...and South-East Asia. Each region is facing varying degrees of serious deforestation. The result being widespread loss of humid tropical forest “Between 1990 and 1997, 5.8 ± 1.4 million hectares of humid tropical forest were lost each year, with a further 2.3 ± 0.7 million hectares of forest visibly degraded.” (Achard et al. 2002) The heart of the problem lies beneath a tangled mess of socio-economic growth resulting in massive deforestation chiefly for the land. Commercial farmers using the land for cattle, soybeans, palm oil and monoculture tree farms take advantage of loose government regulations. The most common tactic for land for forest removal is “slash and burn” where existing vegetation is cut down and burned for fertilizer. This technique has major impacts on multiple cycles key to forest health. Most notably the hydrological cycle, the nitrogen cycle and the carbon cycle. If this trend continues there will be major changes in precipitation and air quality, both locally and globally. This combined with already worsening global climate problems may spell catastrophe. Due to differing levels of importance placed on this issue by the various countries involved solutions would have to be fine-tuned at the local level. Every solution needs stricter governmental regulation and policies enforcing sustainability, this coupled with standard forest management will curb significant...
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...Lemurs in Madagascar: 1. What are Madagascar’s biomes? Discuss the major features of at least one of these biomes. ~ The major features of these biomes is that they are wet, warm, and have high levels of biodiversity. The rainforest has four different layers. (Forest floor, understory layer, canopy layer and emergent layer) 2. What changes happening in Madagascar are posing challenges for lemurs? Give details about the sources, time scale, and types of changes. ~ The biggest change in Madagascar is the deforestation of the rain forest. It disrupts the eco-system, its home, and the food supply. 3. Which type of lemur are adapting to the changes? Which type of lemurs are not adapting well? Why? ~The bamboo lemur is the type of lemur that is not adapting very easy to the changes. The ring tailed lemur seems to be adapting well because it has the ability to adapt better. 4. What behavioral and physical traits are being favored in lemurs in the changing Madagascar environment? ~Some behavioral and physical traits that are being favored are their small bodies, long noses, and large eyes. 5. Why might lemurs not evolve to adapt to the changes in Madagascar? ~They won’t adapt because of the deforestation of the rainforest. Deforestation occurs at a rate of just under 1 percent a year. 16 species of lemurs have disappeared since humans arrived. They are threatened by distinction today. 6. Which biochemical cycles may be altered by anthropogenic activities on Madagascar, and...
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...Dear Ms. Roberts, It is currently the summer of 2016 and I have just arrived in Brazil to watch the summer Olympics with my beloved, British boyfriend Harry Styles. Harry was invited to perform at the opening ceremonies here in Rio de Janeiro with his band, so I decided I would come with him and research the Tropical Rain Forests. The thing most different about rain forests compared to South Dakota is the fact that they are warm year-round. In fact, rain forests go through virtually no season changes. To say it simply, every season there is equivalent to a wet, hot summer. Tropical rainforests on average have around 100 inches of rain a year and the temperatures range from 40 degrees Fahrenheit to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The amounts of animals that are located in the rainforests seem endless. One of my favorites, though, is the Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth. This sloth is unique because unlike many other species of animals, the male and females are almost exactly proportional. Both genders range from 17 to 31 inches in height and weigh anywhere from 5 to 15 pounds. Another very unique species I found in this tropic climate was the Red-Eyed Tree Frog. The thing you may notice at first would be the big, bulging red eyes; but I noticed their special way of camouflaging themselves. Although their eyes may be very noticeable, those big eyes are actually how they hide themselves from predators. When this species of frogs close their eyes, the eye lids are a vibrant...
