Running Head: The Effects That Deforestation and Overdevelopment Have on

Communities Worldwide

The Effects That

Deforestation and
Overdevelopment
Have on
Communities
Worldwide
By John L. Kearse III
Global Studies and World Languages Academy

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The Effects That Deforestation and Overdevelopment Have on Communities Worldwide

Table of Contents
1. Table of Contents
2. Abstract
3. Introduction
4. Limitations
5. Methodology
6. Literature Review (start)
7. Literature Review (continued)
8. Literature Review (continued)
9. Body (start)
10. Body (continued)
11. Body (continued)
12. Body (continued)
13. Body (continued)
14. Body (continued)
15. Body (continued)
16. Body (continued)
17. Conclusion
18. Bibliography (start)
19. Bibliography (continued)
20. Bibliography (continued)
21. Bibliography (continued)
22. Bibliography (continued)
23. Bibliography (continued)
24. Bibliography (continued)
25. Appendix (start)
26. Appendix (continued)
27. Appendix (continued)
28. Appendix (continued)

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The Effects That Deforestation and Overdevelopment Have on Communities Worldwide
Abstract
This paper documents the current struggles people all over the world are facing due to the
effects of deforestation and overdevelopment. Today, Earth is by far the most active it
has ever been in its history. With over seven billion people living on Earth, the world is
constantly changing for the human race. With the emergence of wars, technological
advancements, religions, and civilizations, humans have been more focused on many
different aspects of modern day life. One aspect that everyone tends to forget or ignore is
how the human race is losing Earth. With the continuous population increase, Earth is
being squeezed of all its natural resources to the very last drop. Deforestation and
overdevelopment are two issues that are slowly becoming more of a problem as the years
go by.
In the countries of Nepal, Madagascar, Ecuador, and the United States of
America, deforestation and overdevelopment is a major issue. Each country has
hundreds of issues to deal with both domestically and internationally, but the effects of
deforestation and overdevelopment are becoming a more pressing issue than ever before.
Causes for increased deforestation and overdevelopment range from, the increased need
for more agriculture and mining, to communities of people trying to survive. Rural,
urban, and native communities are all feeling the effects of these issues. The native
groups in these countries suffer the most because they rely on the forest for survival of
not only themselves, but for their culture as well. If deforestation and overdevelopment
is not reversed, then Earth will not be able to provide for the human race like it has for
thousands of years.

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The Effects That Deforestation and Overdevelopment Have on Communities Worldwide

Introduction
A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land,
purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
Franklin D. Roosevelt understood the importance of our forests even when the United
States was in a state of turmoil with a decimated economy and a full scale world war.
Decades later, the United States has abandoned the wise words once said by the former
president. All over the world governments, corporations, and individual communities
have been abusing the only planet that the human race can call home. As population,
technology, and demand for resources increase, the wellbeing of the human race and
Earth are paying the price.
Whether legally sanctioned by the government or illegally logged by corporations
and black markets, millions of acres of forest have been chopped down or destroyed. The
forest may take the most damage, but the irony is that the instigators of deforestation are
suffering almost as much as the Earth is. People all around the world, especially in
poorer regions, have been chopping down forests or overdeveloping lands in order to
survive, but they only continue to worsen their situation. Countless environmental
problems have struck people around the world after turning the land into mines, farms, or
cities. The struggle to collect resources and develop has only continued worldwide
suffering for the long run and continues to hurt the planet.
Native and developed communities in Madagascar, Ecuador, Nepal, and even in
the United States have been suffering due to overdevelopment and deforestation. As a
result new groups and solutions are being made to combat these issues as well as defend

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The Effects That Deforestation and Overdevelopment Have on Communities Worldwide
the Earth and all people worldwide. If we do not change our ways our fellow men and
women will continue to suffer and dig themselves into a deeper hole until Earth is no
longer a suitable home to live on. If changes come worldwide to reverse hundreds of
years of harm that the human race has done to the Earth and efforts to help the struggling
communities in other countries begin, then deforestation and overdevelopment will not
destroy our only home.
Limitations
A series of limitations on what can be done to help the world by the individual are
endless. As stated earlier deforestation and overdevelopment is not a one man or woman
job, it requires at least the majority of the world to reverse. The teen that wrote this
paper, has very little money and has priorities of getting into college, so the extent that
the author can change the world are extremely limited. Most of the world could claim
that they dont have the time or resources too, but if everyone did what they could afford
to do then the environmental problems of the world will be greatly reversed.
Another major limitation is that the author is jobless and broke, so the money
supply is limited which limits the way research can be conducted. Neither the parents of
the author nor himself have the money to travel to the other three countries that are
focused on, and observe the deforestation and overdevelopments affects in person. The
author must rely on the information that can found in different databases and books of
people who have already traveled and observed and go by how they record their findings.
The best course of action is to check to make sure that the site is creditable source and
fact check the information with another source.

