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Andrew Stireman
Dru Hazelton
Huma 1100 (10am)
20 April 2012 (Earth Day)
The Sorrows of Deforestation
Deforestation could be one of man-kind’s most ruthless acts of ignorance towards the
environment. It’s a saddening fact that each year about 13 million hectares of the world’s forest are
lost due to deforestation (FOA.Newsroom). I chose to write about this topic because I ‘blatantly don’t
understand why man continues the depletion of trees. Who is in charge of letting timber company’s
clear cut forest after forest? Who are the environmental policy makers that make up the guidelines
and restrictions for who can cut what and how much? There is an unseen stock of greed behind the
corrupt industry of logging. Why isn’t the government from every country, especially the countries in
Central and South America’s, putting strongholds on the regulations of deforestation? It seems
fathomable that the world’s rainforests could completely vanish in hundred years at the current rate of
deforestation. Technology is so advanced these day’s why haven’t we found an alternative that takes
the place of wood? Why is wood so cheap? If wood is in high demand, increase the value; it should be
a valuable and costly material. New construction needs to steer towards other alternatives for
building. What is the driving factor behind the devastating circumstances of deforestation? Logging is
motivated by many factors. In many cases, people clear tropical forests to cultivate land. Other prime
factors include generating income through farming, changes in land rights, tenure, subsidies, tax laws,
population pressures, development, new or restored roads, and of course, corruption (National
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Geographic). Trees are our breathing partners and we need trees in order to live. In my eyes,
deforestation is a self-destructive act of man-kind that sits pretty high on the list of ignorance.
Deforestation is the act of greed and absence of the mind, and it is a no-brainer to putting a stop to it.
It was nearly 8,000 years ago when trees covered two-fifths of the land. Now man has cleared
more than two-thirds of the original forest land. Trees act as our planets lungs; they are breathing
organisms that help purify our air. In this day in age the population is over 7 billion people and
growing 1.2% every year (Worldometers). With the population being so large, the earth needs clean
air. The world is also advancing in the number of harmful industries that are strong contributors to
pollution. Over-population, deforestation, and the industrial age are all leading factors to the
increasingly apparent threat of climate change. The planet needs trees to help us offset Co2 emissions.
During the trees photosynthesis, it breaths in carbon-dioxide and breaths out oxygen. Carbon-dioxide
can be taken out of the atmosphere by photosynthesis in plants and trees, which convert the carbon
into a solid form (sugars) that can be stored or put back into the air during respiration. If a forest is
clear-cut then it actually releases the carbon-dioxide that it had stored during photosynthesis (ESA21).
Deforestation not only strips the air purification system but it releases enormous amounts of carbondioxide back into the air. It seems like the world is well aware of the climate change—so it should be in
man-kinds best interest to stop deforestation at all costs. In article, Amazon Could be Part of the
Climate Problem, by Devin Powell, with Science News, states, “Thanks to regular measurements of
100,000 trees, scientists estimate that the Amazon was sucking up about 400 million tons of carbon
annually at the turn of the century. The entire rain forest is thought to contain about 100 billion tons
of carbon, equivalent to ten years of global Co2 emissions from burning fossil fuels.” The government
needs to invest in more research towards alternative resources, alternative energy, green living, and
enforcing a carbon footprint curriculum in every school in the nation. Humans need to get out of the
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mind set for making vital decisions at the last minute or inevitably when it’s too late. “Oops, it too late,
now what are we going to do?” Humans need to treat the earth as it was their own body. Oh, funny
metaphor, I just realized most people treat their body in harmful ways anyway. Either way, it is in
human’s best interest to stop deforestation before we are standing in front of the last rain-forest in the
world.
Not only does deforestation deprive the air purification of our polluted planet but it contributes
to degradation of forest eco-systems. Degradation is causing habitat loss and the displacement of
wildlife and this causes the reduction of biodiversity. Deforestation is one of the primary causes of
species extinction worldwide. Seventy percent of Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests, and
many cannot survive the deforestation that destroys their homes (National Geographic). The effect of
degradation of a forest eco-system is highly catastrophic. Not only are we damaging the eco-system,
but deforestation vastly increases an area’s vulnerability to natural disasters like mud-slides and floods,
drought, and water contamination. There have been countless of devastating floods and mud-slides
linked to deforestation. When I went to Thailand, I saw first-hand damage of how floods affect an area
that timber operations have entirely stripped all forest land. Deforestation causes a ripple effect that
trickles a lot further than meets the eye. When a typhoon hits a vulnerable area, there is a high risk for
flooding and mudslides. Drinking water is contaminated; all rice fields are flooded, which is food and
financial income for many families. Many people become sick with vector-borne diseases. There are
strong negative side effects of deforestation that down-grade the quality of our planets environment.
When we look at the last one-hundred years, we see that our planet is de-grading at a fast rate. In a
healthy eco-system, everything works together as one organism. Trees are the grandfather of the
ecosystem and if trees die, everything dies.
