The environment, civilization, and you.

A group presentation by the A Team:

Linneah Olsen, Kaitlyn Kingsland, Alyssa Lucera, Joe Giampa, Ry Richards, &
Jonathan Harder

 Deforestation is a global issue that effects the environment, society,

individuals, and the economy.

Those at stake either directly or indirectly regarding the choice to partake in
deforestation include (but are not limited to):

Corporations/businesses
Consumers
Plants (obviously) and Animals (the ecosystem)
Foreign trade

As you can see, pretty much everyone and every thing is effected by this matter.

Those that have the power to change or make decisions on this issue are:

Governments (and essentially voters/individuals who put the government into place
Corporations
Consumers
Activists

If we sit back and do nothing

we run the risk of ending up like failed historical societies such as the Rapa
Nui from Easter Island, as discussed by Jared Diamond in his book, Collapse.

 If land is efficiently logged before clearing, it can yield

a first year profit of about $6400/hectare.

This profit can be shared between the logging
company and the small farmer that owns the land.
There are more wood products available to the
people which are considered as highly used and
dependable products.

 The deforested areas can be utilized as agricultural

sitesmillions of people will be fed while other areas of

the forest may be developed into excellent infrastructures
that give rise on the booming economy
Are highest if the land is used for intensive agriculture
(perennial crops).
Grazing animals have more area to roam and gather food.

 Seventy percent of Earths land animals and plants live in forests, and

many cannot survive the deforestation that destroys their homes.

Deforestation and the loss of biodiversity is will lead to a depletion of
our food sources and sources of medicine.
Many of the species being lost are vital to the preservation of our
ecosystems, or to significant parts of them.
Others may have potential value to humans in terms of food or
medicine.

 Trees help perpetuate the water cycle by returning water vapor back into the

atmosphere. Without trees to fill these roles, many former forest lands can
quickly become barren deserts. Thus altering the habitats of countless species.
Removing deprives the forest of portions of its canopy, which blocks the suns
rays during the day and holds heat at night. This disruption leads to more
extreme temperatures swings that can be harmful to plants and animals.
Trees also play a critical role in absorbing the greenhouse gases that fuel global
warming. Fewer forests means larger amounts of greenhouse gases entering the
atmosphere and increased speed and severity of global warming.

- Corporations and Markets. If corporations and markets have the ability to clear the
rainforests than they have the power to save them. Companies can introduce zero
deforestation policies. This would force suppliers to produce goods like timber, beef, soy,
palm oil, and paper fiber in a limited impact way that would help preserve our forests
and make emissions during the process a minimal.
-Sustainable Consumer Options. Every day people can impact this problem just by
being mindful consumers. We can support companies who have zero deforestation
policies by buying their products and not buy products that do no support zero
deforestation. Consumers have the power to pressure companies with their wallet. Also
buying recycled wood products helps reduce unneeded deforestation.
-Political Pressure. We as individuals have our representatives in the house and senate
in America. We need to use them for what believe is right by Demanding stricter,
scientifically backed laws. Only when we can harness the power of the law system in our
favor can we achieve the goal of zero deforestation

-Replanting. Although we will never be able to replant all the trees cut down from
deforestation, replanting after cutting would reduce the impact of deforestation. It is a
start to a huge problem that will continue for some time.
-Natural/Assisted Restoration. Because of the diversity and habitat loss to many
animals in a region exploited by deforestation, One of the best solutions may be to let
the area naturally recover. This would insure that human interference would not, yet
again off balance the habitat and diversity of the region. During the process it might
be feasible to assist in ways to ensure the growth is not stopping.

 Benefits:
"Pros and Cons of Deforestation." Health Research Funding. HRF, 17 Mar. 2014. Web. 21 Oct. 2014 .

Negative Effects:
Deforestation: Modern Day Plague. National Geographic. 16 October
2014. http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview/ (Links to an
external site.). Web.
Deforestation: Impacts. World Wildlife Fund. 16 October 2014. http://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation (Links
to an external site.). Web.
" Loss of Biodiversity (including Genetic Diversity)." Rainforest Conservation Fund RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct.
2014. <http://www.rainforestconservation.org/rainforest-primer/3-rainforests-in-peril-deforestation/fconsequences-of-deforestation/3-loss-of-biodiversity-including-genetic-diversity/ (Links to an external site.)
"Effects of Deforestation." Effects of Deforestation. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://eschooltoday.com/forests/problemsof-deforestation.html>

 Possible Solutions:
"Deforestation: Compromises of a Growing World." Conserve Energy Future. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct.
2014. <http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/
causes-effects-solutions-of-deforestation.php>.
Glum, Julia. "Best (And Worst) Ways to Stop Deforestation." Futurity. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.futurity.org/deforestation-policy-solutions-729422/>.
"Solutions to Deforestation." GreenPeace. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/campaigns/forests/solutions-to-deforestation/>.