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The Effects That Deforestation and Overdevelopment Have on Communities Worldwide
The limitation that is the most prevalent in the search for research is the
information that is available. Sadly this issue takes a backseat to the public eye, so
reporting and recent information was harder to find in the United States. In Nepal,
Madagascar, and Ecuador, information was even harder to find because they have far
more pressing issues at the moment such as political corruption, hunger, etc. If the world
wants to reverse deforestation and overdevelopment the public eye must recognize the
serious issue this can present in the near to late future or else, todays problems will get far
worse.
Methodology
The information used in this research paper has been gathered from various
different sources. Most of the information found in this paper has been found from
previous works posted online and has been cited and interpreted in this paper. A number
of the sources were published from different creditable United States college websites so
it is assumed that the work was fact checked by a professor in that field of study. Other
sources where found from international organizations that have a solid foundation of fact
but may have bias hidden in the article. The remaining sources are governmental and
news articles sources that can be assumed as accurate. A final source was acquired by a
professional in the nature field through an interview.
Research for this paper was split into five different sections. The first four
sections dealt with the countries that are being studied in this paper while the last section
deals with how people can help reverse global deforestation and overdevelopment. These
sources are used to help strengthen the authors thesis statement by using the four
countries as individual points. Through the sources found, Nepal, Madagascar, Ecuador,

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The Effects That Deforestation and Overdevelopment Have on Communities Worldwide
and the United States will be dissected and compared ranging from serious deforestation
and overdevelopment, to more stable countries.
The hardest aspect about acquiring the sources was the fact that this issue is not
very popular. Modern day highlight stories trump the slow snowballing problems such as
deforestation and overdevelopment. Few good and creditable sources are published to
the public for free, so finding good sources was harder. Most of the sources are from
college or government sources because those are the only two levels that seem to care the
most and be creditable in their findings.
Literature Review
Deforestation and overdevelopment is not just limited to on country or one region
of the world specifically, it is a worldwide issue that many tend to forget. From all the
corners of the Earth, countries are suffering from these issues which slowly continue to
push people further into poverty while hurting the land. This paper focuses on four
different areas around the world and how the same problem affects people in similar and
different ways. The four countries focused on are Nepal, Madagascar, Ecuador, and the
United States of America. Each country is located on a different continent on Earth, yet
the people from each country continue to suffer from the ever growing issue of
deforestation and overdevelopment.
The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal is a small country located between the
two powerhouses of Asia, India and China. Nepal, a land locked country that is
overwhelmed by the increase of deforestation and overdevelopment. Sources from the
Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation in Nepal as well as Mongabay describe how
the poverty stricken country runs on agriculture at the expense of the forests. Also

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accounts from BBC and the Zoological Society of London go into detail how the Indian
and Nepaleses black market have a huge interest in the forests for logging rare timber.
A creditable organization called Culture Survival Organization focuses on
advancing Indigenous peoples rights and the rights of all cultures worldwide. In an
article about Nepals increasing problems, it stated that forests near the Himalayas are
being cut down due to population increase and increase in animal grazing from the large
agriculture industry. Getting much needed resources for the impoverished people are
becoming increasingly more difficult with the forest dying and being over worked. Not
only are the people falling more into poverty, but they are at greater risk for landslides,
soil erosion, and animal attacks with the removal of the trees as a protective barriers. As a
result, the Nepal government understands the risks of the increasing rate of deforestation
and has put forth laws that arent being acknowledged by the impoverished people of
Nepal. The Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation in Nepal concluded that the people
are more focused on trying to survive, than saving the environment.
The Republic of Madagascar is a large island country located off the east coast of
Mozambique in the southwest area of the Indian Ocean. Madagascar is a country that is
very poor and is in continuous political turmoil, which makes an opening for
deforestation and overdevelopment. The Global Majority E-Journal and another article
from Mongabay points out how some of the rarest forests in the world are being logged
and destroyed to build farms to feed the increasing population. With the destruction of
these rare forests, a source called Angelfire, points out that rare plants and animals living
in those forests are increasingly in more danger of extinction.

