Problem Identification
The World Wide Fund for Nature is a recent report indicated that deforestation is one of the major impacts of anthropogenic activities ("Environmental Problems in Australia"). It is characterized by cutting down trees and other aspects of vegetation without taking initiatives to plant more trees as replacements. Certain stakeholders have argued that it is quite hard to imagine a scenario or a period when about 90 percent of the earth’s surface was covered by vegetation. This imagination has raised tremendous debates with stakeholders making attempts to inquire the reasons for rapid deforestation rates. However, it is apparent that the increasing demand for agricultural activities, settlement and industrialization as a result of rapid growth in human population is one of the factors that have facilitated deforestation ("Environmental Problems in Australia”).
The National Geographic has indicated that there are various reasons that lead to deforestation, although, the most common factor is commercial purposes. In their research, the National Geographic mentions that a significant number of global communities engage in deforestation as a means to expand their agricultural land while others cut down trees for wood products used in manufacturing of paper products ("Environmental Problems in Australia”).
Impact of Deforestation on Land, Air and Water
The United States Environment Protection Agency recognizes deforestation as a local and international challenge (Bradford, Alina). In a recent report, the agency has indicated that one of the major impacts of deforestation on land is the fact that it facilitates the loss of habitat. In fact, the agency has described this effect as “unsettling” because deforestation does not only lead to the loss of known resources but also those that are not yet known. About 70 percent of plants and animals inhabit forested regions; deforestation jeopardizes the survival of animal and plant species that inhabit these regions (Bradford, Alina). Concerning the impacts of deforestation on air, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency has indicated that deforestation has created a drastic variation of global temperature; this condition is fatal to the contemporary society, including animal species (Bradford, Alina). Besides, deforestation leads to increased greenhouse gases; trees are considered as carbon sink zones, hence, their removal basically leads to accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. For example, the rainforests located in South America releases approximately 20 percent of oxygen globally; however, the rate at which they are disappearing could jeopardize the amount of oxygen for future generations.
Research shows that trees and other aspects of vegetation play a key role in the regulation of the amount of water in the atmosphere (Bradford, Alina). That is, trees control the water cycle; therefore removal of trees through deforestation creates a condition whereby less water is returned to the soil.
Long-term Effects of Deforestation
One of the long-term effects of deforestation according to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency is climate change. An associate professor from the Lasell College has stated in his research that deforestation has jeopardized the global carbon cycle, hence leading to climate change; carbon gases are classified as greenhouse gases considering that they absorb infra-red radiation (Bradford, Alina). In his research, he also states that trees and other global vegetative matter have the capacity to absorb about 300 billion tons of CO2; however, removal of trees leads to increased accumulation of greenhouse gases/carbon in the atmosphere (Bradford, Alina). The accumulation of carbon in the atmosphere has led to climate change, characterized by a sharp increase in atmospheric temperature. The other long-term impact of deforestation is loss of species; deforestation has led to the destruction of forests and vegetative areas that act as habitats for about 70 percent of global animals (Bradford, Alina). The National Geographic in their recent research indicated that this has facilitated extinction of certain animals as well as plant species (Bradford, Alina).
Solutions Currently Implemented
Historically, stakeholders have implemented policies and regulations to facilitate initiatives geared toward reduction of the rates of deforestation. In countries such as the United States, the government has implemented policies such as the Roadless Rules, the Lacey act as well as the Wilderness Act ("Solutions to Deforestation"). Globally, international development stakeholders have implemented agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species as tools that assist in the protection of forested regions as well as animal species that inhabit these regions ("Solutions to Deforestation").
Currently, many governments and other concerned stakeholders are creating awareness regarding sustainable consumption. The concept of sustainability is seen as a strategy that would reduce the need to cut more trees or reduce forest coverage. Some of the techniques applied to encourage sustainable use of resources include; recycling certain products, re-use or reduce. Countries like Mexico, Vietnam and Costa Rica among others have implemented economic incentives to reduce the current rate of deforestation ("Solutions to Deforestation"). For example, the governments in these countries provide financial rewards or compensation for stakeholders that engage in protection of the natural environment including forest resources. In fact, the use of economic incentives has been successful in other countries such as Brazil, where the government has seen massive success in its effort to protect the Amazon forest (Deforestation Success Stories). Brazil has been classified as a pioneer country regarding the application of incentives as a means of reducing deforestation rates (Deforestation Success Stories).
Recommendation
Even though governments, environmental activists and other key stakeholders have implemented various initiatives to enhance efforts directed towards the reduction of deforestation, it is apparent that these efforts have not been perfect. Deforestation has continued to be a major challenge, raising concerns among development stakeholders. It appears that governments and communities have failed to tackle the root causes of deforestation such as poverty which compels to individuals to engage in massive logging of trees. In this regard, it is imperative that apart from creating awareness and providing economic incentives, governments should ensure that local communities are empowered. Empowering local communities through the provision of skills and knowledge concerning development ensures that communities do not view forests as the only source of income or daily livelihoods. Besides, governments can engage in partnerships with local and international stakeholders in their efforts to facilitate the conservation of natural forests; I believe that through partnerships, individuals are able to network and share ideas on how they can prevent deforestation.
Works Cited
Bradford, Alina. "Deforestation: Facts, Causes & Effects." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 2015. Web. 08 Apr. 2016. <http://www.livescience.com/27692-deforestation.html>.
"Environmental Problems in Australia." Environmental Problems in Australia. Web. 08 Apr. 2016. <http://wwf.panda.org/who_we_are/wwf_offices/australia/environmental_problems_in_australia/>.
"Solutions to Deforestation." Greenpeace USA Solutions to Deforestation Comments. Web. 09 Apr. 2016. <http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/forests/solutions-to-deforestation/>.
"Deforestation Success Stories (2014)." Union of Concerned Scientists. Web. 09 Apr. 2016. <http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/solutions/stop-deforestation/deforestation-success-stories.html#.Vwh-4DHENOk>.
