Issue:
Combating the problem of tropical deforestation
Forum:
Environment Commission
Student Officer:
Weronika Mucha
Position:
President
Introduction
Deforestation is clearing Earth's forests on a massive scale, often resulting in damage to the quality
of the land. Forests still cover about 30 percent of the world’s land area, but the world’s rain forests
could completely vanish in a hundred years at the current rate of deforestation. The tropical
deforestation has numerous negative effects on the wildlife, the atmosphere and inhabitants of the
areas affected by deforestation. The most dramatic impact is a loss of habitat for millions of
species. Seventy percent of Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive
the deforestation that destroys their homes. The loss of important ecosystem services and
renewable resources, and the reduction of carbon sinks are just another effects of deforestation.
However, this destruction can be slowed, stopped, and in some cases even reversed. We need to
come up with new ideas which could solve this complex environmental problem.
Definition of key terms
Deforestation
The removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use.
Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use.
Tropical rainforests
A tropical forest is a type of forest found in areas with high regular rainfall and no more than two
months of low rainfall. Tropical rainforests consist of completely closed canopies of trees that
prevent penetration of sunlight to the ground and discourage ground-cover growth.
Forest degradation
Forest degradation is different from deforestation, but it also ends up with the reduction of forests
cover. It is the destruction of forests mainly caused by human activities, such as over-exploitation
and fires, but also by factors like pests, diseases, acid rains, climate change or other natural causes.
Commercial logging
Commercial logging is the cutting down of trees with the reason of selling the pulp, timber,
products or fuel. The use of heavy machinery is damaging to the forest and it is one of the biggest
causes of tropical deforestation.
Major parties involved:
REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation)
A program, which focuses on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. It
encourages sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
An organization focusing on the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources,
including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources. It has been producing a global forest
resources assessment every five to ten years since the late 1940s.
Important Documents
UNFCCC (The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) - an international
environmental treaty negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED). It aims at reducing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.
General overview
Causes of tropical deforestation
Forests are cut down for many reasons, but the single biggest direct cause of tropical deforestation
is conversion to cropland and pasture, mostly for subsistence, which is growing crops or raising
livestock to meet daily needs. Although subsistence activities have dominated agriculture-driven
deforestation, large-scale commercial activities are playing an increasingly significant role. The
drivers of deforestation differ by region: soy and cattle are key in South America while timber,
paper, and palm oil are more important in Southeast Asia.
However, there are many other factors contributing to tropical deforestation, for example road and
railway expansion projects have caused significant, unintentional deforestation in the Amazon and
Central America. Road construction perhaps contributes the most to eventual levels of
deforestation and degradation because roads encourage urbanization (itself responsible for a
further 10% of deforestation) and the spread of agriculture into forests, particularly in remote areas
where property rights are unclear or poorly regulated.
Mining accounts for about 7% of deforestation in developing nations with Asia and Africa more
affected than Latin America. Apart from clearing trees to make way for the mine itself, mining may
also use sizeable amounts of timber or charcoal, contributing to forest degradation through direct
use and localised population expansion
Not only human activities play a major role in the destroying of forests, but natural disasters as
well, including fires, hurricanes and cyclones.
Impacts of tropical deforestation
Deforestation has many negative effects on all of the areas of human life. Although tropical forests
cover only about 7 percent of the Earth’s dry land, they probably harbor about half of all species on
Earth. Many species are so specialized to microhabitats within the forest that they can only be
found in small areas. Their specialization makes them vulnerable to extinction. Deforestation also
drives climate change. Forest soils are moist, but without protection from sun-blocking tree cover
they quickly dry out. Trees also help perpetuate the water cycle by returning water vapor back into
the atmosphere. Without trees to fill these roles, many former forest lands can quickly become
barren deserts. Tropical forests are home to millions of native (indigenous) people who make their
livings through subsistence agriculture, hunting and gathering, or through low-impact harvesting of
forest products like rubber or nuts. Deforestation in indigenous territories by loggers, colonizers,
and refugees sometimes triggers violent conflicts.
UN involvement
The United Nations have always been actively seized on the matter of deforestation. The topics of
deforestation and desertification were firstly addressed in 1972 at an international level at the
Stockholm Conference. Since then there have been many attempts to solve the problem of
deforestation, but none of them has brought impressive results . The UN has launched the UNREDD Programme, which is the United Nations collaborative initiative on Reducing Emissions from
Deforestation and forest Degradation in developing countries. The programme supports the REDD+
through common approaches, analyses, methodologies, tools, data and best practices developed
through the UN-REDD Global Programme. The UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)
states that there are major weaknesses in the policies, methods and mechanisms adopted to
support and develop the multiple ecological, economic, social and cultural roles of trees and
forests. The present situation calls for urgent action for conserving and sustaining forest resources.
The greening of suitable areas is an effective way of increasing public awareness and participation
in protecting and managing forest resources. It is especially important to ensure a rational
approach to the sustainable and environmentally sound development of forests. The need for
securing the multiple roles of forests and forest lands through adequate and appropriate
institutional strengthening has been repeatedly emphasized in many of the reports, decisions and
recommendations of FAO, ITTO, UNEP and other organizations.
Possible solutions
While coming up with solutions to this complex environmental problem, we must take into account
that tropical deforestation has many impacts on the environment, from climate change to soil
erosion. We must also consider the social conditions in the areas of deforestation.
The most fundamental solution is reforestation. Reforestation and forest preservation carbon
offset projects are part of the global warming solution. Forest-based carbon offset projects fight
climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere in trees and soil and
have many co-benefits for the community and local wildlife. Forest preservation creates jobs,
maintains and expands wildlife habitats, protects biodiversity, and improves local environmental
quality.
Another possible solution is pressuring corporations and markets. Companies can make an impact
by introducing zero deforestation policies and cleaning up their supply chains. That means holding
their suppliers accountable for producing commodities like timber, beef, soy, palm oil and paper in
a way that has a minimal impact on natural forests and the climate. Companies can also introduce
paper procurement policies that set ambitious targets to maximize use of recycled wood, pulp,
paper and fiber in their products.
The process of combating the problem of tropical deforestation needs the government's input.
Changing the politics is a very important and we may need politicians to embrace ambitious
domestic and international forest policies based on the latest science. We could introduce a law
which would tighten the rules relating to the crime of illegal logging of trees.
Last but not least, a very important step to solving this problem is raising awareness among people.
A good way to do this could be promoting ecotourism which is perhaps the best long-term
approach for sustaining some tropical economies. We can also establish programs that promote
sustainable use. It is key to elevating the standard of living for people living around protected
areas.
Sources
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Deforestation/
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestationoverview/
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=52&ArticleID=59
http://www.un-redd.org/Home/tabid/565/Default.aspx
http://www.fao.org/about/en/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation
http://unfccc.int/2860.php
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/1001.htm
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/forests/solutions-to-deforestation/
http://knowledge.allianz.com/environment/climate_change/?665/The-top-10-drivers-ofdeforestation