Deforestation

In the highly industrialized age that we live in, resources are being scoured to meet humanity's wants and needs. With the global population rising at an alarming rate, the consumption of these resources is only increasing. One such resource is forests. Considered to be a renewable resource, forests are cut down at a rate higher than it can replace itself. This rapid loss of forests is called deforestation. Why are forests important? Well, they hold 50%-90% of the planets organisms. They also sequester major amounts of carbon dioxide, a harmful greenhouse gas that causes global climate disasters. In addition, the presence of trees prevents erosion and landslides that cause soil to become infertile. Despite these facts, 500,000 hectors of trees are cut down weekly, destroying many of the benefits that forests give us and creating harmful effects to life on Earth. With the eminent dangers caused by clearing forests, we need to better manage our use of this resource at a global level so as to give humanity at present and future generations hope for survival.

One major problem facing the end of deforestation is that many developing nations clear forests for economic purposes. This is beneficial for short term economic gain but in the long run, hurts a nation's economy. For instance, tropical hardwood exports in the U.S. have dropped 25% in revenue from 1980 levels and is expected to keep dropping. This is a poor use of resources that needs to be dealt with. If loggers could clear forests at a less intense rate, and replenish many of the trees lost, the industry could remain stable and cause less harmful impacts. The economic gains do not outweigh the dangers to humanity that arise from clearing trees at this rate. Ecological economists have estimated that damage caused by the sea level rise caused by global warming equals $20 per ton of carbon emitted from fossil fuels or by deforestation. So not only do these "economic enhancing" practices cause ecological harm, but also monetary loss, which means the deforestation practices have microscopic actual benefit.

There is, however, hope in turning deforestation around. "On a local scale, governments and non-governmental organizations are working with forest communities to encourage low-impact agricultural activities, such as shade farming, as well as the sustainable harvesting of non-wood forest products such as rubber, cork, produce, or medicinal plants." It is essential that action is taken at the local level so that the local communities understand the harmful effects of deforestation and support national laws for forest regulation. The local logger must realize the global effects of the rapid loss of trees so as to attempt to incorporate more sustainable practices. In order for us to sustain the world in which we live as well as preserve it for future generations, this idea of massively reducing deforestation must spread like wildfire.