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Another element of deforestation that I take a little personally and quite saddens me is the
remaining un-contacted indigenous tribes in South America. More than half the world’s hundred uncontacted tribes live in Brazil and Peru. There have been many remote tribes all over the world that
have felt the effect of unconscious mankind. Whether it is white-man, African-man, or any other
nationality, logging is surrounded with corruption and greed. Some tribes would “soon be made
extinct” if their land was not protected. It is not rare that indigenous tribes have been driven out of
their native lands by deforestation. I came across a good example in an article called “‘They’re killing
us’: world’s most endangered tribe calls for help,” on Guardian.co.uk. The Awa’ is a tribe settled deep
in the Amazon rainforest with only 355 surviving members, more than 100 of whom have had no
contact with the outside world—they are teetering on the edge of extinction. The Awa’ are one of only
two nomadic hunter-gathering tribes left in the Amazon. Now Ara’ is one of the world’s most
threatened tribes, assailed by loggers, gunmen and hostile settlement farmers; all of which evolve
around logging. In some countries the government is going to a great deal to protect the land of these
tribes. “The Survival campaign reflects growing international concern over the plight of the world’s
remaining indigenous tribes,”-(Par. 16). Even with the help of government protection, under-ground
loggers are sending gun-men to wipe out tribes; this is only to be considered as genocide
(Chamberlian). It is my personal belief that indigenous tribes are holding the world together; they are
a major part of our eco-system; and earth’s spirit—as you will. Indigenous people are the ancient
wisdom of earth. Life has come a long way; indigenous tribes have passed down ancient harmony that
is being lost. We need to ask ourselves—why is man ignorant and to prideful to reflect our coming
future to the roots of existing life on earth? Why can’t we apply ancient wisdom to assist the
environment in this futuristic age of technology? “God”—the creator—save man-kind.
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The quickest solution to deforestation would be to simply stop cutting down trees. And if any
forests are clear cut, then there should be an equal balance of planting young trees to replace the
older ones. These statements I make are next to preaching water because it is not that easy. The issue
of deforestation is not about the local timber companies or the rights of farmers making their living
from agriculture; it’s a lot bigger than that. It’s how we as a world approach an issue and unfortunately
we need politicians from every corner of the world to address this issue of climate change. It’s not that
the issue of deforestation is not being addressed; it’s just not being addressed fast enough. Obama
said, “It is probably the most cost-effective way for us to address the issue of climate change . . .
mechanisms in place to avoid further deforestation,” (Par. 9) What he meant by that is replacing coalfired power plants with renewable energy or switching to electric cars to reduce Co2 emissions. Since
2004, the extent of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has dropped to 2,705 square miles a year
from a peak of 10, 588 square miles annually (Roosevelt). I’m impressed that statistics are showing a
decreased rate of deforestation around the world; but it’s still not fast enough. A quote from Thomas
Pickering, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. said, “If we move now, and more effectively now, we
will reduce the demand for more expensive action at a later date,” (Rosenberg). I found this quote
interesting because he said the infamous word “If”. In the dictionary, if means: uncertain possibility.
Still not fast enough—we need to move on this issue, NOW. I realize that “defending” our country(s) is
a primary focus around the world but the solution to deforestation seems a lot easier to figure out
than world peace. The world economy needs to take a step back and prioritize global issues.
Deforestation should probably be one of the top issues in the world. This issue of deforestation really
should be a simple solution. Deforestation needs to be flat out illegalized.
We are entering a futuristic age of computer’s and technology, but that does not mean we
don’t need trees. Trees are the answer to the future. To my belief, earth, air, water, and trees are the
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most valuable elements on the planet. Trees are the mediator’s for life, they help us breath. Babylon
needs to ease up on deforestation. You might call me a tree hugging, dirt-worshiping hippy, but as
matter of fact, I eat hippies for lunch. I base my arguments on facts. The reason I argue, is that my
well-being has become threatened. I enjoy a clean environment, fresh air, and the laws of science.
Nobody can argue against the laws of science. We as humans must not forget that trees are the
answer—trees are the answer—trees are the answer. Spread the word that trees are the answer if
you love life. Now go plant a tree.
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Works Cited
Chamberlian, Gethin. "'The'yre killing us': world's most endangered tribe calls for help."
Guardian/The Observer. (21 April 2012): n. page. Web. 22 Apr. 2012.
"Deforestation." National Geographic. n. page. Web. 20 Apr. 2012.
<http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview/>.
"ESA21 Environmental Science Activities For the 21st Century." kennasaw.edu. N.p., n.d. Web.
20 Apr 2012. <http://esa21.kennesaw.edu/activities/trees-carbon/trees-carbon.pdf>.
Koursous, George. "Deforestation continues at an alarming rate." FOANewsroom. (2005): n.
page. Web. 20 Apr. 2012.
"Real time world statistics." Worldometers. (Current to the second): n. page. Web. 25 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.worldometers.info/>.
Roosevelt, Margot. "Money Trees." Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA). 21 Feb 2010: B.1. SIRS
Issues Researcher. Web. 21 Apr 2012.
Rosenberg, Zach. "Halt Deforestation, U.S. Lawmakers are Told." Global Information Network.
08 Oct 2009: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 21 Apr 2012.