5 Reasons for De-Forestation — and 5 Easy Ways to put an End to it
Looking at forest fires or grubbing you can reduce the reasons why to 5 groups:
Reason #1:
Accidental ignition by natural hazards like lightning and neglect like garbage disposal in the forests. The legendary bottle, which along with a sun ray produces a little flame which sets the entire wood on fire.
What can we do about that? Well, in the first place just have more forests, re-building the natural climate which does not allow the forests to become that dry that a small fire can spread that fast. Second building a network of forest rangers and watch towers with web cams to see the first smoke rising in time and thus having the chance to take faster action. Also having a network of fire trucks at call would help to keep the damage reasonable. Though there is nothing that can be done about lightning striking, there can be very well be done something about the waste disposal. Education, the availability of trash bins, forest cleaning actions by schools, clubs and communities are something to start with. Also a stricter control by the same forest rangers and a ticket system with fines would be a contribution to grow environmental awareness.
Reason #2:
Purposeful ignition by a pyromane or purposeful ignition by criminals on behalf of an individual or organization to clear the land for a different use.
What is to be done about that? well, we are clearly facing a criminal act, which not only damages someone’s property, but destroys someones existence and on top the living environment of many animals, maybe humans, too, and in the end it has an impact on everyone of us and the global warming by destroying a part of the earth’s green lung. strict laws and a consequent law enforcement can help here. If everyone, having in mind to set fire to a forest is aware of the risk to go to jail and will stay there, until he has replanted the entire damage he made in a chain gang, he might think twice ;-)
Reason #3:
Forest owners or - in some legislations - villagers cut the timber and leave the space behind to grow an non-managed secondary bush vegetation. The result is either a thorny bush land with no value, neither economically, nor as a habitat for wildlife.
What can be done about that? Legislation is asked here with clear guidelines, that everyone, cutting an existing forest, has to set a percentage of the profits aside for a reforestation. This once again needs to be overlooked by the authorities and also by experts, as many more people know how to cut a tree rather than how to plant the right tree into the matching soil in the ideal location. Incentive programs like the contribution of the seedling and expert supervision may help such programs along. But why not take those into responsibility, who have cut the trees in the first place? In the end they also had the profit of the timber sales.
Reason #4:
Reckless grubbing with forest fires to make space for cattle grazing grounds.
Maybe the biggest challenge when it comes to area as well as to the senseless approach, as valuable timber is burned and huge amounts of carbon dioxide are set free to the atmosphere. the motivation in those cases is the pure greed.
The only solution for this problem is monitoring, dramatic fines and high taxes and duties on beef produced under those circumstances. The products produces with such a high collateral damage need to be rejected by the market and so high taxed, that further deforestation for those purposes is simply unattractive. Those responsible on large scale shall be punished with significant jail sentences. On the smaller scale the local population who usually in those regions live in a permanent struggle to survive, need to be educated and alternatives need to be presented. With smart programs for a better use of the forest the local population can well find a good revenue out of the forest, if guided well.
Reason #5:
History and tradition.
How to deal with this issue? In the old days most of the earth’s surface was covered with forests. Italy was as green as Greece or Spain, the Caribbean islands or East-Indian Islands were protected by lush rain forests. timber was cut for different reasons, such as construction, ship building or making space for sugar cane. Those responsible died hundreds or even thousand years ago and left meanwhile heavily eroded soil behind. Thus the responsibility is kind of public. Individual governments, the United Nations and their bodies, international and national organizations, world bank, banks and individual donors are asked here, to step in. However, some organizations and funds offer meanwhile interesting long term solutions, which make an investment into forest projects pretty attractive on mid and long term. A good approach from governments would be helping such projects along contributing land and offering tax exceptions.
World Wildlife Fund, Prince Charles Forest Initiative or Futuro Forestal are fighting deforestation or are taking active action for reforestation. Supporting them is a step into the right direction. There is not much time to lose.
