Posts tagged "rainforest"

8 Basic Ways of Preventing Deforestation

There have been so many discussions on the effects of deforestation in our environment. These effects range from alarming to catastrophic. We have read newspaper headlines that show the wreckage that natural disasters have done. Flashfloods have not only damaged millions of properties all over the globe but it has also collected lives. Landslides have done the same. These two are the results of nature's balance that has been disturbed—they are the effects of deforestation.

Deforestation is the act of converting patches of forests to become areas of residence or industry. More and more businessmen are pushing through forests to obtain more land. Environment is sacrificed in exchange for profit. And this is a highly disturbing fact.

As an individual or as a part of the global community, you can do something to help prevent deforestation. Maybe you can't fight off illegal loggers with your bear hands but with some basic ways, you can make a difference—no matter how small. Here's a list:

1.If deforestation is a negative event, then a positive event should take place to counter its effects—reforestation. Plant trees and begin doing this in your yard. Trees give off oxygen that is essential for human existence and they, in turn, capture the carbon dioxide that humans and animals exhale. Trees also help in containing water in its roots. With this simple act, you are able to prevent soil erosion, which is the root cause of landslides!

2.Use recycled items such as books or pad paper, toilet paper, even shopping bags. If you can, do not waste any of these products so that no new raw material would be required to replace them.

3.If you are a farmer (or if you know someone who works as a farmer), try to rotate your crops. Instead of using a different portion of land each year, why not use the same portion with different crops? This practice also helps in maintaining the fertility of the soil. With the rotation of crops, not only is there a variety on the harvest each year, there is also the possibility of keeping that portion of land for as long as you can.

4.Cut down only the mature trees. Do not kill baby trees. And for every tree that is lost, plant another one as a replacement.

5.Join environmental awareness groups that would help you be an advocate of reforestation. In Washington, specifically in the Washington Middle School, there was a group of students that established a service-learning project. In their project, they asked a penny from each person. They explained that this money would help in buying acres of the rainforest in Amazon. Once this pushes through, no deforestation could take place in that purchased area.

6.There is a report that in Indonesia and Malaysia, more and more trees are cut down to produce palm oil. This massive destruction in the forests of both countries resulted into the loss of habitat for the native orangutans. With the loss of more trees, more animals become homeless. You can't help prevent this altogether but you can limit your consumption of products that contain palm oil such as breads, chocolates, and even some cosmetics such as shampoo, soap or toothpaste. As to your food consumption, you can begin a diet of roasted or boiled foods instead of frying them.

7.Instead of using firewood, use coals to heat up your fireplaces during the winter season. Remember that it takes only a few hours to consume the firewood but it would take years to grow a single tree. Think twice before purchasing firewood again.

8.Support the laws or programs that were made to protect the forests and to stop any form of deforestation. Programs such as the Tropical Forestry Action Plan have done a major difference on the way deforestation is looked at today. This program spearheaded the discussion of tropical deforestation.

It is imperative to know that there is no such thing as a small, insignificant act when it comes to defeating deforestation. No matter how small your deed maybe, the important thing there is ‘every act can make a difference'. Deforestation can be prevented and you can be an active force in achieving that.

For more information now go to: http://www.solutionstoearthdestruction.com/How-To-Prevent-Deforestation.html http://www.solutionstoearthdestruction.com/Benefit-Of-Deforestation.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathalie_Fiset
http://EzineArticles.com/?8-Basic-Ways-of-Preventing-Deforestation&id=508793

Why Does Deforestation Happen Globally?

There are obvious consequences when you try to put up a battle with nature, but in spite all these knowledge, why does ecological disturbance still exist? Why does deforestation happen when everybody knows for a fact that it is doing more harm than good to nature? The answers are a bit tricky, and it comes in complex ways.

Perhaps man is engaging in such battle for the mere purpose of sustaining his needs. Man resorts to activities where he can still get something of benefit to him. The basic necessities of life should be met on a daily basis, and meeting these needs would mean searching for ways to acquire it. One good place for probing is nature; but the more we draw something from it, the more it gets consumed and overly exhausted.

The Global Man Made Phenomenon

Forests are being stripped at an alarming rate since the 1900′s, and both men and government made no aggressive moves to save the planet from total annihilation. Perhaps the reason why men can’t simply take their hands off of nature is because of the need to live. Likewise, the government can see no further ways to stop the issues since it has been at a steadily increasing rate.

