Where Do We Go from Here?

If you've been reading this blog and you're deeply concerned about the implications of chopping down all these poor trees, you're probably searching for some hope that change is on the way. On the other hand, perhaps you're sold on the process's benefits and think there is little room for improvement in the system; if so, you should read some earlier posts! Either way, no matter which side of the environmental spectrum you stand on, it is important to be aware of the progress being made and how you can help out. In this blog's final post, we will sift through some of the various ways the world is responding to this global issue and standing up for our giant green friends.

The most obvious solution to stopping the negative effects deforestation is having on our planet is to bring a halt to all cutting around the world. However, it doesn't take a genius to realize that such a solution is clearly not feasible, as the world runs on this practice for economic stability, fuel production, and cleared land. For many developing nations, deforestation and its financial benefits are absolutely essential for economic growth, providing a tremendous source of revenue that connects them to the global market.

             
                      This image is compliments of Living on Earth.

So while ridiculous measures such as banning deforestation altogether are not realistically possible, what can be done to prevent these nations from chopping down all the world's rainforests within the next century? One approach being taken by many nations is participation in the United Nations' Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) program, which offers financial incentives to nations that employ sustainable forest management practices. Since being established in 2008, this program has been embraced by over 40 developing countries around the world, helping reduce the impacts of deforestation. Brazil in particular has served as a wonderful model for how this policy has proven effective, as the nation has reduced its forest-clearing practices by 40% since adopting this UN initiative.

One solution that many world leaders advocate for is reforestation, the opposite process of planting new trees in response to the ones being chopped down. Obviously this system is already in place to some extent, as new trees are planted everyday, but conducting this process on a larger scale would certainly produce many benefits to counteract the negative impacts on the environment.

             
                     This picture is courtesy of Global Reforestation Foundation.

However, reforestation on its own will never solve the problems posed by its counterpart practice. Although planting more trees would reduce carbon dioxide levels from the atmosphere, the world would never be able to make up for all the greenhouse gases we've released and continue to release with the current emission rates. Additionally, reforestation would likely accomplish little in preserving biodiversity across the world's ecosystems. For many species, extinction is very near, and future clearings will continue to eliminate much of the world's biodiversity without greater restrictions on cutting.

The best way to curb the effects of deforestation is likely a combination of reforestation and stricter management policies, particularly regarding clear-cutting, a process that eliminates most or all of the trees from a region. Many organizations are trying to push sustainability laws that would prohibit the practice of clear-cutting and force industries to plant trees in place of demolished land spaces. This would keep forests intact and give them an opportunity to recover and grow again without being completely wiped out. Ideally, by planting an increased number of trees and limiting cutting, nations would reach a net loss/gain of zero trees.

As for you my friend, besides supporting legislators that will promote these policies, you can still play a role in helping reduce the effects of deforestation. You're probably sick of hearing it by now, but it's certainly worth mentioning to reduce, reuse, and recycle! We should all focus more on the reducing and reusing parts especially; we tend to forget about the important role those processes play. If we don't need to keep buying as many wood products, we won't have to chop down as many trees! Additionally, if you feel like playing a more active role in saving the world, do a little bit of research and find suppliers that are committed to net-zero deforestation, or simply look for certified wood products.

             
                                 This image is provided by Haiku Deck.

In light of this blog's attitude towards the subject, it is important to note that deforestation is not our enemy; it is still a valuable and quite necessary process that fuels the earth. Our enemy is the monster we have allowed the practice to become. And while it may seem like there's not much we can do to prevent the environmental threats facing our planet, every little bit counts! Spread awareness about deforestation and do your part to create a greener environment; let's help turn this thing around!

The Truffula Trees!

"I am the Lorax who speaks for the trees 

which you seem to be chopping as fast as you please. 

But I'm also in charge of the Brown Bar-ba-loots 

who played in the shade in their Bar-ba-loot suits 

and happily lived, eating Truffula Fruits. 

NOW... thanks to your hacking my trees to the ground 

there's not enough Truffula Fruit to go 'round. 

And my poor Bar-ba-loots are all getting the crummies 

because they have gas, and no food, in their tummies! 

They loved living here. But I can't let them stay. 

They'll have to find food. And I hope that they may. 

Good luck, boys," he cried. And he sent them away.

                     

                                            This images is compliments of Xaeon.

The above passage from the Dr. Seuss's "The Lorax" is quite relevant today. The clearing of the world's forests is a serious issue that must be addressed from all angles. While there are many clear benefits for the practice, the downsides must be fully considered in order to find the best solution to the problem. While a previous post focused specifically on the adverse effects of deforestation on climate change, this post will examine some other crucial negative impacts this process has.

