Solutions

Solutions to the problem

What can we do to stop deforestation and forest degradation in order to save our planet and stop threats to human security that come from deforestation? In theory, stop chopping down the trees and start planting new trees looks like a solution. We will see here what ways can we help this process, and how can you make an effort to help too.

REDD:

            According to Schroeder (2010), the REDD has an approach the incentive of conservation with projects for sustainable forest management. Also, it has an emerging approach of giving financial incentive to nations that keep their forests intact. With incentives that would come from developed countries, developing countries would keep their current forest levels intact, in a way that the natives can get an income by sustaining their natural habitat. This incentive is very important, as logging is one of the incomes that can come from deforestation, and since most people that practice logging depend on the job to provide their needs, incentives can substitute that source of income and serve as a force to stop deforestation. 

Indigenous knowledge:

The indigenous population suffers with deforestation, as forests are their natural habitat, and they depend on it to their basic survival needs, such as food and shelter. One way that deforestation can be stopped is if we learn with the indigenous people how they blend in with nature in a sustainable way (Schroeder, 2010). Besides, indigenous population have big interests in preserving the forests, their natural habitat, and therefore can be of great help in ways to live in harmony with nature. 

Ecotourism:

            Forest management can be sustainable with the use of ecotourism, since it benefits the local population that would benefit from the conservation of the land. Also, the ecotourism is an alternative of income for the people in the communities who would otherwise have their income coming from unsustainable logging (Lima et al, 2011). It is also a way to keep logging companies away as the area must remain preserved. 

Sustainable Forests:

In the Mediterranean the cork forests have been endangered for hundreds of years. These forests cover 2.7 million hectares of land, and the harvesting of the cork oak is practiced in Europe. The model of cork oak harvesting is considered to be sustainable, and the forests provide income for thousands of people. These forests also play a role in keeping water cycles and preventing erosion, keeping the soil healthy (Peréz, 2007). The oak forests renew itself after harvesting, making it sustainable.

 

Image available at http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2006/2006-05-15-01.asp

How can you help? Choosing wine that uses cork stoppers rather than plastic ones can help the environment. You can also help by spreading this idea to wineries in your region.

Image available at http://wwf.panda.org

Governmental pressure:

            Taxes, fines and law enforcement can be ways in which deforestation can be stopped. This is an example followed in Brazil, when after the start of monitoring with a Radiometer, drop on fires got to more than 80% (Fearnside, 2005), since fines were issued with an image of the satellite printed out, pretty much the same technique that is used to catch speeding cars in traffic lights.

            Law enforcement should also be achieved in detecting tax and financial movements, since in the Amazonian ranches many owners are doctors and other professionals from urban areas that have large incomes that they don’t declare, and ranches are a good way to invest since there is little law enforcement over this sector (685).

            Also, the use of already cleared areas for agrarian reform can be a way that the government can use those areas instead of forested areas (686). The use of already deforested areas can stop or at least slow down the use of forested areas, and therefore can slow down the process. As Fearnside (2005) mentions, the change must be followed by an understanding of the social, economical and political aspects of the societies to address the changes in policy (681).

Reforestation:

Can we really save the forests? Is it possible to restore a deforested area? Reforestation is one of the solutions to try to revert this bad scenario for the environment. Another way out is the use of forests in a sustainable way, with activities that are not connected with destruction.

 According to the Australian National University, only 60% of carbon dioxide is stored in plantation forests compared to the untouched natural forests. However, replanting trees is one way to regenerate fertile landscape and provide shelter to species. There are several nonprofit organizations that support reforestation, but there are also many movements that can be followed for reforestation, such as:

Eco-forestry: a way to select the trees that can be chopped down in a way that the damage to the environment is minimized, while the ecosystem is preserved and the commerce is still allowed.

Green Business: Sustainability is the word, as production based in recycled materials for production of paper and wood products can be achieve with responsible consumers. 

