...in the South to dry savannah in the North ,which is flat and sparsely vegetated. The country is blessed with mineral, physical, biological and energy resources. From the mangrove and rain forests of the south, through the various savannahs, and semi-arid ecosystems of the north, the nation is richly endowed. But what went wrong? The word ‘wildlife’ brings to mind ‘animals in the forest’. It is difficult to give a specific definition of the word. However, wildlife traditionally refers to non-domesticated animal species, but has come to include all plants, fungi and other organisms which grow or live wild in an area without being introduced by humans. The term ‘wildlife management’ on the other hand I will refer to mean preservation and conservation or maintenance of wildlife resources. Also it is the art of maintaining balance in the needs of wildlife and the needs of people using the best science. It includes game keeping, wildlife conservation and control, which aims to halt the loss in the earth’s biodiversity by taking into consideration ecological principles such as carrying capacity, disturbance and succession and environmental conditions such as physical geography, etc. About a century ago, that is before the arrival of Europeans, a diversity of animals roamed the country’s forests and grasslands in appreciable numbers. A stable ecological relationship existed between people and wildlife in many areas during this period. However over the last twenty years, various human...
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...Deforestation Jason Hennessee Axia College of University of Phoenix Deforestation “Dad! Dad! It’s opening day! Can we please go to the forest to watch the boats race?” Junior, age 10, was very excited about the idea of watching the boats race from the relative quiet and shade of one of the forests to border the river. “Sissy already has the car packed for the trip, and I think she even remembered to grab the charcoal this time!” Dean opened one eye. Seven in the morning was a bit early to leave for the boat races thirty minutes away when they started at nine. But, such was Junior’s excitement that Dean forced himself out of his bed earlier than he planned on. “Ok, son. Let’s check Renee’s packing and we’ll see about weather and conditions. Does Mom have her work finished yet?” Anne appeared framed in the bedroom door. “Yeah. I have some more reading to do, but I can do it at the site. The races are not my favorite thing, but you’ll need my help if the kids want to get wet. However, there is something I need to talk to you about. Junior, honey, please go make sure you have a cooler full of water and juice for us today.” Off like a shot, Junior dashed out of the room and Anne went in, closing the door behind her and lifting Dean’s laptop to the bed. “Dean, I think the forest is gone. Check this out.” Dean read the headlines and cutlines of the pictures and articles that Anne showed him. He shook his head as one by one they all told a devastating...
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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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...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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...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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...land, money and greed always conquer what is right. In Brazil, mechanized agriculture is being used rather than small farms and the making of roads that are cut through the forest for faster commute has been more important than the fact that we are losing this precious land. Experts estimate that we are losing 137 plants, animal and insect species every single day due to rainforest deforestation. That equals to 50,000 species a year. As the rainforest species disappear, so do many possible cures for life-threatening diseases. Currently, 121 prescription drugs sold worldwide come from plant-derived sources. While 25% of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest ingredients, less that 1% of these tropical trees and plants have been tested by scientists. In all areas of the world this is a huge issue that has not had a great outcome. Rainforests are being destroyed because the value of rainforest land is perceived as only the value of its timber by short-sighted governments, multi-national logging companies, and land owners. The loss of animal habitats is a huge concern to researchers in the Brazil forests. With the clearing of trees and even the roads being paved through the forest is having an effect on the species. Splitting the land and allowing cars and trucks to maneuver through the forests show a great harm to the lives of these species. Being separated for a certain side can lead to not having access to food or water. It also is a huge hazard for the species...
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...Edward Lohmeyer 12/7/13 The Genocide of Forests Forests still cover approximately 30 percent of the earth’s surface, but every year areas the sizes of Panama are being decimated (Deforestation). The clearing of large tracks of forests, which is thereafter converted to a non-forest use, is known as deforestation. Deforestation has a multitude of devastating effects in the world we live in. However with the cooperation of people worldwide this process can be drastically slowed down and even stopped. Forests are cut down for various reasons, but are almost always related to money in some way or another. The most common reasons are Urbanization, logging, large-scale agriculture, mining and urbanization. Deforestation can occur naturally and is caused by lighting, which then triggers forest fires. On average in U.S. 4 million to 5 million acres are lost due to forest fires, but in recent years more than 9 million acres have burn. Scientist believe the reason for the drastic increase is because global warming making summer season longer and dryer which is inductive to forest fires (Wildfires). Healthy forests help absorb greenhouse gasses and carbon emissions that are caused by human civilization and contribute to global warming. Without trees, more carbon and greenhouse gasses enter the atmosphere. To make matters worse, trees actually become carbon sources when they are cut, burned, or otherwise removed. According to the World Wild Life organization 15 percent of all...