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An article from the International Cognition and Culture Institute located in the
United Kingdom describes a journey by the author. The author, Maurice Bloch, traveled
to Madagascar and observed the culture of a very reserved group called the Zafimaniry.
The author travels to a local village and sees how dependent they are on the forest and
how they revere the forest that they live in. The author discovers that the Zafimaniry
dont just depend on the forest to survive economically and physically but they revere it
as if it was a living spirit. A source from UNESCO tells how the organization works to
prevent the Zafimaniry and the other native communities from being wiped out from
deforestation and overdevelopment.
The Republic of Ecuador is a small country located between Peru and Columbia.
Ecuador is one of the more financial stable countries out of the four used in this paper.
Ecuador environmentally is one of the worse according to news articles from CNN and
the Guardian. These sources point out that the Ecuadorian government is ignoring the
petitions and pleas from their citizens to stop drilling in the very delicate Amazon Basin.
An article from the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development
Economics from Ohio State University, discussed how Ecuador civilians are being hurt
by the increase development, oil drilling, and deforestation in their country. Increase of
population has cause a demand of more resources and with the discovery of petroleum
underground 15 years ago, the Amazon Basin in the country is in danger. Ingenious
people are being moved due to the increase of petroleum drilling in the Amazon forest. A
source from Insight Crime proclaims that the most damage to the people and the Amazon
are the laws that the Ecuadorian government has put in place to extend farming in the
country which will just continue the destruction of the land.

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The United States of America is a large country located between Mexico and
Canada. The United States is most stable and richest country out of the four used in this
paper, but an article from the LA Times points out that the US causes the most
deforestation and overdevelopment worldwide than any other country with corporations
branching into the global market.
An article from Department of Conservation and Recreation discusses the State of
Virginia succumbing to deforestation and overdevelopment. The article tells that the
most abundant Virginia trees are being cut down, but tree plantations are springing up to
combat the increased deforestation. A source from the University of Michigan shows
similar information and provides a timeline of Virginias deforestation and
overdevelopment trends. With Virginia being 65% forest, an organization called Virginia
Forest Watch proclaims that the state government knows how important it is in preserving
the forests which not only stabilize the environment and clean up pollution, but they also
contribute to the economy in a large way.
Body
Earth is home to billions of different plants and animals including the dominate
species, humans. Humans dominate the Earth and have formed thousands of different
governments, empires, and dynasties to try to conquer as much the land as they could
throughout history. What ran those mighty empires? For as long as man has existed the
forests around the world has provided civilizations and mighty empires with life.
Precious minerals, resources to build, food, shelter, and other necessities were provided
by the land in order for humans to advance to today. Today there are 195 independent
countries stretching to every corner of the world trying to continue the advancement of

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each country. Each country today is focusing on advancing in technology and survival,
but everyone seems to be forgetting about something. The old planet that we live on for
thousands of years is taking a beating as humans try to continue to advance. The worlds
forests are disappearing at an alarming rate causing a snowball effect of problems for the
world. Deforestation and overdevelopment may not be as dangerous or alarming as
Ebola or terrorism, but if this issue isnt stopped there wont be a world to live in for the
future.
Deforestation and overdevelopment may be defined as, The conversion of forest
to another land use or the long-term reduction of the tree canopy cover below a 10
percent threshold. This implies the long-term or permanent loss of forest cover and its
transformation into another land use. (Lillesand, 2010) This definition says it clearly,
deforestation and overdevelopment are long-term or permanent loss of forests. So areas
that get destroyed by deforestation and overdevelopment may be gone forever. Though
humans dont live in the forest like wild plants and animals, the effects are being felt by
both native communities as well as those who live in a large civil society. Around the
world native and civilized communities in Nepal, Madagascar, Ecuador, and the United
States have been suffering due to deforestation and overdevelopment, however new
groups and solutions are being made to defend the two types of communities worldwide.
Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with
about one-quarter of its population living below the poverty line.(CIA, 2014) Nepal is
holding on by a tread, with little money flowing through the country deforestation and
overdevelopment of the land is running rampant. From 1990 to 2005 Nepal has seen a 28.88% (Butler, 2006) in forest coverage and is currently covered by forest at 25.4%.

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(Butler, 2006) With agriculture being the main driver of Nepals economy to the point
where more than 70% of the population (CIA, 2014) are involved in this field of
occupation, this country has little time for other problems.
With Nepal being located at the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, the
surrounding forests are the peoples only chance of survival. The main source of energy
is burning wood, so the majority of the citizens living in Nepal must travel into the forest
to chop wood in order to survive. With deforestation increasing, women have to walk
farther and farther to collect fuel.....for the family's needs. (Stewart, 2013) Sadly, finding
firewood is by far not the only problem that deforestation is having on Nepal. With the
loss of forests, Nepals agriculture has been taking a hit. Because, firewood is less
available, both dung and leaf litters are being used to cook the food [instead of used as
fertilizer]. Farmers say that the size of the corn cob and wheat grains has reduced due to
decrease in fertilizers. (Joshi, 2001) The main source of survival for the Nepalese is in
danger due to the increase need for wood which is not as abundant anymore.
Environmentally, the people of Nepal are killing the land with overdevelopment
to make farms and with deforestation to acquire their only source of energy, but they are
also physically endangering themselves. With the lack of trees as natural barriers
increased animal attacks as well as increased mudslides and floods have plagued the
people. Due to loss of habitat wild animals are compelled to go beyond......on their
search for food and......results in animal-human conflict. (Varia, 2008) The people of
Nepal are caught in a cycle of impoverishment, (Stewart, 2013) as they continue to dig
themselves deeper into a hole as they overdevelop and chop all the trees down.

