Forests expand
across the world providing breath taking, natural physical features to immerse
oneself in. Occupying 31 percent of the world’s land surface, forests not only
offer beauty but also provide a number of resources that are essential to both
environmental and human growth (Kirk, 2016). We owe a great deal of gratitude to
the various components that make up forests including trees, soil, and organic
matter and their environmental contributions. These features each perform
unique processes, trees act as a natural filter providing purification for air,
water, protection from run off, and climate regulation (Adams, 2012). The
forest is also responsible for providing goods including wood or paper as well
as the storage of key nutrients vital for plant growth. For example, Guyana’s
rich forests hold massive amount of carbon. When carbon is stored it reduces
the amount that is lost to the environment and helps to combat climate change
(Sutherland, 2017). Not only do forests cleanse the environment and provide
nutrition, but they also instill balance within the ecosystem serving as a home
to diverse wildlife (Erickson-Davis, 2017). Although forests provide many benefits
to the people, deforestation is a relevant topic of concern that threatens
their existence and hinders these contributions.
Deforestation is a
distressing issue that involves the removal of Earth’s forests and occurs for a
variety of reasons. The human population continues to grow and as with other
environmental issues man takes priority resulting in the removal of Earth’s
forests to provide land for settlement and agriculture. Not only are forests
being removed for habitation but this land is often viewed by the government as
an agricultural opportunity for prosperity. Global agribusiness is primarily
responsible for Cambodia’s massive deforestation as the government is leasing
land to timber and agricultural companies (Erickson-Davis, 2017). Similarly, in
the Brazil’s northern Amazon agribusinesses are forcing local farmers off land
in order to utilize the acreage for soya production (Vidal, 2017). Another
large driver of deforestation includes removal of land for activities such as
gold mining as well as the construction of dams. Guyana, a country with a rich
supply of gold under its jungle cover, experiences this problem first hand as
mining is a necessary evil that is responsible for much of Guyana’s
deforestation (Sutherland, 2017). A third contributor to deforestation is high
severity forest fires resulting from a combination of increasing temperatures
and dry conditions. Areas around the world such as the state of California
experience deforestation as a result of these devastating fires that also
create a number of environmental concerns.
 |
Fig. 1 This image shows the
significant damage done to the mountains of California as a result of a roaring
wildfire.
Although there are
many different factors that contribute to deforestation they all pose
significant problems for the environment and surrounding individuals.
Deforestation not only burdens individuals that rely on its resources but its
also has a drastic impact on the diverse wildlife living within it. Cambodia’s
forests were once home to a variety of species however deforestation has
endangered a number of species including the Indochinese tigers and colorful
monkeys referred to as doucs (Erickson-Davis, 2017). The complete loss of
species eliminates biodiversity and offsets balance within the ecosystem
generating immense concern. The effects of deforestation also contribute to
global warming, as there are fewer trees to reduce pollution levels within the
air. Cambodia has experienced a build up of about 533 million metric tons of
carbon emission resulting from fewer leaves to absorb greenhouse gases (Erickson-Davis, 2017). Next, deforestation creates ecological and social devastation leading to
conflict between groups of people. The redistribution of land in Brazil has
created controversy between farmers and the government as farmer’s claim that
the government is illegally redistributing lands for personal gain (Vidal,
2017). Small business holders are being removed from land that is then being
sold to bigger businesses to make profit from Soya production. Farmer’s are not
only worried about possible remove from their homes but are also concerned
about the potential social problems associated with the soya market (Vidal,
2017).
Deforestation has
significant consequences however; the issue is not going unnoticed, as efforts
have been directed towards eliminating the destruction of the forest landscape.
In Cambodia the prevalence of endangered species has captured the attention of
various organizations including the government. Specifically, the government granted
official protection to swaths within the threatened forests and announced plans
of introducing a new national park to preserve the forest (Erickson-Davis,
2017). Guyanese leaders have also directed efforts towards reducing deforestation
with the help of funding from an organization known as REDD+. This organization works towards
fighting global warming through protection of forests and provides funding that
contributes to their efforts (Sutherland, 2017). UC Davis and the USDA Forest
Service have also contributed to the efforts engaging in an experimental study
to help foresters determine the areas where seeds should be planted immediately
after forest fires and where conifer seeds will regrow on their own (Safford,
2016). The consequences that
result from deforestation are concerning however, efforts from various
countries and organizations such as these must persist to prevent further
destruction to our forests.
References
Adams, E. (2012). World forest area still
on the decline. Earth Policy Institute. Retrieved from http://www.earth-policy.org/indicators/C56/
Erickson-Davis, M. (2017). NASA releases
images of dramatic deforestation in Cambodia. Mongabay. Retrieved from
https://news.mongabay.com/2017/01/nasa-releases-images-of-dramatic-cambodia-deforestation/
Kirk,
A. (2016). Deforestation: where is the world losing the most trees? The
Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/03/23/deforestation-where-is-the-world-losing-the-most-trees/
Safford, H. (2016). High severity
wildfires complicate natural regeneration for California conifers. Science
Daily. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161221091348.htm
Sutherland, G. (2017). Guyana focuses
deforestation prevention efforts on conservation and management. The Guardian.
Retrieved from
https://news.mongabay.com/2017/01/guyana-focuses-deforestation-prevention-efforts-on-conservation-and-management/
Vidal, J. (2107). Amazon rainforest’s
final frontier under threat from oil and soya. The Guardian. Retrieved from
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/feb/16/amazon-rainforest-final-frontier-in-brazil-under-threat-from-oil-and-soya
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