Prohibiting_Logging_and_Agricultural_Clearing

Prohibiting Logging and Agricultural Clearing For many years scientists have been aware that forests and plants are the main source of oxygen to the Earth’s atmosphere, however the mass destruction of forests and rainforests has continued. Over fourteen percent of the world was once covered by rain forests and now only six percent of the world has this type of environment. Scientists have also discovered that seventy percent of the land animals and plants of the world reside in forested areas according to National Geographic, yet we continue to destroy their natural habitats (Rain Forest Threats). Rainforest animals such as the tiger, great apes, and lemurs are running out of places to live amongst other man-made threats to their survival and coming close to extinction (Paul Guernsey). Abundant animals such as raccoons and deer are moving into cities as their habitats are reduced. Increases in population can lead to the clearing of trees to make room for housing, roads, and agricultural land to grow food. Humans also use trees to build furniture, supply wood for building projects, burn for charcoal, create power supplies, and make paper; meanwhile there are other renewable resources available for most of these purposes (Rain Forest Threats). Logging and agricultural clear cutting should be prohibited by law worldwide due to the destruction of animal habitats, large scale environmental effects, and less harmful alternatives to wood that are available. When animals are forced from their natural habitats there are often negative impacts, this is especially the case when they cannot return due to deforestation. Most habitats have delicate ecosystems that have developed over centuries and when disturbed there are often disastrous impacts. For example, if there had not been algae development in the oceans many scientists believe the planet would have no oxygen for mammals to breathe. When the trees are removed from a forest or rainforest, even if saplings are planted in their place, the sun is harsher on the soil and animals that live there. Many amphibians cannot live without the moist warm environment that the shade of many trees provides. When there are no longer amphibians for larger predators of the environment to prey on their options are to starve and die off as well or seek out other sources of food. Omnivorous animals suffer as well due to the change in the heat and sun exposure they may die from the heat element or their food sources may not tolerate the changing environment. Animals forced to find new sources of food in different places could explain why there seem to be increasing attacks on humans made by wild animals in most countries. These effects are due to the fact relocation of entire animal populations to a suitable habitat is not economically feasible to a logging company or a farmer trying to clear land and is seldom even thought of in such cases. When funds are available and environmentalists attempt this type of effort they are often unsuccessful and entire species may become endangered or even extinct. Even when an animal relocates successfully species intermingling can have negative side effects as well, such as transfer of disease from species to species and unrest in the food chain of the encroached habitat. The effects of deforestation are often harmful when land is clear cut for housing developments and industrial sites as well. The negative impacts of deforestation do not end with wildlife population; they have a global effect as well. The 2011 UN has been declared the International Year of Forests for good reason, forests are a large part of our world that provide many of the things we need to survive, dangerous environmental repercussions from deforestation are becoming large concerns as populations continue to grow worldwide (Jack Hurd and Wahjudi Wardojo). One of the primary concerns of deforestation is that trees are one of our main sources of safe air to breath. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis just like most other plants, the difference is trees are much larger than other plants so they each provide much more of the element we thrive on than a common dandelion or yard of grass. Their absorption of carbon dioxide makes trees the perfect environmental counterpart to humans; however we continue to upset the balance. Aside from the air we breathe trees also filter water in a very unique way by absorbing water and pollutants at their roots and returning water vapor back into the atmosphere (Deforestation). Trees help to shape rivers and waterways throughout the world and the rain they induce is vital to many environments. Without rainforests and other forested land many environments would become deserts and cease to provide their many benefits altogether. Global warming increases as well due to less greenhouse gasses being absorbed when trees are reduced in masses. Climate changes and global warming due to deforestation would inevitably lead to other changes as well. Weather pattern changes have already been attributed to global warming. Increased strength in hurricanes and typhoons has been witnessed in the last few decades and in different locations than has been typical prior. This may be just the beginning of what we face as forests continue to be depleted. Current rates of deforestation could eliminate the remaining rainforests within one hundred years despite policies made by the EPA and similar organizations worldwide (Rain Forest Threats). Efforts to combat global warming have increased and through these efforts many environmentally friendly alternatives to using forest woods have been found for many purposes, but are not widely used. Prohibiting clear-cutting worldwide would force consumers to seek alternate sources