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Harry Sauer
Panama, Panama
a while ago
Looking at forest fires or grubbing you can reduce the reasons why to 5 groups:
Reason #1:
Accidental ignition by natural hazards like lightning and neglect like garbage disposal in the forests. The legendary bottle, which along with a sun ray produces a little flame which sets the entire wood on fire.
What can we do about that? Well, in the first place just have more forests, re-building the natural climate which does not allow the forests to become that dry that a small fire can spread that fast. Second building a network of forest rangers and watch towers with web cams to see the first smoke rising in time and thus having the chance to take faster action. Also having a network of fire trucks at call would help to keep the damage reasonable. Though there is nothing that can be done about lightning striking, there can be very well be done something about the waste disposal. Education, the availability of trash bins, forest cleaning actions by schools, clubs and communities are something to start with. Also a stricter control by the same forest rangers and a ticket system with fines would be a contribution to grow environmental awareness.
Reason #2:
Purposeful ignition by a pyromane or purposeful ignition by criminals on behalf of an individual or organization to clear the land for a different use.
What is to be done about that? well, we are clearly facing a criminal act, which not only damages someone’s property, but destroys someones existence and on top the living environment of many animals, maybe humans, too, and in the end it has an impact on everyone of us and the global warming by destroying a part of the earth’s green lung. strict laws and a consequent law enforcement can help here. If everyone, having in mind to set fire to a forest is aware of the risk to go to jail and will stay there, until he has replanted the entire damage he made in a chain gang, he might think twice ;-)
Reason #3:
Forest owners or - in some legislations - villagers cut the timber and leave the space behind to grow an non-managed secondary bush vegetation. The result is either a thorny bush land with no value, neither economically, nor as a habitat for wildlife.
What can be done about that? Legislation is asked here with clear guidelines, that everyone, cutting an existing forest, has to set a percentage of the profits aside for a reforestation. This once again needs to be overlooked by the authorities and also by experts, as many more people know how to cut a tree rather than how to plant the right tree into the matching soil in the ideal location. Incentive programs like the contribution of the seedling and expert supervision may help such programs along. But why not take those into responsibility, who have cut the trees in the first place? In the end they also had the profit of the timber sales.
Reason #4:
Reckless grubbing with forest fires to make space for cattle grazing grounds.
Maybe the biggest challenge when it comes to area as well as to the senseless approach, as valuable timber is burned and huge amounts of carbon dioxide are set free to the atmosphere. the motivation in those cases is the pure greed.
The only solution for this problem is monitoring, dramatic fines and high taxes and duties on beef produced under those circumstances. The products produces with such a high collateral damage need to be rejected by the market and so high taxed, that further deforestation for those purposes is simply unattractive. Those responsible on large scale shall be punished with significant jail sentences. On the smaller scale the local population who usually in those regions live in a permanent struggle to survive, need to be educated and alternatives need to be presented. With smart programs for a better use of the forest the local population can well find a good revenue out of the forest, if guided well.
Reason #5:
History and tradition.
How to deal with this issue? In the old days most of the earth’s surface was covered with forests. Italy was as green as Greece or Spain, the Caribbean islands or East-Indian Islands were protected by lush rain forests. timber was cut for different reasons, such as construction, ship building or making space for sugar cane. Those responsible died hundreds or even thousand years ago and left meanwhile heavily eroded soil behind. Thus the responsibility is kind of public. Individual governments, the United Nations and their bodies, international and national organizations, world bank, banks and individual donors are asked here, to step in. However, some organizations and funds offer meanwhile interesting long term solutions, which make an investment into forest projects pretty attractive on mid and long term. A good approach from governments would be helping such projects along contributing land and offering tax exceptions.
World Wildlife Fund, Prince Charles Forest Initiative or Futuro Forestal are fighting deforestation or are taking active action for reforestation. Supporting them is a step into the right direction. There is not much time to lose.