Clear_Cutting

Research Report: Impact on Biodiversity Clear-Cutting Rahul Modi October 13, 2009 SBI3U0 Mr. Gujahi Biodiversity or biological diversity expresses the combination of all living organisms existing on this planet. Nowadays, this topic plays a great role in the world because depredation to all the environments is leading to the extirpation and extinction of many inhabitants of those settings (Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, 2009). There are many ways humans have benefited the environment by their actions but in reality, there are more behaviours where humans have negatively impacted our planet. One of these off-putting impacts is clear-cutting. It is defined as the removal of all trees in a generally specified area (NRDC, 2000). How does clear-cutting affect the environment' What species and populations has clear-cutting affected' What are the risks and benefits of clear-cutting' When you clear-cut a given area of trees, you are virtually cutting down every single tree, leaving a wasteland with no chance of shady areas (Nova Scotia Public Lands Coalition, 2006). Although clear-cutting looks a lot easier and faster to perform than any other method of forestry, companies take advantage of this and abuse it. The overuse of clear-cutting leads to soil erosion and loss of habitats for many species (New Book of Popular Science, 2009). Clear-cutting also means the destruction of buffer zones. Buffer zones reduce the chances of having floods because these buffer zones absorb and hold water (NRDC, 2000). Many organisms are affected by clear-cutting. In all of the rainforest ecosystems around the world, when trees are clear-cut, the forest canopy is eliminated. Because of this, rainforest insects and bacteria no longer have their habitats, which can endanger them if they do not have a great adaptability (NRDC, 2000). Rainforest organisms make up for about half of the animal and plant species on the Earth so, even though it may not be apparent, clear-cutting these rainforests would eventually jeopardize many of the species of which can’t acclimatize to other habitats (Clear Cut Mapping and Deforestation, 2008). Last but not least, clear-cutting can be used to benefit us but, when not careful, risk the lives of organisms. Clear cutting is said to be the most economical harvesting technique of forestry but, it is still harmful (Conservation, 2009). As previously stated, clear-cutting large forests result in soil erosion, river siltation and deposition. This affects navigation, fisheries, wildlife habitats, drinking water supplies and farming productivity self-sufficiency (Clear Cut Mapping and Deforestation, 2008). Water is a great resource for some of these industries and once ruined it would take a lot of money to fix. Clear cutting can benefit some companies on people because it is a systematic way of growing new stands of trees and letting them live until they are at a big enough size to use (Conservation, 2009). Clear cutters are helping our Earth because they replant seeds right from where they extract from. Clear-cutting has many ways of affecting our environment, many species including animals from rainforests are affected and clear-cutting can have some benefits even though it mostly results in menace to biodiversity of this planet. The human impact through clear-cutting has been quite detrimental to the Earth. In conclusion, although it may look like it’s too late to save the world from clear-cutting; we can help in countless ways. APA Bibliography biodiversity. (2009). Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 11, 2009, from Grolier Online http://gme.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article'assetid=0033635-0 Clearcutting. (2006). Nova Scotia Public Lands Coalition. Retrieved October 13, 2009, from http://www.publicland.ca/issues/clearcutting.html Conservation. (2009). Encyclopedia Americana. Retrieved October 11, 2009, from Grolier Online http://ea.grolier.com/article'id=0105640-00 Pine, D. (2009). Temperate Forests. New Book of Popular Science. Retrieved October 14, 2009, from Grolier Online http://nbps.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article'assettype=t&assetid=4019200 Tutorial: Fundamentals of Remote Sensing Applications Clear Cut Mapping & Deforestation. (2008). Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved October 13, 2009, from http://www.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/resource/tutor/fundam/chapter5/06_e.php What is Clearcutting'. (2000). Natural Resources Defense Council. Retrieved October 11, 2009, from http://www.nrdc.org/land/forests/fcut.asp