Deforestation Mitigation Strategy
SCI/275
10/12/2010
Joanne Massi

There is a global issue at hand relating to our environment. It is one that tends to get overlooked due to issues like global warming, oil spills, water related issues, etc. It is forest destruction, or Deforestation, as it is often referred to. Simply put, Deforestation is the clearing of the Earths forests on a very large scale. This is a worldwide epidemic, and generally in mainstream society, it is an issue that is largely put aside in its importance. While over 30% of the worlds land mass is still covered by forested areas (National Geographic.com), the rate in which the trees are being devoured is alarming. According to an article in the magazine, National Geographic, an area the size of Panama is cleared each and every year. Strategies must be developed to help control the amount of this precious resource that are stripped from the people and many different that rely on the forest for survival. To first understand and formulate a mitigation plan, one must first know the purposes behind Deforestation. There are many reasons behind why humans strip the forest of its trees. These reasons can vary, depending on the country we are talking about. They almost all come down to economics. For example, in many South American countries, poverty and lack of food sources cause people to clear land for the purpose of agriculture. The unavailability of jobs and a need to provide for their families results in necessity. They will use what is referred to as “slash and burn” techniques, where small amounts of acreage are cleared and then burned. Let’s look at some rainforest facts, provided by Raintree Nutrition, Inc. These can be found at rain-tree.com/facts.htm * Rain forests use to cover 14% of the Earths surface, now they cover 6% * One and a half acres are devoured every second with tragic consequences for industrial and developing countries. * Nearly half of all worlds’ species will be destroyed or severely threatened over the next quarter of a century due to Deforestation. * Experts predict that we are losing 137 plant, animal and insect species every day Those are just some of the issues that come from the destruction of the rain forests alone. Large foreign and domestic corporations are involved in the mass clearing for financial benefit. We have touched on the rainforest and what people in developing countries do to the forest. There is also the commerce side of things, and this spreads far beyond the rain forests. This is a global problem, and the United States is a huge player in the destruction that is taking place. Items that are made from wood, necessary across the world, such as paper products are harvested from the forests of the United States and beyond. Often times these trees are harvested illegally, as roads are cut to access the more remote areas of the forest. Logging that takes place for urban sprawl. As building needs increase, so does the demand for lumber. Large corporations, such as Georgia Pacific, are solely responsible for a large amount of this destruction. Housing alone in the United States accounts for millions of acres of wood each year. Not all Deforestation is caused by man or intentional. Some of it is caused by wildfires. At times, this can be an actual benefit to the forest by creating room for new growth, or recycling, so to speak. The ground cover in dense forests houses millions of seedlings that can lead to new growth. Areas such as the great Sequoia National Forest in California thrive on minor fires to spur new growth. Controlled burns allow certain deadwood to be removed to make room for new trees. The giant Sequoias have a bark that has adapted to the environment, by being thick enough and flame retardant, allowing the inner tree to survive these fires. Many different groups have attempted to be proactive in researching and developing plans to reduce the deforestation and the effects that it is having on our planet. Rather than waiting for governmental agencies to figure things out, private organizations have banded together in over 60 countries to analyze the problem. In most developing countries, deforestation is very low on the priority scale. Poverty, racial and religious tensions, and economic stability top their lists. Also, these countries are not educated enough to realize the dangers that arise from stripping the forest. They believe that if it is beneficial for the citizens, than it must be turned a blind eye to. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was formed to look at the issues and out conservation tactics to work. “The aim of FSC certification is environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management”, says Matthew Wenban-Smith (Campion Interactive Publishing, 2007). At present, FSC endorses 671 sites, over 471,000 square kilometers in over 60 countries. There is a process of certification, whereby logging outfits are audited for their responsibility towards the clearing of land. Although they have made great strides, it is very difficult to totally asses the full scope of their efforts. In several cases, representatives were sent to various sites only to discover illegal logging practices being performed, even after the certification process. Knowing that demand for forestry products will never entirely cease, the reality of the FSC is that the responsibility of loggers will only achieve so much. Larger issues need to be looked at to help the forest sustain life. Consumption of goods in the world is out of control. There are companies in the United States alone that send out over one million catalogs per day. With the internet technology and availability today, is that really necessary? Recycling of paper in recent years has increased, but the efforts have fallen short of where they need to be. “Many consumers are already doing the right things in relation to things such as green power and paper recycling”, says Pat Venditti of Greenpeace. He goes on to say “But governments are a different matter”. There are four major methods of cutting trees in the forest. By far, the most preferred is clear-cutting. This technique is as it sounds. They simply clear the all the land, re-seed the area, and hope that the eco-system in the area will survive. This is obviously preferred due to its cost effectiveness. Secondly, there is shelter wood cutting, which is the removing of trees in a series of two or more cuttings, so new trees can grow from the seedlings of the older ones. This leaves scattered growth in the area, which is harvested when the new growth reaches maturity. Third is selective cutting, a process where only trees of the exact dimensions and specifications that are needed and allowed by applicable law. This method is not at all cost effective and access to only certain trees is difficult without damaging surrounding growth. Lastly, there is seed tree cutting. This is the removal of almost the entire area, with only a few desirable trees left behind to provide seeds for the regeneration of the forest. This is sketchy, as the new exposure to different climate and elements may cause the seedlings not to grow. Mitigation plans must be made or the alternative will have catastrophic effects on our forests, as well as the diverse plants, animals, and other organism that so deeply depend on it for sustainability. Governments and various environmental agencies around the globe must ban together and formulate a plan that slows the current rate of deforestation. As to the manufacturing processes and the companies that rely on timber to make their product, they must make more responsible choices on their material selection. Tree plantations are a wonderful alternative to destroying forests. To use specified lands and purchase open land throughout the world, for the sole purpose of growing trees that will serve as the materials needed for manufacturing. These plantations can be monitored and re-growth can be an easy process. Skeptics say that there is not enough land and soil conditions where there is sufficient space is poor, but they must at least attempt these types of environmental relief.