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The poor Nepal citizens are not sole instigators of deforestation and over
development in the country. The government of the country has tried several attempts to
slow down and reverse deforestation and overdevelopment but have failed. The
government has enacted laws to help preserve the forests, but they are mostly not
recognized by the people. The citizens need the wood to survive and with the increase
population size of Nepal more land is needed for farming, but the black market in both
India and Nepal is the governments main priority. According to BBC, as India takes
steps to protect its forests.....timber smuggling from Nepal is on the rise. (Khadka, 2010)
The black market in India is going north to Nepal and illegally logging timber to make a
profit at the expense of the land and its people in Nepal. If The Nepalese government
does not get deforestation and overdevelopment down then the people will only slip
lower into poverty as the lifeline provided by the forest is wiped out.
A country that is a similar to Nepal in terms of struggling with deforestation is the
country of Madagascar. Madagascar is a country that has been plagued with being in a
state of political unrest and environmental turmoil for decades, but has been blessed with
some of the rarest forests in the world. After discarding socialist economic policies in
the mid-1990s.....the country has been on a slow and steady growth path from an
extremely low level.(CIA, 2014) Due to high population growth, which resulted in a
four-fold increase in Madagascars population during the last 50years, (Clark, 2012) the
urban and rural areas are growing. With the increase growth of population and slow
economic climb, the forests are seen as an opportunity. Slash and burn techniques have
been used tremendously by Madagascan farmers. Slash and burn is when you burn
forests and the ash.....fertilizes the soil and makes crops easy to plant ....after a few

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seasons, the soil quality begins to decline and can no longer support crops. When this
occurs, farmers usually....move on to new forests and repeat the process. (Clark, 2012)
This technique is destroying the rare forests that Madagascar possesses, and these farmers
are hurting more than just plants.
Madagascar is the leader in highest annual forest loss. Madagascar has lost a
total of about 90% of its original forests. (Angelfire, 2012) Madagascar is decimating its
forests but at the same time they are hurting ways of life. Many native tribes live and
survive off of the Madagascan forest. A group of natives called the Zafimaniry are
numbered approximately 25,000 Zafimaniry live in some one hundred villages and
hamlets scattered in the highlands of this region. (Sgur, 2008) The Zafimaniry are
expert wood crafters that have view that trees are of central importance for the
Zafimaniry and....not a joke. (Bloch, 2010) These communities of natives live and die by
the forests that they hold in high regard. With the disappearance of the forests due to
logging and slash and burn farming their way of life is in danger or becoming extinct.
Deforestation and overdevelopment are huge issues that if not fixed will present a
larger problem to Madagascar than any of its other pressing problems. Madagascar is
home to eight plant families, four bird families, and five primate families are found on
this island and nowhere else on Earth. (Clark, 2012) With the disappearance of
Madagascars forests rare species of plants and animals will become extinct and will have
no chance of ever coming back. Plants, animals, and people are at risk of extinction if
Madagascar doesnt turn around its alarming rate of deforestation and overdevelopment.
Economically and politically Ecuador is more stable than Nepal and Madagascar,
but environmentally they rank similar to those two countries. Ecuador is a country that

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is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which have accounted for more
than half of the country's export earnings.(CIA, 2014) With the discovery of petroleum
in the Amazon Basin within Ecuador, drillings and piping have be interfering with the
balance of the Amazon. Ecuador...has one of the worlds highest rates of deforestation
estimated at over 300,000 hectares (3%) per year. (Mecham, 2001) Deforestation in
Ecuador is at an all-time high and looks to continue that rate as long as the petroleum
keeps pumping
The Ecuadorian economy was saved when petroleum was found in the Amazon,
and despite protests against native tribes as well as common people, the government has
decided to continue with drilling in a natural park. Outraged by the harmful drilling in
the natural park of Yasuni, the people of Ecuador petitioned to trigger a government
referendum, but they were denied. Nearly two thirds of the (850,000) signatures on a
national petition to stop oil being exploited.....in one of the most bio diverse parts of the
Amazon rainforest have been rejected. (Vidal, 2014) President Correa has rejected the
petition due to the fact that he believes that the $7 (billion) that Ecuador could
eventually earn from the oilfield would be used to address poverty.(Vidal, 2014) The
people are outraged and have been openly criticizing the government to the point where
the government is infringing on the right of speech by targeting the social media
(Twitter) accounts of critics of the Ecuadorean government. (Chevron, 2014) Yasuni
National Park is in danger of being destroyed by the government and oil industry, but the
native tribe that lives just outside of the national park is in danger as well.
30% of the Ecuadorian Amazon has been deforested and/or polluted and entire
indigenous cultures, such as the Cofan and Huaorani, have been placed in danger of