for the products and services that this wood is used for today, fortunately scientists have found many great alternatives. Wood floors are one of the most popular floorings available today and can be created instead by stone and fabricated tiles that can be stained to have a wood grain appearance. Wood used for building purposes can be substituted with many other fabrication products such as steel which lasts longer, hemp fiber boards that are stronger than wood fiber boards, hemp based cement products that last longer, marble, stone and glass products, and even recycled plastics can be used to help replace some purposes of wood. Recycled Christmas Trees and old buildings can also be turned into timber supplies as well. One of the main functions that timber serves is to be turned into pulp for paper and a substitute already exists; hemp paper is not only more durable, it does not require pesticide use when grown or replanted, and it is recyclable many times more than paper made from trees (Michael Bloch). Recycled paper has less effect on the environment when produced and by combining the two practices of using hemp to save forests and recycling more times over we would be helping our environment by creating less emissions and sustaining trees that cleanse them from our atmosphere. Furniture made from wood products can be made from renewable sources such as bamboo, wicker, reed plants, ivy, and recycled goods from previous furniture items as well. Energy sources that are more environmentally friendly include wind generated power, solar power, hydroelectric power, and most energy companies are making or developing bio-fuels as well that are made from renewable crops and algae. The primary argument against this law would most certainly be money. Logging and import businesses that specialize in wood products would not be happy to lose the source of the billion dollar industry that deforestation has become, they would claim there will be massive economic repercussions to any country who would dare to make a no clear-cutting policy law. Specialized loggers would undoubtedly lose wages. Paper mills turn fibrous materials into pulp and can make hemp paper, rag paper, recycled blue jean paper, and almost any type of fiber paper. As well those who can chop down trees would be useful employees for harvesting hemp, as industrial hemp can grow approximately ten feet tall. Industrial hemp is cheaper to grow than a new forest of saplings also, so it would save the industry money in the long run while also protecting the environment. Industrial hemp grows faster than trees and is hardy to the extent some places it is viewed as a weed, so it can renew itself much more quickly than any forest as well (Michael Bloch). Arguments against deforestation laws would state that converting paper product producing plants to use other ingredients would cost millions. Inevitably many paper mills would require replacing machinery that is no longer effective to produce the new products. To evaluate the conversion expense fairly one must examine that the change is inevitable, this is because in one hundred years if forests are depleted at the current rate there will no longer be trees to use for paper (Rain Forest Threats). By allowing large industries to put off changes to improve our environment we are delaying the inevitable and squandering precious limited resources in the process. Arguments that the facts have been twisted, that global warming is not an eminent threat or caused by deforestation, that statistics have been skewed will arise as well. To combat this argument there are many studies published, EPA facts recorded, and unarguable photos and videos of the results of deforestation. Regardless of the arguments posed deforestation is a serious problem that needs serious solutions. Prohibiting clear-cutting for both industrial and agricultural purposes would lead to better environment protection. Animals worldwide would be saved from the threat of extinction by banning clear-cutting. People could be confident the air they breathe will continue to have a steady supply of oxygen without deforestation. Alternative products offered and grown to replace wood consumption would bring in similar revenues as well as offering additional products that can be made such as hempseed oil that has many different applications. Lakes and rivers would continue to benefit from their surrounding trees and the purification properties they provide without the threat of the trees being cleared. Everyone would benefit from the retained beauty of the forests that surround us that are a great part of what makes this world special. Keeping our world green saves lives, reforesting helps promote a greater quality of health, providing renewable resources makes things more efficient, and demand of continual cash crops increases revenue and provides jobs in areas that would never be considered farming communities before due to the conditions in which hemp can thrive. Prohibiting clear-cutting is not only necessary; it would have great side effects for the world as a whole. Works Cited Bloch, Michael. “Hemp Facts: The amazing hemp plant” Green living tips 9 Jan. 2009.Web. 29 Nov. 2011. “Deforestation: Modern-Day Plague” National Geographic National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. Guernsey, Paul. “Types of Endangered Rainforest Animals.” All About Wildlife Top 10 Endangered Species & Wild Animal Facts Nov. 2009.Web. 28 Nov. 2011. Hurd, Jack and Wahjudi Wardojo. ““Year of Forests” Ends With Progress on Illegal Logging” 11 Nov. 2011 The Jakarta Post. Planet Change People + Nature = Solutions. 14 Nov. 2011.Web. 28 Nov. 2011. “Rain Forest Threats, Rain Forest Species” National Geographic National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2011.