Outside of climate change, a reduction in biodiversity is perhaps the most detrimental effect of deforestation. Biodiversity is simply defined as the variety of life on the earth, but its importance cannot be overstated. Biodiversity plays an enormous role in the sustainability of life on our planet, as it promotes ecosystem balance, provides a variety of biological resources, and yields various social benefits. Humans rely on biodiversity for the discovery of new medicines, the manufacturing of goods, and the production of food. Indeed, this biological component is absolutely pertinent to all life.

However, deforestation is posing a severe threat to the earth's biodiversity, and the impacts are quite alarming. A large portion of the world's biodiversity is held within tropical rainforests, which are home to roughly 80% of the earth's documented species (not to mention all the undiscovered species sure to be living in these regions). If we continue to chop down our trees at the current rate, there won't be any more rainforests left to clear within one hundred years! Imagine what we could lose! Tropical rainforests are the largest targets of deforestation, and they're the regions that hold the most diverse life forms.

             
                             This photograph is courtesy of Stian Bergeland.

Most animals simply aren't able to survive after the complete destruction of their home. After their habitat has been destroyed, they are forced to live off the fragments of whatever remains before they are able to find a new home, which may never come. This makes them far more vulnerable to hunting and poaching as well, as these animals are without shelter or protection. Furthermore, even localized deforestation has the potential to eradicate an entire unique species off the face of the earth, as some rare species are isolated strictly to remote corners of the world. Ultimately, deforestation directly affects the lives of millions of species, threatening extinction and the loss of biodiversity on our planet.

The global impact of clearing entire rainforests is obviously quite significant, but the effects are even more extreme for local environments! In many tropical locations, small populations of humans rely on the animals and plants of the rainforests to maintain life. Destroying these forests directly removes their primary resources of sustainability, making it dramatically more difficult to find a way to live. Exotic animals aren't the only ones suffering here; people are too. For example, social conflicts and mass migrations have been direct results of deforestation for villagers living in Brazil and Southeast Asia.

Besides the threat to biodiversity, deforestation also harms local environments by causing increased soil erosion. Trees play a critical role in anchoring soil in the ground, and a huge void is left when these trees are chopped down. This void becomes prime territory for erosion to occur, where the ground's topsoil is worn away and swept to new locations. Small plants that try to grow in these cleared lands are unable to effectively anchor the soil, and the result is a reduction of arable land.

             
                                   This picture is provided by Lynn Betts.

Not only does this result in the loss of fertile land, but it also contributes to pollution and flooding complications. Much of this displaced soil ends up in nearby lakes or streams, leading to sediment build-up and clogged waterways; this puts entire ecosystems in danger! Furthermore, grounds experiencing soil erosion do an inadequate job of holding water, so flooding also becomes a major problem in these regions.

It may sound like I'm just highlighting a chain reaction of events that result from chopping down a few trees, but this is no slippery slope fallacy; these problems are real, and they're happening in the world around us! We're not just addressing the lives of a few plants, a few animals, or a few groups of people. This is our planet, and everyone is must be aware of the complexity of this issue; the stakes are too high.

Method in the Madness

So far this blog has focused on the dramatic statistics of deforestation and the practice's horrific influence on climate change. Whether it's the fear of losing all our rainforests in 100 years or the concerns over global warming, the consequences of deforestation sound very alarming. If we're just hearing these facts for the first time, we're likely to panic and jump to polarized conclusions about this global issue, but allow us to investigate the benefits of deforestation. It can't be all bad, can it? After all, surely we're chopping all these trees down for a reason!

Financial gain obviously stands as the most prominent benefit of deforestation, but we should first consider each avenue these economic gains may take before yelling "CORPORATE GREED!" in sheer frustration. The money earned through deforestation reaches far beyond the logging companies and timber industries that provide us with the fuel and basic utilities we need to maintain our lifestyles. It is important to understand that forests aren't just cleared to use the wood; the resulting open space is just as valuable!

In a world that's seen its human population double since 1970, many farmers are struggling to find room to grow their crops. Deforestation clears agricultural land that small time farmers can use to earn a valuable income. Impoverished workers can now maintain enough land to provide for their families and earn commercial benefits for the crops they produce. Of course, low-key subsistence farmers are not the only ones benefiting from this cleared land, as many major agricultural companies take advantage of this as well, but it's still money in the pockets of people that are just trying to make a living.

             
                             This graphic is courtesy of Population Education.