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The Effects That Deforestation and Overdevelopment Have on Communities Worldwide
extinction as a result of the oil industry. (Mecham, 2001) With the increase loss of
forests in the Amazon, native cultures are in danger of losing their culture like the
Zafimaniry of Madagascar due to the oil industry. An article from CNN tells how Alicia
Cahuilla, a native Waorani tribal leader, fears for the survival of her people and the
Amazon forest. The cost to both the planet and local people of pursuing such oil grows
in tandem with the difficulty of extracting it. (Juhasz, 2014) The Ecuadorian
government cares more for the money then for its own people, both native and nonnative.
United States of America has the largest and most technologically powerful
economy in the world.(CIA, 2014) The US is by far the most stable of the countries
compared, but it is also one of the leaders in deforestation and overdevelopment.
Domestically the US has had its share of deforestation when rates at their peak in the
Midwest were ~2% annually, about the rates now seen in Amazon. (Lillesand, 2010)
The United States has oppressed and committed genocide on many Native American
tribes all across America, there are not many accounts on how deforestation was
destroying their culture only those about the white man.
In the Commonwealth of Virginia forests cover 65% of the states land area.
(Virginia, 2014) In the past Virginia has been pretty good about keeping deforestation and
overdevelopment very low but as of late Virginia has not followed tradition. Each year
68,000 acres of forestland is lost...the equivalent of 1 acre every eight minutes.
(Virginia, 2014) With the increase of deforestation and overdevelopment the Virginias
environment is being put in danger as well as the people living in the state. Increase

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chances of forest fires and erosion come with the removal of forests, but the state is
allowing the destruction of some of the last temperate rainforests on Earth.(Muri, 2008)
The United States understands the problems that deforestation can cause to our
environment as well as to the human race. The United States has joined more than 110
corporations, civil society groups and governments to launch a global initiative to reduce
deforestation sharply over the next 15 years (Banerjee, 2014) With help of both
international corporations and other governments this is a small but positive step in the
right direction toward a better future for both humans and the Earth.
Deforestation and overdevelopment are something that cannot be reversed, if
everyone from every country put forth a little effort in preserving the Earth then things
could change. Individually, people can boycott corporations that are known contributors
to deforestation around the world or just letting others know the effects deforestation and
overdevelopment is having on other parts around the world. Other ways to stop
deforestation and overdevelopment is to turn to tree farms which recycle forests so that
they can grow back and be used later in the future without taking out large chunks of
forests. If deforestation and overdevelopment are stopped and reversed, then air will be
cleaner, water will be purer, and ecosystems will return to a natural balance, where all
living organisms can live in harmony. The best quote that sums up deforestation and
overdevelopment is from an unknown Native American, who said, when the last tree has
been cut down, the last fish caught, the last river poisoned, only then will we realize that
we cannot eat money. (Unknown)

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Conclusion
Earth is the one place in the universe that we know of that can sustain long
term life. Earth has provided both plants and animals food, shelter, and water to
live and thrive on for millions of years. Sadly, humans for centuries have been
destroying the Earth to further their progress at the expense of animals, plants,
and even other humans. Native groups have always taken the most human
damage from deforestation and overdevelopment. Whether it be deforestation or
overdevelopment, forest around the world have been disappearing and leaving
native cultures left to wither out and die. In todays world most native
communities have been either wiped out or have blended into modern day culture.
The few remaining native communities such as the Zafimaniry of Madagascar,
Waorani of Ecuador, and the few Native Americans on reservations in the United
States, are struggling to keep their culture from dying out. Oil and resource
drilling, commercial and illegal logging, slash and burn farming, and development
of cities are killing the forests that native communities survive on. If
deforestation and overdevelopment continues the world will die and so will every
living thing that inhabits it. If everyone does their part in trying to reverse or stop
deforestation and overdevelopment the world will be cleaner and will continue to
provide for all walks of life for future generations. The author of this paper was
inspired to choose this topic due to one authors favorite childhood stories from
Dr. Seuss, The Lorax, and this quote sums up how deforestation and
overdevelopment needs to be thought of, Unless someone like you cares a whole
awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not. (Dr. Seuss)