The first good reason why our lands are being wiped off with all the naturals is because of its values. The more viable products they see in nature, the more men become eager to penetrate the wild. Wherever there is money involved, there will always be humans hovering above it. Above all, forest depletion is for men consumption. Although it’s a terrible truth, people are all aware of it; but some would only let it pass their eyes for the sole purpose of profiting.

Apart from food, other resources can also be derived from nature. Among the most popular ones are the benefits which we get from trees such as paper, napkins, wood for home use, timber for constructing buildings and crafting furniture; and lastly; for heating purposes. With the wide use of lumber, it would be sure to have an impact on economic growth but with a death in forest values. The trend has become quite surprising because of the ongoing rise of the rates that reflect man’s likelihood of parasitizing and demolishing nature.

Why Does Deforestation Result To Devastation

There are some experts who believe that deforestation is not evil in all ways. It has some good outcomes with nature too, but the matter of controlling and disciplining oneslef becomes the biggest question. Take note, we are not only talking about the depletion of ecological life, but with the extinction of human life too.

Areas which are emptied of the green life, especially in tropical rainforests, can be very receptive to deforestation. Tropical rainforests consist of only a delicate layer of topsoil that is effortlessly worn away if there is no undergrowth grasping it in place.

The wildlife that is adapted to live in the jungle typically cannot continue to exist out in the open. Forests also act as the heat absorber of the planet, and it serves as the biggest recipients of carbon dioxide in the air. The rich green lands entrap moisture and augment clamminess; thereby creating a reserve for animal use. Without the plant life protecting moisture from seeping out into thin air, the animals can become endangered as well.

So why does deforestation happen? Perhaps, the answer to that is ourselves. We can never point fingers on anyone since we all contribute to the earth’s likely demise. From the small things that we do and from the biggest threats like major corporations, everyone realistically participates in the gradual killing of the earth.

Deforestation And Climate Change

Rain forests are one of the last great frontiers of discovery. It is estimated that millions of species are still yet to be found and classified making this one of the most enigmatic entities in the world, yet the sad fact remains that this object of beauty is fast diminishing and may not be around for future generations. We are losing thousands of acres per day due to deforestation to pave the way for so called “growth” and “industrialization” and with this brings consequences such as climate change, devastated natural habitats that support entire ecosystems, desertification and to our own detriment, losing the very key to our own salvation.

The potential cure to every illness could be locked within the very rainforests that we destroy, taking with it its secrets. What’s tragic is that we are losing natures biological treasures just as we are beginning to grasp their inherent value.

We are dependent upon the rainforest’s of the world for our survival. They provide the infrastructure of the natural world and are the building blocks that land based life builds itself upon.

The Amazonian rainforest helps to regulate normal temperatures. We can see in part the effects of global warming on weather systems with the recent spell of natural disasters. Just a brief century ago, natural rainforests covered around 14% of the earth’s surface which insulated and protected the earth’s climate against such extreme weather conditions, now that this has diminished to just 6%, in less than 50 years time there will be no more natural rainforest land to speak of leaving us at the mercy of the weather conditions that we all played a role in creating.

Our pristine natural forests are the lungs of the world, around one fifth of the entire earths oxygen comes from the Amazon rainforest which also absorbs and stores harmful carbon dioxide greenhouse gases.

The cure to every disease can potentially be found in the rainforest. Out of 3,000 drugs that are shown to react against cancer, more than 70% of these are derived from plants that can be found only in the Amazonian rainforest.

The rainforest is host to entire ecosystems that depend upon it for their survival, to destroy it would be impossible to replace the natural biodiversity housed within it.

Industries fail to see the bigger picture and are opting for quicker ways to make money by clearing precious rainforest in exchange for growing palm oil crops.

Here are just a few effects of deforestation:

Climate change:

Through deforestation due to the world’s demand for wood, not only are we significantly changing the face of our planet but we are artificially accelerating the process of climate change.

Deforestation and climate change are not independent of one another, in fact they are both closely linked.

The tropical rainforests of the world act as a natural air conditioner cooling climate temperatures. Not only do they remove and store carbon dioxide but they also have extensive cloud cover which deflects sunlight back into space preventing it from being absorbed onto the earth’s surface. This can only come specifically from tropical rainforest which means to our own detriment and survival we need to protect and encourage re-growth of what we already have. Cutting and burning of rainforest results in the introduction of even more greenhouse gases from its natural stores which further contributes to climate change.

http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/issues/deforestation/take-action

http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/issues/deforestation/overview/forest-loss-climate-change

The reduction of natural rainforest is also linked with the increase of mosquito carrying pathogens so we can continue to see the up rise of disease with the less volume of forest.