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...An important ecosystem service provided by forests is the ability to counter-act the effects of global warming. Carbon dioxide, a contributing factor to global warming, is taken up by the plants and vegetation contained in forests through photosynthesis and the resulting carbon is stored in both living and dead plant biomass. This process, known as carbon sequestration, greatly reduces the potential for global climate change (IPCC 2001). Forest cover also affects the albedo, that is, the proportion of incident solar radiation that is reflected by the earths surface. The dense green coloured canopy of tropical forests have a low albedo when compared with grasslands or deforested areas. This allows for more incident solar radiation to be absorbed and cooler air termperatures (O’Brien 1996). Perhaps the most important ecosystem service provided by forests, which is a basic requirement for life, is the supply of clean water. Forests facilitate the storage of clean water through filtering precipitation through the tree canopy. This, in effect, slows the rate at which precipitation collects at the ground surface allowing it to remain unsaturated. It is estimated that over 2/3 of the clean water supply is United States is contained within stream water, which was filtered through forests, with a direct value exceeding $27 billion per year (Snail 2009). This clean water can be captured and stored in watersheds that in turn, can be used for variety of purposes including agriculture,...
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...Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) are used as examples of the paper and pulp manufacturers. The report will be concluded by providing recommendations regarding the issue. Indonesia overview Indonesia maintains the highest rate of illegal logging among other countries, up to 60% of timber production. Corruption has been a prevalent issue in Indonesia, and was even worse after the end of the Suharto government system. Deforestation rate is excessive from 1.3 to 2 million hectares every year. Indonesia represents about one-quarter of global tropical wood production and exports, and about half of global tropical hardwood plywood exports. Indonesia is one of the prime targets of international awareness on illegal logging and forest destruction operation (Creek 2004). According to Creek (2004), ‘The...
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...Decline in Biodiversity Deanna Garrett ENV497 Chad Goings July 15, 2013 Decline in Biodiversity Biodiversity is important in ecosystems because every life form works together in order for them to function. When these ecosystems are disrupted or altered, or even lacks biodiversity, it poses major threats to all the life forms in it, whether it happens quickly or over a long period of time. When we lack biodiversity, our ecosystems become unstable, which in turn makes them more vulnerable to disasters and they cannot contribute to our well being. Although policy makers may be faced with challenges, many considerations need to be taken into account to preserve biodiversity and to protect these areas so that these ecosystems can function properly and prosper. When we hear the word ‘biodiversity’, it pretty much explains itself. It is the amount of variation of life forms within a given biome, ecosystem, species, or even the entire plant. Many considerations need to be taken into account to preserve biodiversity and to protect these areas so that these ecosystems can function properly and prosper. With respect to the ecosystem and biodiversity, we need to remember that once our natural resources run out and when most ecosystems are destroyed, it is very hard to restore it to what it was. We need to consider our well being, as well as all the other organisms that we share the earth with. We use biodiversity all the time, whether it is direct or indirect. In order for us to...
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...is deforestation? Deforestation is the removal or damage of vegetation in a forest to the extent that it no longer supports its natural flora and fauna. In other words, deforestation can be defined as the transformation of forest land to non-forest uses where forest land includes lands under agro-forestry and shifting cultivation, and not simply closed canopy primary forests (FAO/UNEP, 1982). However, this definition does not include “logging”. More inclusive was Myers’s 1980 definition, where deforestation refers, “generally to the complete destruction of forest cover through clearing for agriculture … [so] … that not a tree remains, and the land is given over to non-forest purposes … [and where] very heavy and unduly negligent logging … [result in a] … decline of biomass and depletion of ecosystem services … . So severe that the residual forest can no longer qualify as forest in any practical sense of the world.” Alan Graigner (1980, AS quoted in Saxena and Nautiyal, 1997) asserts that selective logging does not “lead to forest clearance and does not constitute deforestation”, whereas Norman Myers (1980, 1993) thinks that logging is crucial because, although it may only affect a small proportion of trees per hectare, it damages wide areas and is the precursor of penetration by the forest farmers. For the purpose of this study, the FAO’s latest definitions (1993) will be used. The FAO defines forests as “ecosystems with a minimum of 10% crown cover of trees and/or bamboo, generally...