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Annotated Bibliography
Angelfire. (2012). Deforestation of Madagascar. Retrieved November 28, 2014, from http
%3A%2F%2Fwww.angelfire.com%2Fbug%2Fglobalissues%2Fing%20for
%20it.
This source gives a clear definition of deforestation and how it effects the
people. It also mentions the economic and environmental impact deforestation
has on a country. This is a creditable and useful source.
Banerjee, N. (2014, September 4). U.S. joins other nations in deforestation accord at UN
summit. Retrieved October, 2014, from http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-nadeforest-climate-change-20140923-story.html
This article tells how the United States is joining the United Nations in trying
to take steps to reverse the effects of deforestation. It uses statistics to tell the
cause and effects of deforestation worldwide but focuses on the United States.
This is a creditable source.
Bloch, M. (2010, May 16). Doubting among the Zafimaniry. Retrieved October 14, 2014,
from http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cognitionandculture.net%2Fhome%2Fblog
%2F24-maurices-blog%2F647-doubting-among-the-zafimaniry%20RL%20or
%20by%20searching%20for%20it.
This gives a firsthand account of a reporter observing a culture in Madagascar
effected by deforestation. This article describes how a poverty stricken
community that survives on trees struggles to survive as deforestation
continues to run rampant. This is a creditable source.

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The Effects That Deforestation and Overdevelopment Have on Communities Worldwide
Butler, R. (2006, October 29). Nepal. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/deforestation/archive/Nepal.htm
This gives statistics breaking down Nepal's demographics that relate to
deforestation. With the increase of deforestation and overdevelopment the
more recent statistics have dramatically dropped. This is a creditable source.
Butler, R. (2014, June 9). Madagascar. Retrieved November 2, 2014, from
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/20madagascar.htm.
This article gives statistics on forest coverage in Madagascar as well as cause
and effects of deforestation. It also tells about Madagascar's failed attempted to
reverse deforestation and how natural disasters are more occurring due to the
lack of tree protection. This is a creditable source.
Cawley, M. (2013, November 16). Ecuador deforestation spurred by illegal logging.
Retrieved October 11, 2014, from http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insightcrime.org
%2Fnews-briefs%2Fecuador-deforestation-spurred-by-illegal-loggingng
%20for%20it.
This article tells how illegal logging has spurred increase deforestation in the
Himalayan forests in Nepal. It also describes how the black market has an
increase desire for timber which is causing the illegal logging. This is a
creditable source.
Chevron. (2014, November 12). Thousands march in Ecuador to protest government
policies. Retrieved November 21, 2014, from http%3A%2F
%2Fwww.theamazonpost.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads
%2FSouthgate_Wasserstrom_Reider_LASA_2009.pdfL

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The Effects That Deforestation and Overdevelopment Have on Communities Worldwide
This article tells how deforestation is caused by the drilling of petroleum in the
Amazon Basin located in Ecuador. A timeline is provided showing the
movement and violation of native tribes rights by drilling. The environment
people are suffering by the overdevelopment and deforestation. This is a
creditable source.
CIA. (2014). The World Factbook. Retrieved October, 2014, from
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
This is a fact sheet about each countries demographics. This gives general
statistics on the five countries. This is a creditable source.
Clark, M. (2012, June). Deforestation in Madagascar: Consequences of population
growth and unsustainable agricultural processes. Retrieved November 5, 2014,
from https%3A%2F%2Fwww.american.edu%2Fcas%2Feconomics
%2Fejournal%2Fupload
%2FGlobal_Majority_e_Journal_3_1_Clark.pdfearching%20for%20it.
This article discuses that overdevelopment in Madagascar is caused by the
increase of farms so forest is being cleared to help feed the people. It gives the
effects of deforestation felt by all living things and the long term effects of
wiping the land out. Some solutions to deforestation along with general statists
are mentioned. This is a creditable source.
Forest. (2003). Crisis in America's Forests. Retrieved September, 2014, from
http://www.saveamericasforests.org/crisis.htm
This source gives the cause and effect of deforestation in the United States as
well as telling how the forest disappearance is effecting the environment. It