Loss of natural habitat and ecosystems:

We are losing hundreds of irreplaceable plant and animal species each day, no doubt there are thousands of species already extinct before they’ve ever had a chance to be discovered. Through excessive logging and human influence we are upsetting the natural balance between plant and animal. By changing the face of the forest you lose natural biodiversity that took evolution millions of years to form and which can never be artificially replaced through restoration incentives making conservation all the more important.

Displacement of indigenous people:

For thousands of years Indigenous people have long co-existed with their natural rainforests and have successfully survived by having the attitude to take only what they need. Sadly, however these indigenous people of Borneo, South America are being further marginalized by government and industry, all in the name of “progress”.

Although by birthright they are the rightful heirs to their land, they have the least rights when it comes to the juggernaut of agribusiness and development and are being constantly pushed further to the outskirts of society, losing more ground of their natural forest as it is stripped to make way for palm and soy oil crops.

It is estimated that there were more than 10 million native Indians in the Brazilian rainforest 500 years ago, now that number has dwindled to less than 200,000 and along with their dying population they themselves, like their forests are becoming an endangered species. With their loss of numbers goes their cultural identity and wealth of knowledge accumulated throughout the generations. Every time a medicine man dies it is the equivalent of losing a library of information.

What we can do?:

The rainforests have far more value if we can preserve, protect and continue to learn from them rather than to tragically lose them to logging. Wouldn’t you rather that they were preserved to help fight the life threatening diseases of humanity than to make your wooden floor boards from?

We need to shift the focus of industry from industrialization to preservation and put in place incentives where preservation could give equal to or higher returns than with development.

Have a voice – speak out for those who can’t speak for themselves. Greater awareness and education of the importance of our forests and their sustainability, it’s impossible to up heave whole hectares of pristine, natural forest and expect to replant them and retain their biodiversity.

We cannot expect to get back what we take, so we need to preserve what we have. Designate plantation land and keep that specifically for the purpose of forestry.

Systems need to be put in place to protect and encourage growth of the remaining rainforest land that we already have.

1. We can do this by donating to help preserve our natural rainforests of the world. We are no longer powerless as individuals, the internet has enabled the spread of information, making our world a smaller place. You can now be put directly in touch with programs that can help on your behalf. For instance the Donate an acre program:

http://ran.org/campaigns/protect_an_acre/about_protect_an_acre

You can also gift these to your loved ones, what an amazing gift knowing that you did something positive for your world.

2. Countries with rainforests need to see them as an asset other than for the purpose of logging and oil harvesting. Imagine if landowners and government were to realize the full potential of carbon emission trading, the amount of carbon offsetting natural untouched rainforest could offeris phenomenal giving more financial reason to keep them where they are.

3. Discourage buying soy and palm oil that is grown and harvested from former rainforest land.

4. Financial rewards for forest preservation for medical research.

5. By greater information and encouragement at government level and by influencing policymakers the importance of preserving these natural forests for indigeous peoples.

6. Where does that wood come from? Buying “responsible wood” or eco timber. Employing similar solutions as with endangered animal species by simply not perpetuating the demand cycle and avoiding purchasing endangered rain forest timber for construction, when we exercise our consumer power by not buying these types of items, industries will reduce harvesting this precious resource.

http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/take-action/live-greener/shopping/goodwood-guide/about-good-wood

Solutions To Deforestation: Are There Really Any?

Perhaps one of the greatest tragedies and threats of all time is deforestation. Since our rainforests provide us with various living means, any form of peril to it should never be disregarded. Thus, focusing on the issues and planning more for solutions to deforestation is definitely a must.

Like all other problems, solutions come in a wide array of choices. However, you get to pick one first at a time and see if it’s capable to yield good answers or not. In deforestation, it is admittedly quite difficult to find solutions to the dilemma mainly because of the huge scope that it encompasses. Remember, this act and its effects are directed not only at a specific area. All other parts of the world have gone through such act and all else have experienced how nature got back at them.