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...deforestation in the amazon by having a demand for tropical hardwoods in the amazon. Demands for things like coffins, furniture, coal, and building materials. Also pulp has a big demand in the United States. It is estimated that by the year 2020 4 billion tons of wood will be consumed annually by the paper industry. Also the rainforest are being used as grazing land for for animals to provide for meat. Lastly united states government also help supports deforestation directly and indirectly. 3) We can save the rainforest by: 1. Don’t buy products that use the rainforest as a resource 2. Eat less meat so rainforest are not chopped down to be used as grazing lands 3. Spread general knowledge of what is being happened to rain forests so more people get involved 4. Support greener companies 5. Use FCS certified paper 6. Support formation of parks and reserves 7. Donate to charity organizations supporting rainforests 8. Buy rainforests to preserve the land 9. Support people who live around the rainforests...
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...Global Trade of Wood and Paper Products Abstract Global trade of wood products is accelerating amid shifting regional production of raw materials. At the same time structural change is occurring in regional production and consumption of finished and semi-finished wood and paper products. Some countries which once were major net exporters of wood products, such as the United States, have become major net importers. Conversely, China, a country that not long ago was a major net importer of wood products, is increasingly dominant as an exporter of value-added wood products such as furniture. What are the reasons behind these shifts in sources of supply and demand for wood and wood products? Direct forces such as population growth and rising socio-economic levels drive demand for wood and paper products. Increasing purchasing power in developing economies empowers consumers, both private and public, to purchase homes, furnishings and accessories. Indirect factors, such promotion of wood, strengthen demand and translate to significant gains in consumption in some markets. Consciousness of climate change and the advantages of wood for products and energy is creating a new impetus for increasing wood products consumption, including wood-derived energy products. Government and industry policies are important market drivers. Government policies can support increased utilization of wood, or can restrict wood in construction when standards favor competitive building materials...
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...Forest ecosystem FOREST ECOSYSTEM A forest is more than just the trees. A single forest is a complete, functioning ecosystem that supports innumerable plant and animal species as well as earth, water, and air subsystems. The subsystems provide the essence of life of the forest and are in themselves a byproduct of forest systems, all of which are reciprocal and inter dependent. A forest ecosystem is a complex of living and non-living elements which interrelate. An ecosystem can be small (like your backyard) or large (like the planet earth). It depends on the range of individual species or group of species being discussed (e.g.: a salmon stock or a forest type), geology (e.g.: a mountain range or watershed), and other issues. Different organisms exist within the forest layers. These organisms interact with each other and their surrounds. Echo organism has a role or niche in sustaining the ecosystem. Some provide food for other organisms, other provide shelter or control populations trough predation. NEEDLE LEAF Needle leaf trees fall into two categories based on how they are attached to the twig coming off the branch of the tree. On coastal redwoods and true firs, the needles will be connected directly to the twig, growing off it like leaves off the branch of a common plant. On trees like spruce trees, the individual needles will be connected to the tree via a peg-like stalk, which is also known as a needle peg. Sometimes needles on conifers are bundled together...
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...ONE: INTRODUCTION Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) serves and represents a new pattern in forestry as forest areas need to be adequately managed. As Young (1982) stated a long time ago, management of the forest for multiple land use is now common. This is due to the encroachment of forest areas and illegal felling in the protected forest areas. This brings about the determination of the use of the forest, forest land and forest products to ensure that the benefits derived today are similarly obtained in the future. Adekunle et al (2013), indicated that since the knowledge of tree growth parameters plus yield is very essential for effective forest management; data for the growth/ yield parameters can be obtained through field inventory by recording diameters and height along the stem or bole of a tree (Tonolli et al, 2011)...
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...Deforestation Identifying the Problem Deforestation is the removal of related ecosystems or rainforests into ecosystems that are less biodiverse such as croplands, pastures, or plantations. Also, more people need wood to make furniture, houses, and many more everyday things. An estimated 18 million acres of forest are lost each year. Believe it or not but in 100 years if the current rate of deforestation continues all forests will be gone. This will cause terrible effects on the global climate and it will get rid of the majority of plant and animal species on the planet. Deforestation is mainly due to our acts that are totally against the laws of nature. To create new land area for people forests are being destroyed. This trend shows the greed of humans and the increasing needs. There are two different types of deforestation: Clear Cutting and Slash and Burn. Clear Cutting is cutting down a large area of trees that are standing at the same time. Slash and Burn is when people cut down all the foliage in a forest and burn it to access the nutrients. (4) A lot of the countries with high amounts of deforestation are the ones that are developing. For the countries to grow and develop their economies they need access to more resources, employment of people, logging to manufacture more timber products, and agricultural expansion. The solution to getting all these positive things is deforestation. The world’s highest rates of deforestation are happening in the economies...