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...more and more land is brought under cultivation for which forests are cleared, grass-lands ploughed, uneven grounds leveled, marshes drained and even land under water is reclaimed. Plantations and commercial agriculture - A major force behind deforestation is commercial agriculture: Wealthy companies clear large areas of forest to be converted into farmland. Commercial agriculture such as: Palm oil and acacia trees, cattle ranching, soybeans, etc. Urbanization - Industries and towns are developing in former rainforest. Hydroelectric power - Rivers are dammed and huge areas of forest are flooded as a result. Transport - Transport networks are built through the forest to link settlements. Industries - Forest are cleared to support industrial activities and extraction of resource, Two main types are: Logging for timber and mining for minerals. Forest Fires - Fire is often used to clear forested land, as it is cheaper than employing laborers and bringing in machinery to remove the trees and vegetation. The vegetation is cleared and left to dry out, then the area is set on fire. Burning of forest has taken place on a small scale for many thousands of years, by small groups of subsistence farmers, this is known as slash and burn agriculture. Mining - Large areas of forest are cleared for the open-cast mining of minerals such as iron, gold and copper. Roads - Road shave been built through rain forest to enable minerals, timber, cattle and crops to be moved...
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...largest remaining tracts of forests globally? * Ohio * Amazon * Southern America * Southern Asia * India * Peru * Republic of Congo * Indonesia * Canada * Brazil * Russia’ 2. Which regions of the earth seem to have lost the most forest? How could you prove this? * Mekong countries * Brazil * Indonesia * http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/countries-with-highest-deforestation-map.html 3. Some forest regions are found outside their expected climate range. For example, there are places where tropical rainforests are found that are outside the tropics. Where does this occur and why do you think this might be the case? * These might occur because of ocean currents and fires 4. Find two areas that appear to have never had forest. Describe their location. With the aid of an atlas, determine if these regions are associated with another type of landform. * Sahara desert, central Australia 5. Describe the current distribution of Australia’s forests. * Forest distribution is confined mainly to regions with an average rainfall exceeding 500 millimetres per year. Most forests occur in the northern, eastern and south-western coastal zones, although woodland forests extend inland 6. Describe the distribution of Victoria’s forests. 7. Find a map which shows the distribution of Victoria’s forests before European arrival and...
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...Internet Assignment 1 New Zealand Forest Resources New Zealand is a widely diverse ecoregion which is made up of 7 contiguous ecoregions. These regions are spread over 170,000 sq. km (or, 65,500 sq. miles). With only 5 major temperate rainforests in the world, the temperate forests of the South Island of New Zealand are some of the largest areas of native vegetation in the country. The New Zealand kauri (Agathis australis) belongs to the ancient conifer family, Araucariaceae, one of the largest and longest-living trees in the world. The most southern-growing species, New Zealand kauri, is restricted to the sub-tropical forests in areas north of latitude 38°. The Afforestation Grant Scheme (AGS) helps growers establish new forest plantations. Producing 100% of its products from plantation forests; the New Zealand plantation forests and wood products industry is based on wholly renewable resources, the industry is predominantly based on sustainable plantations of Monterey pine or New Zealand pine, and Pinus radiata, commonly known as radiata pine. Douglas-fir and various eucalyptus and cypress trees are also grown for timber. FOA members manage around two-thirds of the plantation forests of New Zealand’s 1.79 m ha plantation forestry estate. Over 94% of the plantation forests are privately owned and over 90% of New Zealand’s planted forests are pinus radiata. Forestry in New Zealand is geared to both domestic and export demand. About 44% of the harvested logs and various percentages...