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The Effects That Deforestation and Overdevelopment Have on Communities Worldwide
also describes how the timber black market is making millions at the expense
of the taxpayers. This is a creditable source.
Greenpeace. (2014). Solutions to Deforestation. Retrieved November, 2014, from
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/campaigns/forests/solutions-todeforestation/
This source discusses what drives deforestation worldwide and gives possible
solutions to stop deforestation. This is a creditable source.
Joshi, A. (2001, July 1). Underlying causes of deforestation and participatory forest
management policy in Nepal. Retrieved November 21, 2014, from http%3A
%2F%2Fpub.iges.or.jp%2Fmodules%2Fenvirolib%2Fupload
%2F1508%2Fattach%2F1ws-8-Joshi.pdf%20its%20URL%20or%20by
%20searching%20for%20it.
This is a PDF of how deforestation and overdevelopment is needed to help the
people survive but it is only pushing the Nepal people further into poverty. The
Nepal government is trying to provide solutions to deforestation and
overdevelopment of the land. This is a creditable source.
Juhasz, A. (2014, March 01). Opinion: Why oil drilling in Ecuador is 'ticking time bomb'
for planet. Retrieved November 2, 2014, from
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/28/opinion/ecuador-rainforest-oil-exploration/
This article is centered around the fact that the petroleum drilling in Ecuador is
killing the way of life of a native culture in the Amazon. It gives a personal
account of how the deforestation and overdevelopment in Ecuador is hurting
the way of life for a culture. This is a creditable source.

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The Effects That Deforestation and Overdevelopment Have on Communities Worldwide
Khadka, N. (2010, September 29). Nepal's forests 'being stripped by Indian timber
demand' Retrieved October 15, 2014, from http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk
%2Fnews%2Fscience-environment-11430622r%20by%20searching%20for
%20it.
This article talks about how the demand for timber in India is causing illegal
logging in Nepal. It provides personal statements from forest officials in Nepal
on the issue and how the land has changed in the eyes of the elderly. This is a
creditable source.
Lillesand, T. (2010, January 1). Forest Products. Retrieved October 19, 2014, from
http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/deforest/d
eforest.html
This source gives statistics on countries that causes the most deforestation
worldwide. It gives information of historical trends of the United States about
deforestation and gives important definitions and terms related to deforestation
and overdevelopment. This is a creditable source.
Mecham, J. (2001, May). Causes and consequences of deforestation in Ecuador.
Retrieved September 29, 2014, from http%3A%2F
%2Fwww.rainforestinfo.org.au%2Fprojects%2Fjefferson.htmarching%20for
%20it.
This article gives information the effects of agriculture and drilling on the
Ecuador forest. It also discusses the cause and effects of deforestation and
statistics and history of Ecuador and deforestation and overdevelopment. This
is a creditable source.

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The Effects That Deforestation and Overdevelopment Have on Communities Worldwide
Muri, J. (2008). Virginia Forest Watch. Retrieved October, 2014, from
http://www.virginiaforestwatch.org/bcl.html
This article discusses how illegal logging is running rampant in Virginia. The
government is struggling to protect the Virginia forest which are effecting the
environment. This is a creditable source.
Savedge, J. (2009, January 12). 5 ways to stop deforestation. Retrieved September 20,
2014, from http://www.mnn.com/family/family-activities/blogs/5-ways-tostop-deforestation
This article gives a simple five step plan to stop and reverse the effects of
deforestation and overdevelopment worldwide. This is a creditable source.
Sgur. (2008, Spring). Wood crafting knowledge of the Zafimaniry. Retrieved October
20, 2014, from http%3A%2F%2Fwww.unesco.org%2Fculture%2Fich%2FRL
%2F00080%20%20or%20by%20searching%20for%20it.
The source describes how a Madagascan culture relies on the forest as a way of
survival and way of life. With the increase deforestation and overdevelopment
a culture is in risk of losing its identity. This is a creditable source.
Stewart, J. (2013, March 6). The impact of deforestation on life in Nepal. Retrieved
September 21, 2014, from https%3A%2F%2Fwww.culturalsurvival.org
%2Fpublications%2Fcultural-survival-quarterly%2Fnepal%2Fimpactdeforestation-life-nepalering%20its%20URL%20or%20by%20searching
%20for%20it.
This article describes how the rural population in the hills of Nepal are caught
in a cycle of impoverishment which is causing an impact on the people and the