The Traditional Solution

The conventional solution aims to target and fix poverty which they consider to be the cause of deforestation. The government, together with various organizations, sees development as the main key to cure. Ironically speaking though, industrialization and further city developments are also one of the causes of deforestation. This happened to be the reason why the government has been buffeted by issues with regards to the solutions that they tried to provide. Nevertheless, here are the proposed (and mostly unrealistic) solutions the government has to offer:

Tropical Forest Action Plan (TFAP) is one of the anticipated problem solutions by the government. It operates through strategically implementing to the people the value of our forests. This plan has failed many times for obvious reasons. In fact, the government (as they say) should have created a much clever plan to truly eradicate the problem. Bringing up nonrealistic items over the table is just considered to be a waste of time.

Sustained Yield Forestry is one of the projected ways to minimize the output of timber in its yearly harvest. Issues have hovered around corrupt officials who permit excess timber counts in exchange for money. This solution therefore needs honest and responsible professional men to lead along the way to change. The question is, when and where will you see dignified men these days especially with the color of money around?

Reserve Strategies are also one of the seemingly impossible ways of treating the problem. Hording of resources and keeping them for future use is quite an impractical thing to do. It needs more practice, and thus should be disregarded in cases where abrupt changes could be made. Remember, the deforestation process is widely accelerating in number now, and plans which are time bounded should be followed.

Lastly, International Biodiversity Program is also one of the seen probabilities by the government to finish the problem of deforestation. However, it works almost the same as TFAP which is also proven to be non-beneficial. Traditional based planned strategies are all government solutions to deforestation. It is up to your own criticism now as to which will be judged the best.

The Realistic Solutions To Deforestation

The question on how to confront the problem is a bit daunting. It rather involves challenges not only among the normal people; but it also involves those who make the biggest decisions in our world. The evaluation of the solutions is directed towards the response of the people and of the other surrounding parties.

The realistic solutions to deforestation includes: timber labeling, addressing the problems of landlessness, recognizing the rights of indigenous people, and inequality and debt. Although these may be the most realistic ways to halt deforestation acts, it needs the cooperation of everyone else.

After all, a big plan cannot work if there is no full force addressed to it.

Rainforest Deforestation and Depletion

Did anyone ever know that rainforests are denuded at the rate of 6,000 acres per hour? It is indeed a surprising fact that our green lands are abolished at such a rapid rate; and do people know what the detrimental effects could be? Well, the answer may be a mixture of a yes and a no. Others may believe that the premise to a dying world is true, while others deny the fact that such things could really take place.

However, in issues like this, people must believe only in one thing, and that is: rainforest deforestation is going over a higher speed and its damaging effects are almost unstoppable.

We talk of deforestation everyday yet we failed to notice its fast coming pace. Perhaps it is due to man’s negligence that people can continue destroying without seeing the potential effects their acts could bring. Man could only possibly regret when things are affecting them in such a way that it becomes a disturbance to a good life. By seeing and hearing the probable outcomes of deforestation, one must take sides in selecting between good and evil. In choosing one, remember not to make regrets about your preferences.

Rainforest: An Essence To The World

With the 3 billion people living in the tropical areas of the world, much of our green resources have been bargained for. The rainforests of the world are literally disappearing in a swift stride to supply for food, fuel and other reserves and to make room for the expanding population. Since the world is rapidly increasing in the number of people, the need for the basics is called all the more.

The rainforests offer abundance not only in terms of human supply for food, but through other means as well. Say for example the plants which have evolved through time in special mechanisms and have now shown essentialities with regards to medical practice.

Native people from all over the world have known about the healing properties of the plants hiding in rainforests; and it is only during the World War II that medicinal plants were proven to cure various diseases. Unbeknownst to many, almost half of the medicinal cure for cancer has been found in the world’s most popular forests. People should then likely protect the world’s remaining medicinal storehouses for future use and consumption.

How To Preserve The Remaining Forests

Rainforests can be dealt with efficiently without jeopardizing rare species of both the plant and animal kingdom. Also, it can be effectively managed without having to risk the global environment. For example, the government can always choose to prohibit companies that harvest lumber or they can allow cutting of trees to a certain extent, but they should also be required to plant new ones after cutting down the old trees.

The government can also ensure the creation of reservation areas where logging and hunting are prohibited. As one world, people must be cautious not to disrupt the environment in any way since we will be needing them by all means in the future.

Rainforest deforestation disturbs the balance of our ecosystem. As a result to such disruption, the world may suffer from nature’s retaliation. If people do not want to experience the revenge of our biological world, we must do all measures so as not to provoke it.