Image from: http://blog.harvestpower.com/waste-reduction-is-the-best-place-to-begin-a-green-business-strategy/

Land use planning: Using the land in a smart way, again with sustainable construction using environmental friendly techniques. Houghton believes that human settlements of agriculture and increased land usage are not effective, as our world from 10000 years ago could have indeterminately served hunters and gatherers in lower levels of population, but now we face consequences of using more than the land can give us, but since we can’t go back to the number of people from 10000 years ago, the answer is a balance between managing natural systems and humans, sustainable enough to keep the levels of climate stable (Houghton, 1994).

Community forestry: You can start in your community, volunteering to replant trees and keep local forests sustainable (Canadell, 2008). The video below shows a community forestry inactive in Brazil where a farmer decided to plant trees to deforesting a Cocoa plant, since it grows fast, with the planting of banana trees to give shade to the cocoa plants so they can grow. Attitudes like this can help preserving and reconstructing the forest. 

Economy:

            This process would consist in finding ways of sustaining human population and maintaining forests by substituting the economical activities such as timber, minerals, agricultural and ranching products for alternative ways of economy in the areas (Fearnside, 2005). Many people depend on logging and extracted materials from the forests to make money. Finding alternatives to these people is fundamental. You can't simply take their jobs, you have to replace it with some other job. Perhaps government incentives in forest protection could be one solution. The costs of deforestation can be very high when taking in consideration all the possible consequences that it can bring. If we that take in consideration, incentives to preserve forests should be a possible alternative. 

Organizations:

There are several non-profitable organizations that work to fight deforestation besides the United Nations. You can help by either donate or participate in one of the many organizations out there that try to protect the forests and preserve the environment and the indigenous people. Between them, we can see:

•    Conservation International (http://www.conservation.org/Pages/default.aspx)

    Conservation International is a nonprofit environmental organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. The organization's mission is to protect nature, and its biodiversity, for the benefit of humanity.

•    The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) (http://worldwildlife.org) works in 100 countries and has 1.2 million members in the USA and 5 million global members. WWF reaches the world communities in the help for a better future.

•    Rainforest Action Network  (http://ran.org), with a belief that a sustainable world can be created in our lifetime, and that powerful action must be taken immediately to leave a safe and secure future for our children.

•    The Environmental Defense Fund (http://www.edf.org) Passionate, pragmatic environmental advocates who believe in prosperity and stewardship. Grounded in science, we forge partnerships and harness the power of market incentives.

•    The Sierra Club (http://www.sierraclub.org) Works to protect and restore U.S. forests

•    Amazon Watch (http://amazonwatch.org) Works to defend the rights of indigenous people and communities faced with industrial development

•    The Nature Conservancy (http://www.nature.org) is said to be “working with you to make a positive impact around the world in more than 35 countries, all 50 United States and your backyard.” has developed several initiatives to advance conservation.

The video below talks about the challenges and the possible solutions to adapt to this situation. What other ways to preserve the forests can you think about? Please use the comments section to give your opinion!

Work Cited:

Schroeder, Heike. "Agency In International Climate Negotiations: The Case Of Indigenous Peoples And Avoided Deforestation." International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law & Economics 10.4 (2010): 317-332. Environment Complete. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.

Lima, Ismar Borges, and Anne-Marie d'Hauteserre. "Community Capitals And Ecotourism For Enhancing Amazonian Forest Livelihoods." Anatolia: An International Journal Of Tourism & Hospitality Research 22.2 (2011): 184-203. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.

Coca Pérez, Manuel. "Diversity In The Cork Oak Forests Of The Northern Straits Of Gibraltar Region (Southern Spain)." Plant Ecology 189.1 (2007): 87-100. Environment Complete. Web. 26 Apr. 2013.

Canadell, Josep G., and Michael R. Raupach. "Managing Forests For Climate Change Mitigation." Science 320.5882 (2008): 1456-1457. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.
Houghton, R.A. "The Worldwide Extent Of Land-Use Change." Bioscience 44.5 (1994): 305-313. Academic Search Complete. Web. 14 Apr. 2013.

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