans, corporate institutions and government need to understand that nature has rights too. In "Society, Nature and Citizenship", Dickens argues that the development of rights have lead to a renewed issue: a citizenship awareness that gives power to the "ordinary citizens" in a social structure that can be seen as a parallel to the industries (which do nothing less than "manufacturing risks", p. 115 and p. 236), enabling the emergence of some alternative networks and new social movements.
(Dickens, P. 2004. Society and Nature: changing our environment, changing ourselves. chap 8.pg 239. Cambridge: Polity Press).
Of course, in our current economy, there is also a genuine need for all the resources deforested land and its associated commodities provide. With that in mind, deforestation can be argued as being very necessary for our survival and growth. Some of the most important resources include:
• Timber for industrial use and for the harvesting of fuel
• Lumber for paper and other commercial wood products
• Land for the expansion of settlements and increasing urbanisation rates due to population growth.
• The need for fertile crop soils for large scale agricultural plantations to feed our expanding population
• Land for livestock pastures
Logging operations, which provide the world with its paper and wood products, cut down countless trees per year. The latest figures for deforestation rates are estimated at a total loss of 15.5 million hectares of forest world-wide every year (www.earthrestorationservice.org/page/73/forest-facts). This figure, together with the ever-increasing demand for tree charcoal derivatives for fuel harvesting, will only increase for years to come, unless a sustainable solution can be found.
Some loggers even go as far to cut down trees illegally by building roads that retreat far into remote protected forests . This leads to further deforestation, but increased profit, which directly and positively influences the growth of the world’s economy. A prime example of illegal logging can be seen in the forests of Madagascar. With its dilapidated infrastructure, poor health care and education systems, Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world ( Country Brief: Madagascar". eStandardsForum. 1 December 2009). Extreme poverty and government corruption has thus lead to the clearance of the protected Rosewood trees in the Masoala and Marojejy national parks. This selective and illegal logging of Rosewood is due to the international demand for the expensive, fine-grained lumber together with the escalation of 2009 Malagasy government political crisis, and an obvious urgency for the people of Madagascar to make money in some way shape or form, in order to provide for their families.
With constantly rising population statistics, there is an obvious need for acquisition of more land and many forests are cleared to make way for human settlement and urbanization or urban sprawl. Below is a graph sourced from the webpage of the World Resources Institute which visually depicts population growth over several centuries.
With population growth in mind, cities are inevitably expanding to accommodate more people and trees are cut down to make more room for houses and roads. This urban sprawl deforestation is occurring worldwide, now that 50 percent of the world's population lives in cities [source: CNN].
Arguably one of the biggest drivers of deforestation is agriculture. Farmers clear forests using “slash and burn” techniques to make way for the planting of crops and grazing of livestock ( www.buzzle.com/articles/facts-about-deforestation.html). It is estimated that many small subsistence farmers my clear up to 4 acres each to feed their families every year. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNCFCCC) secretariat, subsistence farming is responsible for 48% of deforestation. Commercial agriculture is responsible for 32%, logging 14% and fuel wood removals make up 5% of deforestation. UNFCCC. 2007. Investment and financial flows to address climate change. pp. 81.)
Controversial hydroelectric dams also contribute to deforestation rates, however the upshot to them is that they help to power communities in their surrounding area which can increase their quality of life and degree of urbanisation while also indirectly effecting the growth of that country’s economy. When building a hydroelectric dam however, acres of land must be flooded. This means that many local people can be displaced, causing further deforestation when these people resettle elsewhere. Flooding of a cleared area can also result in erosion of top soil and hence mineral degradation (information curtsey of Mr. Boardman- Smith, a Climatologist and Geography teacher at Reddam House Constantia)
Fires, whether accidental or intended, can destroy acres of forest rapidly. Logged areas are more susceptible to rogue forest fires due to the number of dried, dead trees. Milder winters and extended warm seasons due to global warming also fuel fires (www.howstuffworks/deforest-ation.com). For example, certain species of beetle that usually die off each winter are now able to survive in the warmer conditions and continue to feed on trees. This feeding causes the trees to dry out and die, making them into kindling [source: Environmental Defence Fund].
Digging a coal, diamond or gold mine is another contributor to deforestation. Mining requires the removal of all forest cover, so that trucks and their associated equipment can easily access the mine.
Palm oil, now a buzz word in association with bio-fuel, is currently used in many packaged foods and beauty products. Its rising prices make it more valuable, and, in response, Indonesian and Malaysian farmers destroy acres of trees to harvest it. For this reason, several countries are currently debating a ban on palm oil as a bio-fuel (www.howstuffworks/deforestation.com).
All photo's taken by: Ashleigh Gallagher
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