Deforestation In The Amazon Rainforest Research Paper
TMA 04
Rainforests have been declining rapidly over the last few decades. There are various factors responsible for this decline, resulting in serious impacts on the environment and the economy. Critically discuss the causes of deforestation and solutions to it.
Deforestation refers to the destruction of large areas of natural forests resulting in serious irreversible damage. Forests are crucial factors to our existence and because of the time it takes to replace harvested trees, they must be carefully managed to ensure that its resources are available in the future. Over the last few decades, rain forests have been declining rapidly. There are various factors responsible for this decline, resulting in serious impacts on the environment …show more content…
Firstly, forests would restore quicker with the prolonged absence of fires. Therefore, landowners are encouraged to avoid fire as a land management tool to clear patches of forests for agricultural purposes (Uhl et al. 1988, Nepstad et al. 1991, Jipp et al. 1998). Secondly, certification schemes could be used to encourage responsible forest management and reassure consumers of agricultural goods that they are buying responsibly produced products. The Registry of Socioenvironmental Responsibility (Cadastro de Compromisso Socioambiental – CCS) launched in Brazil guarantees consumers are getting products from well managed sources. Thirdly, timber should be managed in a way that is sustainable. Measures suggested to reduce negative impact of logging in the forests are, pre-harvest cutting of lianas, mapping of skidder trails and directional felling (Holmes et al. 2002, Barreto et al. 1998). This should be good for companies involved in timber because there will be fewer fires and hence more timber to be harvested. Lastly, some regional government planning of forest reserves to reduce impacts of transportation projects such as roads and highways being built in agricultural frontiers has met with wide political support (Campos and Nepstad 2006). There are also negotiations worldwide to create economic incentives for following appropriate policies which involve compensating forest people as forest guardians based upon satellite analyses of deforestation (Nepstad et al.
Rainforests have been declining rapidly over the last few decades. There are various factors responsible for this decline, resulting in serious impacts on the environment and the economy. Critically discuss the causes of deforestation and solutions to it.
Deforestation refers to the destruction of large areas of natural forests resulting in serious irreversible damage. Forests are crucial factors to our existence and because of the time it takes to replace harvested trees, they must be carefully managed to ensure that its resources are available in the future. Over the last few decades, rain forests have been declining rapidly. There are various factors responsible for this decline, resulting in serious impacts on the environment …show more content…
Firstly, forests would restore quicker with the prolonged absence of fires. Therefore, landowners are encouraged to avoid fire as a land management tool to clear patches of forests for agricultural purposes (Uhl et al. 1988, Nepstad et al. 1991, Jipp et al. 1998). Secondly, certification schemes could be used to encourage responsible forest management and reassure consumers of agricultural goods that they are buying responsibly produced products. The Registry of Socioenvironmental Responsibility (Cadastro de Compromisso Socioambiental – CCS) launched in Brazil guarantees consumers are getting products from well managed sources. Thirdly, timber should be managed in a way that is sustainable. Measures suggested to reduce negative impact of logging in the forests are, pre-harvest cutting of lianas, mapping of skidder trails and directional felling (Holmes et al. 2002, Barreto et al. 1998). This should be good for companies involved in timber because there will be fewer fires and hence more timber to be harvested. Lastly, some regional government planning of forest reserves to reduce impacts of transportation projects such as roads and highways being built in agricultural frontiers has met with wide political support (Campos and Nepstad 2006). There are also negotiations worldwide to create economic incentives for following appropriate policies which involve compensating forest people as forest guardians based upon satellite analyses of deforestation (Nepstad et al.