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The Effects That Deforestation and Overdevelopment Have on Communities Worldwide
forest. It tells how farming and deforestation are causing more problems than
making solutions. This is a creditable source.
Varia, V. (2008). Deforestation in Nepal. Retrieved September, 2014, from
http://www.wildopeneye.com/nepal.html
This article tells how deforestation and overdevelopment due to poverty is
causing more problems than making solutions. Human and animal conflicts
have been more prevalent and the main source for the Nepal people is
disappearing as the forests decrease in size. This is a creditable source.
Vidal, J. (2014, May 8). Ecuador rejects petition to stop oil drilling in Yasuni national
park. Retrieved October, 2014, from http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com
%2Fenvironment%2F2014%2Fmay%2F08%2Fecuador-rejects-petition-oildrilling-yasuni
This article is about how the Ecuadorian government has rejected a petition by
the people to not drill in a natural park. The people are outraged and oil drilling
in the natural park will destroy the environment and deforestation and
overdevelopment will continue to damage the fragile Amazon. This is a
creditable source.
Virginia. (2014). Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved October, 2014,
from http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/virginia_naturally/erg-virginias-forestresources.shtml
This is a source that tells about Virginia's forest coverage and statistics about
Virginia's deforestation by tree increase or decrease. It also gives statistics
about the history of Virginia and deforestation. This is a creditable source.

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The Effects That Deforestation and Overdevelopment Have on Communities Worldwide
Appendix
Interview Questions
(Dr. Robert Johnson)
1. How long have you been involved in this field of study?
Dr. Johnson has been involved with nature for all his life, but his strongest
connection is through being a Boy Scout Master. [of Troop 70] Dr.
Johnson got involved in Boy Scouting when he was 11 years old (50+
years) and never stopped. He became a Scout Master in 1996 and has
preached about the beauty and importance of nature at every scout
meeting and scouting event ever since.
2. Do you believe that deforestation and overdevelopment can be reversed or only
slowed? Please elaborate on your opinion.
Dr. Johnson believes that deforestation and overdevelopment can be
reversed, but fears that major actions toward these issues will come when
it may be too late. The public worldwide needs to have an interest in this
issue for it to be reversed. Deforestation and overdevelopment can
certainly be reversed but the desire to save the forests needs to be there.
He believes that it is easier for the United States to reverse and stop this
issue because we are wealthy and well established, so the tools are there
but the desire needs to be there.
3.

Have you ever witnessed deforestation in either the United States or abroad? Did
you see the affects it had on a group of people or the environment?
Dr. Johnson has never traveled to another country where deforestation and
overdevelopment is a huge visible issue that is affecting people, but he has
noticed this issue in Virginia Beach. It is madding that forests are turning
into shopping centers. He believes that governments are more business

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The Effects That Deforestation and Overdevelopment Have on Communities Worldwide
oriented than anything else. He believes that laws are important in
protecting the environment because recreational natural activities such as
fishing have changed tremendously from when he was a child.
Fishermens lively hood is being lost because of the fishing industry
killing the Chesapeake Bay with over harvesting as well as pollution
running off into the Bay.
4. Do you believe that deforestation and overdevelopment can hurt a way of life for
a culture?
Dr. Johnson continues that the livelihood of fishing in the Chesapeake Bay
is in danger with over harvesting. He also believes that certain groups
around that world that rely on forests as a way of survival as well as utilize
the forests in their culture are in danger. Dr. Johnson mentioned that for
people as a whole the quality of life will decrease if we continue our
trends of deforestation and overdevelopment.
5. Should the control of deforestation and overdevelopment be the governments
problem or the peoples problem?
Dr. Johnson believes that it is the job of the government to represent the
people, so it is both. The people must raise the issue to their
representative and then the representatives must work together to fix the
solution. It starts with the people first Dr. Bob proclaims because it is
everyones problem in the end.
6. What steps do you think every country should do to help stop or slow
deforestation and overdevelopment?
Dr. Johnson believes that each country should plan out their infrastructure
out better. The government should plan for green spaces in their cities and

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avoid urban/suburban sprawl on the forest. He also believes that more
parks and nature reservations should be put up to protect forests from
overdevelopment of the land. He believes that the United States is a
leader in protecting its forests, unlike Europe who lost its forest in the
1800s. With the loss of forests the world losses plant and animal diversity
in the wild which could hurt the Earth in the long run.
7. Do you believe that less developed countries are more at risk to fall into habits of
deforestation and overdevelopment than developed countries?
Yes less develop countries are in more danger of falling to deforestation
and overdevelopment because of poor governments Dr. Johnson claims.
Corporations and others come into poor countries and take advantage of
the people and government. Dr. Johnson believes that some people only
care about money and they will destroy the environment leaving the
effects to the locals that dont get any of the wealth being extracted. Poor
governments cant regulate or enforce who comes and takes advantage of
the lands resources and just leave when the resource is tapped dry.
8. What country do you believe causes the most deforestation worldwide? Which
country do you believe causes the most deforestation and development in their
own country?
Dr. Bob doesnt know the exact country that causes the most deforestation
and overdevelopment, but he knows that countries like Brazil, most
African countries, and Indonesia are near the top of the list. He believes
this because the people are focusing on survival and money so forests are
forced to overprovide for the people.

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