Even if we're angry with some of the larger agricultural corporations running the show, it's difficult to deny the production of more crops. With over 7 billion mouths to feed and a rising population, this planet is going to need a lot more food in the years to come. Dramatically reducing deforestation would severely limit the amount of food that comes from agricultural sectors across the globe.

Not only may this freshly cleared land be used to grow valuable crops for a hungry planet, but the space can be used for housing as well. The surplus population has to live somewhere, and urbanization in land previously occupied by trees can provide shelter for a wide variety of citizens. Without deforestation, room for construction sites would quickly run scarce as more and more people try to find a place to live. The opened space can also be used to establish improved infrastructure, such as better roads.

Furthermore, the products harvested from the forests can then be used to build the very homes and infrastructure that replace them. Wood is absolutely essential to a functioning society, and more wood must be accumulated to carry out the construction plans of new housing developments and other projects.

             
                               This image is compliments of Timothy Epp.

The one critical benefit that ties in with each of the positive gains listed above is all the employment deforestation offers. Somebody needs to cut down all those trees, and somebody needs to manufacture all the wood products. Jobs arise all over the place with deforestation as people are responsible for carrying out all the tasks associated with the clearing of forests, the distribution of lumber, the maintenance of farms, and the construction of new homes. These jobs are vital for the working class of this planet, providing income for millions of people with families of their own.

Lastly, one important aspect of deforestation that is often overlooked is that it helps developing countries across the world manage their debt. Many of the world's rainforests are located in developing nations, among the continents of South America, Africa, and Asia. Cutting down trees and marketing the product is a very lucrative business, and this helps developing countries gain better financial stability and pay off some of the large debts they have to lender countries like the United States.

             
                                        This map is provided by Weebly.

Deforestation has a purpose; people aren't just chopping down trees to defy the environment. While we tend to focus on the dangers and negative consequences of such a practice, it is important to be aware of the reasons this process exists in the first place. While the benefits may or may not outweigh the costs, it's vital to understand both sides of the story if we are to develop informed plans of how to take action.

A Climate Changing One Tree at a Time

It's everywhere around us. You turn on CNN, and politicians are discussing climate change. You read an article in The New York Times, and a reporter is advocating ways to curb global warming. You ponder over the fate future generations, and you can't help but think about the state of the environment years from now. The earth's changing climate is a serious issue that floods the media and challenges leaders of the modern world. One of the dilemma's guiltiest culprits lies in the clearing of the world's forests: deforestation.

2015 has recently been confirmed as the hottest year on historical record, as it received the nod over a similarly hot and record-breaking 2014. With carbon dioxide emissions higher now than at any point in history, the world is facing its toughest environmental challenge yet. With a large majority of the earth's carbon dioxide emissions stemming from the burning of fossil fuels, becoming more aware of the exact effects of deforestation is of utmost importance for planning a sustainable future.

             
    This graphic is compliments of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

So what precisely is happening when our giant green buddies get chopped to the stump and burned to smithereens? One of the most negative impacts of deforestation is the large amount of carbon released into the atmosphere when trees are cut and burned. The carbon stored in these trees is released into the air as CO2, a greenhouse gas that traps heat close to the earth. When the sun's energy reaches the earth, part of the sunlight is reflected back off the surface in the form of infrared radiation. While most of the atmosphere's prominent gases, such as nitrogen and oxygen, allow infrared radiation to pass through them, other "greenhouse" gases absorb this energy and prevent it from escaping. Carbon dioxide and water vapor are two of the most prevalent greenhouse gases, with CO2 accounting for a whopping 82% of the total across the globe.

             
                                This image is provided by Charles Greene.

The buildup of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is a direct cause of global warming. It is estimated that more than 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere every year due to deforestation, making up about 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions. That massive contribution is even larger than the total of gas emissions from all the world's cars and trucks, which constitutes just 14%.

To make matters worse, the carbon released from trees when they are chopped down is not the only factor contributing to the greenhouse gas effect and global warming. Forests play a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to reduce the effects of excessive CO2 emissions. By taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, trees are tremendously important in maintaining a healthy carbon cycle across the planet. However, as more and more forests disappear, there is less and less natural regulation on atmospheric carbon levels.

Unfortunately, the environmental nightmare doesn't stop there. Trees also make up a critical link of the water cycle, as they release water vapor into the air and absorb rainfall. This water vapor collects in the atmosphere and falls as rain, cooling the land. Deforestation eliminates this exchange, resulting in a land surface that radiates heat and thus contributes to higher temperatures.