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...of Science and Technology December 2014 Contents Introduction 1. Impacts of deforestation 2.1. Deforestation contributes to global warming 2.2. Deforestation loses biodiversity 2.3. Deforestation impacts soil negatively 2. Causes of deforestation 1.1. Population growth is an indirect reason of deforestation 1.2. Deforestation is rooted by urbanization and industrialization 1.3. Agriculture leads to deforestation 3. Solutions Conclusion References | 111233345567 | Deforestation: A threat against our planet Introduction Forests play an important role in our lives. Not only do they maintain biodiversity, for example providing food and shelters for animals and plants, but they also provide important sources such as food, woods, and herb medicines for human beings. They, moreover, help control climate and prevent soil from erosion. Forests, however, are under threat by deforestation – an act of clearing trees to exploit resources like woods, minerals, medicines and to create land for agricultural activities or space for building facilities, for instance houses, roads, etc. Deforestation is a pressing problem, and it is killing our planet because of many reasons. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of deforestation on our planet, the causes of deforestation, and some necessary solutions to reduce deforestation. 1. Impacts of deforestation 2.1. Deforestation contributes to global warming ...
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...Phase 1 Individual Project SCI201-1403A-12 Environmental Science and Sustainability July 10, 2014 Trena Woolridge Just to keep the theme going from the discussion board 2 assignment I decided to research and write about the Tropical Rainforest. I have always found the world’s rainforests to be very interesting with all of their secrets they hold inside of them. By doing this paper it will allow me to discover more in-depth information on the Tropical Rainforests. I wonder what all I will discover? There are many rainforests in the world but can be found only in three major geographical areas around the world. The one that stands out the most to me is the Tropical Rainforest in Central America in the Amazon Basin from the previous assignment I researched. Others are located in Africa, Australia, and Assam to name a few. Tropical Rainforests are made up of large trees, exotic wildlife, and thousands of species of plants. The structure of the Tropical Rainforest is very complex but can be simple to understand when broken down into sections. The rainforest can be divided into layers from top to bottom and can get a better understanding of the Tropical Rainforest as a whole. The different layers are: emergent, the canopy, the understory, and the leaf litter or cryptoshere or also known as the ground. Emergent are the larger, taller trees that stick out above the canopy. They can be 20-100 feet above the canopy and endures strong winds, temperature fluctuations, and damaging...
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...APES Chapter 11 Review 1. Five types of public land in the United States: * National Forest System- these forests are managed by the U.S. Forest Service and used for logging, mining, livestock grazing, farming, oil and gas extraction, recreation, hunting, fishing, and conservation of watershed, soil, and wildlife resources. * National Resource Lands- managed by the Bureau of Land Management, these lands are used for mining, oil and gas extraction, and livestock grazing. * National Wildlife Refuges- 542 refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Most refuges protect habitats and breeding areas for waterfowl and big game to provide a harvestable supply for hunters, a few protect endangered species from extinction. * National Park System- managed by the National Park Service. It includes 56 major parks and 331 national recreation areas, monuments, memorials, battlefields, historic sites, parkways, trails, rivers, seashores, and lakeshores. Only camping, hiking, sport fishing, and boating can take place in the national parks, but sport hunting, mining, and oil and gas drilling is allowed in National Recreation Areas. * National Wilderness Preservation System- 660 road less areas that lie within the other types of public lands and are managed by agencies in charge of those lands. Most of these areas are open only for recreational activities such as hiking, sport fishing, camping, and non-motorized boating. 2. In 1988, an industry-backed coalition...
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