Rainforest Destruction:
Understanding the Cross Cutting Issues InvolvedA sad look at what is really happening… What will you do to change this?
This video, created by Rainforest Concern, offers a small, yet attainable solution to rainforest destruction: adoption.
Can we replant the rainforests?
In response to an excellent point made by Graham, there is a lot to be said about the recent interest in the re-planting trees to save the rainforests. It has gained a lot of popularity in the past few years, and efforts like the Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign are making this idea very well known. So well known, in fact, that a new goal of 7 billion has been proposed.
In an article posted on “How Stuff Works,” (Can we replant the planet’s rainforests?) Jessika Toothman notes that while replantation does seem attractive, it does not replace the countless benefits provided by an untouched rainforest. For instance, while replanting deforested land with quick-growing exotic tree species, like eucalyptus or acacia, does help solve immediate problems, it is not feasible in the long run: these exotic trees change the original characteristics of the soil, making cultivation impossible.
Ultimately, deforestation cannot be justified with simply replanting afterwards. The process of deforestation results in irreversible damage. Not only does is it cause the displacement and extinction of species, but it also throws off our planet’s hydrologic cycle, as well as the balance of an entire ecosystem. In addition, as trees are cut down, or burned, massive amounts of CO2 are also released back into the atmosphere, severely contributing to global warming.
If deforestation has already taken place, then of course replanting is an excellent means to rebuild what was lost. As such, Toothman offers some interesting ideas on how to increase the effectiveness of replantation. One such idea includes installing man-made bat roosts in deforested areas to encourage these uniquely flight-enabled mammals to spread seeds and begin the process of rainforest regeneration.
I also uncovered some recent efforts in the area of reforestation that I thought were interesting:
A project called the Rwandan National Conservation Park includes people who are working to bring the rainforest back and connect it with larger, surviving rainforests nearby. These individuals and organizations are looking to accomplish this through the use of wide tree corridors (This gives plants and animals access to a larger habitat and the chance to mix with other populations, which can boost their genetic diversity and help prevent extinction through isolation for most species).
Indonesia, where extensive rainforests have been severely decimated, is also investing in reforestation. On Nov. 28, 2007, each of the country’s 79,000 government institutions planted 1,000 trees — contributing 79 million trees in all This effort aligns with other tree-planting projects, as well as vigorous monitoring of illegal logging operations.
The pace of rainforest loss has begun to slow in Brazil, and several conservation efforts are underway. Huge projects that involve the cooperation of many Brazilian and international organizations have been working to replant the rainforests. Developing and building vast networks of corridors is one major focus, along with species protection and protective breeding programs. Conservationists have also worked to educate the local community about the value of a thriving rainforest. In addition, ranchers and farmers receive incentives for cultivating forest parcels on their lands.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/conservation-issues/replant-rainforest2.htm
Deforestation: The hidden cause of global warming
In his video, Prince Charles states that deforestation results in vast amounts of stored CO2 being released back into our atmosphere, and also that its damaging effects on global warming are far worse than those caused by planes and automobiles combined. ”Deforestation: The hidden cause of global warming,” while re-iterating these points, also provides some interesting solutions. The author suggests that we simply need to stop the destruction, specifically in the areas of Brazil, Indonesia, and the Congo, (regions also known as “the lungs of the planet”), to win the fight against climate change. He notes that by ”putting a price on the carbon these vital forests contain is the only way to slow their destruction.”
While this seems ideal, we live in a world driven by greed, consumption, and money. It is not until we can control these human forces that we can begin to successfully challenge the problems of rainforest destruction. Sadly, Hylton Philipson, a trustee of Rainforest ConcernHylton Philipson, confirms this by stating that “while there’s money to be made from food and energy and no income to be derived from the standing forest, it’s obvious that the forest will take the hit.”
These few lines sum up the complexity of rainforest destruction; the root causes, like any social issue, run deep. Right now, third world countries are not willing to sacrifice the economic gains generated through the exploitation of rainforest resources, for a healthier planet they may not live to see. On our end, however, a simple start may begin with sustainable consumption (if there is such a thing), and being acutely aware of our purchasing habits. As united buyers, we have the power to make a difference.
My question is, will there come a day when governments and big business truly act on the belief of protection before profits? Let me know your thoughts… and keep your eyes open for my next post on carbon pricing!
Prince Charles on Rainforest Protection
In a recent campaign to bring awareness to the issue of rainforest destruction, Charles, Prince of Wales, makes use of the Internet, more specifically Myspace. He is the first member of the Royal Family to use Web 2.0 for a social cause. In this video, he delivers several important facts about our rainforests, and their importance to mankind. Not only does he seem to have a good understanding of the global implications brought on through rainforest destruction, but I appreciate that he was able to convert raw data, otherwise meaningless to most, into something visual. For instance, he notes that rainforests are “being destroyed at the rate of a football pitch every four seconds.” This startling fact is enough to make most of us want to uncover a little more about the issue.
It is great to see such a well known figurehead respond to this issue, especially through such a novel medium (for the Royal Family, that is). The real questions are, how much is he doing outside of simply talking about it? And how much actual change is he generating? I’ll be sure to bring you answers to these questions, and do my best to answer any others you might have.
Click on the link below to view this video, and several others by Prince Charles:
Why Habitat Destruction?
Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated with the complexity of our world’s ecosystem. Many trips to the zoo sparked an even stronger passion for the conservation and protection of biodiversity, particularly for endangered species and their habitats.
Now, continually faced with the pressing issues of global warming, climate change, poverty, hunger, and disease, I realize just how intricately intertwined all of our problems are. To further deepen my understanding and awareness, I am going to be researching and blogging about one contributor: habitat destruction.
Ultimately, I hope this blog acts as a resource for others looking to understand the spinoff effects created by habitat destruction, and also serves as a catalyst for positive change. Happy reading!