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...cattle-ranching are the main forces that drive deforestation and heavily contribute to the resulting environmental issues. By developing sustainable methods of forest usage and eliminating excess deforestation efforts, the Earth’s tropical rainforests can continue to hold the treasures of wildlife. Forests make up thirty percent of the Earth’s land surface. Wildlife is abundant and plant life is so diverse that many species are still unknown. With forests areas the size of Panama being wiped away each year, in one hundred years the world’s rainforests could completely vanish (National Geographic). Countless trees are cut down every year by the logging industry, which supplies the world with paper and wood products. Its effects extend beyond the loss of trees. For example, several indigenous tribes of Papua, New Guinea have lost huge portions of their land to government-backed logging operations (Shearman, Phil, and Jane Bryan). For tribal peoples who subsist on the land, it is a major misfortune for them. Agriculture and cattle-ranching are the two additional forces behind massive deforestation. As a result of increased consumer demand, farmers cut forests to make room for crops and grazing livestock (Roberts, Michael). Cattle-ranching supports a huge industry. Fast food restaurants, for example, require tons of beef. Hundreds of acres of forest lands are invaded in...
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...destruction is a major global problem with serious consequences. The destruction of the rainforest is leaving a negative effect on the species existence, on global climate changes, flooding, and erosion. Subsistence farming, logging, shifted cultivators, mining, and fuel wood collection are the major causes that lead to rainforest destruction. If we do not do something to stop rainforest destruction, we may perhaps loose them forever with all the great benefits that come with it such as medicine and cure, scientific knowledge, and biodiversity. The best way to save our forest is by teaching people about the importance of rainforests, restoring ecosystem by planting trees before cutting, banning excessive hunting and making laws to protect the forests. One of the major benefits of the rainforest is medicine. In his book, The Amazon Rain Forest, Johnson states that the United States and other countries depend on the rain forest plants for almost one fourth of the medicines needed (42). Tropical plants, animals, and insects are the major sources from the rainforests to examine medicine potentials. Curare, used by doctors to perform complex heart surgery, is one of the most important medicines discovered from the Amazon rainforest (43). The rainforests provide doctors and scientists various resources to find cure for deadly diseases. According to Chinery, rainforests plants provide painkillers, anesthetics, cough remedies, muscle relaxants, and several drugs used for treating cancer (19)...
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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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...NATURAL HISTORY OF NEW YORK Natural History of New York New York State covers an area of 54,077 square miles (141,229 square km), 87% of which is land. Inland lakes and rivers cover 1,894 square miles (4,908 sq. km) and the State has jurisdiction over 981 sq. miles (2,541 sq. km) of the Atlantic Ocean as well as 3,988 square miles (10,329 sq. km) of the Great Lakes. Climate New York State lies in the humid temperate region of the northeastern United States. Average January temperatures range from 15.8 to 33.8 degrees Fahrenheit and 66.2 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit in July. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year and most parts of the State receive about 40 inches annually. Variation in topography and proximity to bodies of water causes large climatic variations and these deviations have created distinct ecological zones, which are home to a complex web of biological diversity. The Landscape New York’s land forms were shaped by the recent glacial stage which disappeared not more than 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. Thompson (1977) identified nine major land form regions within the state. The Adirondack upland in the northern-most portion of the State includes New York’s highest point, Mt. Marcy, hundreds of glacial lakes, and rich mineral deposits. Other upland regions include the Appalachian upland, which occupies nearly half the state, and the Tug Hill Upland, which is the least settled part of the state due to its poor soils, bad drainage and excessive precipitation...
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...growth, rain, temperature fluctuations, predictions, parasitism, death and so on occurring in a relatively large geographic are tied together by some dominating physical feature. Thus one could envision ,and for example ”,the prairie ecosystem,”which would encompass a large, more or less self-sustaining, relatively flat and dry region in which perennial grasses were the dominant vegetation,characteristic native vertebrate animals were predominantly herbivores such as bis on and rodents, and the major shaping physical forces were fire,wind and extreme temperature fluctuations. If you're bored by prairie ecosystem,then of course you could envision a coral reef ecosystem,a desert ecosystem,or the most complicated ecosystem of all,the tropical forest ecosystem. In the absence of humane disturbance, ecosystem tend to remain stable for relatively long periods thousand of years. During most of Earths history, destruction resulted from global events,typically of geological origin,such as the drifting of continents and the rising and falling of ocean levels. The fossils record shows us that some,if not all,continents have experienced dramatic changes over the several hundred million years of their history. For example,Americas prairie ecosystem “bread basket”. The great plains,where most of our corn and...
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