Through these mechanisms, deforestation is playing a critical role in global warming, and the effects are quite alarming. With temperatures rising, sea levels are expected to rise up to 3 feet by the end of the 21st century! This will only further increase flooding, the erosion of beaches, and the frequency of tropical storms. The impact of global warming reaches much further than this though, as it influences crop production, ecosystem stability, human health, and many other systems of our planet.

            
                        This photograph is courtesy of Jocelyn Augustino.

These dramatic climate changes are forcing our world to act. The damage we have done is already monumental, but it's not too late to turn things back in the right direction! The 2015 Paris Climate Conference marked a glimmer of hope in bringing nations together on a global climate agreement. The deal brought the world's developed countries to agree to limit greenhouse gas emissions. With nations struggling to actually follow through on similar treaties in the past, whether or not this deal will actually be enforced and what this will mean for deforestation are still unclear, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

Where Have All the Good Trees Gone?

Get ready to hug some trees.

Trees are one of our friendliest allies. Whether they're combating climate change, preventing soil erosion, or simply providing you with a fun place to climb, trees make life on Earth healthier and cleaner. Indeed, trees limit water pollution, provide habitats for countless organisms, and even supply food. They don't just recycle oxygen; they keep the world turning.

Are you sick of trees yet? Don't worry; this blog isn't going to be a tirade about why we can't let the big, mean logging industries chop down Great Uncle George's 200-year-old oak tree, evicting two squirrels and a woodpecker. While trees truly are incredibly beneficial in all of the ways listed above, they also have some other extremely important uses. The high demands of wood for fuel and construction make forests quite a hot commodity. However, before going any further, we should understand exactly what deforestation is and what causes it.

Deforestation is the clearing of the earth's forests in order to harvest lumber and make the land available for other uses. According to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, about 18 million acres of forest are removed each year; that's about the size of Panama! For a different perspective, that's comparable to losing roughly 36 football fields of trees every single minute. If either of those statistics are particularly alarming, you should be at least partially relieved to hear that about 30% of the earth's land mass is still covered by our big green friends.

             
                  This photograph is compliments of the Texas State Aquarium.

Although there seem to be plenty of trees remaining, what is causing this mass destruction? Obviously logging industries play a major role in deforestation, but did you know that much of the world's timber is harvested illegally? From cutting trees to selling them as product, national laws regulate the entire process of harvesting wood, but many logging companies violate these restrictions across the world. One of the largest threats of illegal logging is chopping down more than is permitted by law, and this certainly contributes to the growing problem of deforestation.

Congress passed amendments in 2008 on a century-old law called the Lacey Act, which sought to ban illegal trafficking in wildlife. Now, the law is designed to include timber production, functioning to eliminate illegally sourced wood from the US market. While the law functions to enforce regulations and promote sustainable forest management, the war against illegal logging is far from over, and its impact continues to complicate the issue of deforestation.

             
                          This image is courtesy of Mark Godsell-Fletcher.

However, the high demands of wood for fuel and material are not the sole factor influencing man-caused deforestation. In light of the ever increasing world population, more and more forests are being cleared to make land available for a multitude of purposes. Urbanization is a direct cause of deforestation, as providing land for housing construction projects is an important demand in the world today. Additionally, agricultural demands are among the largest for clearing forests, as more farm space is required to raise the cattle that provide people with essential resources such as beef and dairy products.

However, before we begin shaking our heads in disapproval of how agricultural and logging industries exploit our trees, we should understand that the biggest cause of deforestation is actually forest fires. Millions of acres of woods are consumed by fire each year across the planet, totaling the amount lost to agriculture and logging put together! While some of these fires have natural causes, a shocking estimate of roughly 90% of wildfires in the US are actually caused by humans.

             
                         This picture is provided by Alexander Lesnyanskiy.

Whether it's leaving a campfire unattended, carelessly tossing away a cigarette, or burning garbage in a giant bonfire, humans are responsible for the destruction of countless trees. That kind of destruction isn't the type you'll read about in the newspaper when some corporate logging industry is facing a lawsuit for over-cutting; that's the kind of destruction that can be caused by people like you and me. Although I don't claim responsibility for ever starting a forest fire, we should keep this issue in perspective. The largest cause of deforestation lies directly among us, the people.

             
                               This image is compliments of David Cvet.

While deforestation is an alarming issue that demands immediate action from the world's leaders, policy-makers, and law enforcers, the issue is also greatly community-based. Our trees are essential to life on Earth, and creating a sustainable future for the next generation involves addressing the problem of deforestation at every level.