Group 6 - Deforestation LOOKING BACK What is Deforestation? The FAO defines deforestation as the alteration of the existing forest where tree crown cover is depleted by 10% of its original value. What is Sustainable Forestry? In general terms sustainability is “providing for the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. It is difficult to determine sustainability in terms of forestry but there must be a balance struck between social, economic and environmental issues. Social Exponential population growth in developing countries results in relocation from inner city areas to forest areas to improve quality of life. Labour Supply is required in areas for industry and have been relocated to areas like the Amazon. Economic Deforestation fuels the economic growth providing quick capital and rapid debt relief. Agriculture has proven more profitable than selling wood products due to the demand for beef in developed countries. As a result of financial incentives 1Ha of land in North-East Brazil costs the same as 15Ha in the Amazon The Effects of Deforestation Political In Brazil relocation was aggressively promoted by the government through the military. Developing countries are eager to utilise their natural recourses to gain political power over developed countries. Environmental Deforestation: Disrupts the hydrological cycle and leads to complex changes in local rainfall as well as on an international scale. Leads to desertification as water stored in forest biomass is lost. Could account for the loss of as many as 100 species a day as habitats are destroyed. Accounts for approximately 12-20% of CO 2 emissions as carbon stored in forest biomass is released as it is removed. Social Due to large cattle ranches locating in the Amazon, shifting cultivators have been forced to reuse the same land more often, reducing its fertility. Many ranches become unprofitable within 10 years because productivity of grassland declines. The land is then abandoned and will never grow back to what it was. Technology has allowed farmers to use the land more intensively, thus becoming less self sufficient. Political Other industries, such as tourism, can be effected negatively as a result of deforestation. Governments are forced to change their policies as a result of pressure applied from environmental bodies. The Amazon conservation team has partnered with the Brazilian government as well as 14 tribes to manage 7.5 million acres of rainforest. Economic Using the revenue from deforestation as a short term fix is in-sustainable in that the money is not re-invested to future use of the land. Looking Forward Possible solutions Provide more efficient farming methods and education on the use of land. And also the use of the resources of the forest in general. Increase consumer awareness of certified sustainable products as opposed to illegally logged wood or unsustainably sourced palm oil as an ingredient to food. Another example would be the use of sustainability sourced timber as a building material, which can be used for carbon sequestration. Economic incentive for reducing carbon dioxide levels, through the use of forestry. For example REDD provides economic incentives to reduce deforestation. In order for Sustainable Forest Management to be a success, considerable funding is required, which is unlikely to be secured without the involvement of developed countries. They must take further responsibility to reduce deforestation for example, through Carbon trading schemes and the establishment of more protected areas. The UK government has already taken steps towards this providing £3.5 Billion initial funding for deforestation. Bring USA into the Kyoto Protocol and ensure the 2nd term of commitment in is effective but realistically achievable. This will ensure that large countries like India and China continue to make efforts to reduce CO 2 emissions. References Fig 1) gapminder.com (United Nations Statistics Division , data.un.org and FAO.org – United nations food and agriculture organisation Fig 2) Fig 3) Last updated, 12 May Environmental In the past sustainable policies in forestry only went so far to sustain timber yields but not biodiversity. Those who deforest often do not have a choice and environmental conservation has not been a high priority. Fig 1 Fig 2 Fig 3 1) FAO.org “state of the world’s forests 2009” 2) “Postnote October 2009 Number 344 Deforestation” 3) C. H. Wood and R. Porro “Deforestation and Land Use in the Amazon” 4) Sven Wunder “The Economics of Deforestation”, Sam Melling, Scott McGee, Antoine Lamarche, Michael Hanning, Sarah Hazzard and Fraser Moore Sustainable forestry need to be made more attractive to land owners e.g. carbon financing, bio- prospecting and possibly better timber prices. The poverty-reducing potential of forests should be utilised. This can be done by community forestry, and agro-forestry Endangered species need to be identified/located in forests. The Red List is an ongoing effort in this area. Clarify forest management/ownership - At the moment the forest communities are disorganized in comparison to wealthy landowners or groups seeking to make a profit of the land. By uniting and organizing them there will be more transparency of information and less wasted resources.