The Problems and Main Causes of the Amazon Rain Forest - Essay Example

Amazon rainforest Hailed as the strongest and most bio-actively diverse development on the planet, the Amazon rainforest is the world’s largest tropical rainforest. It occupies nearly 6 million square kilometers and is located in the Amazon basin of South America; two-thirds of the rainforest lies in Brazil while the balance one-third is spread over Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname and French Guiana (World Book Encyclopedia, 1996). The Amazon rain forest is the home for millions of species of exotic flora and fauna, more than anywhere else on earth. Two serious problems are identified: loss of invaluable flora and fauna; and an increasing threat to our ecosystem. Both these problems are the result of deforestation, defined as an operation that is connected closely (and often incriminatingly) to the race between land users to use many exploitative means to use rainforests in the face of inappropriate (and often corrupt) government policies The end products of deforestation are threefold: some land users become rich, a large number of people suffer hardships, and the environment is irreparably damaged (CFAN, 2003). There are four main causes for the two serious problems mentioned above. 1) Predisposing conditions Primarily caused by inherent human nature, rising population pressure and persistent poverty comprise the greatest cause. Most of the world’s population increase is confined to developing countries (such as those in the Amazon basin). The problem is exacerbated by the fact that most of the population, particularly in rural areas, live in a state of poverty. These poor, illiterate people are hemmed in by problems of food insecurity and inability to undertake economic activities other than subsistence farming; they turn to the rainforests as a source to solve their problems, becoming dependent on it for food, shelter, energy and commercial products. 2) Indirect Causes Government policies on various issues have a great impact on rainforest resources. By adopting structural adjustment programs, bowing to market pressures and the need to boost per capita consumption (thus proving increasing prosperity), priority is given to growing cash crops by using ‘slash-and-burn’ agriculture tactics to clear rainforests. Government sponsored colonization schemes along the nation’s borders encourage clearance of rainforest to be used for subsistence farming as a method of underlining national sovereignty of those areas. Policies encouraging export of wood products result in lumber companies using more and more of rainforests; for example, Brazil in 1996 exported 21 per cent (equaling 4.4 million metric tons) of its total production of paper and paperboard products (CFAN, 2003). The rainforest has been treated as a safety valve to relieve land pressure. It is not possible for arable land to support the ever-growing population. The shrinking of farm plots has compounded the problem (as farm plots pass from generation to generation, they are divided and shared each time, making the original plot size smaller and smaller and thus lesser and lesser economical). Farmers face no alternative but to either migrate to towns and cities in search of jobs, or relocate in rainforest land. 3) Direct Causes ‘Slash-and-burn farmers’ (as opposed to traditional farmers who practice sustainable, shifting cultivation) located on the fringes of rainforests are the main deforestation agents in the Amazon basin. Hindered by illiteracy and endemic poverty, they represent the poorest, highest marginalized section of society. As they neither have access to arable land nor alternative employment avenues, they indulge in clearing rainforest areas and planting their crops on it. The quantity and quality of the produce, as well as their efforts, are undermined by the almost infertile soil (most of its fertile layer having being washed away by rain after being weakened by deforestation); as a result, after a period of 2 to 3 years, they are forced to abandon their farms and move on to clear additional rainforest land (CFAN, 2003). Agribusiness companies purchase tracts of rainforest, clear them and plant commercial crops that yield products like sugar, palm oil, rubber and tropical fruits which are then exported at good profit. Ranchers purchase rainforest land that is then cleared and developed as cattle pasture land with the aim of rearing cattle and export beef to an ever-ready international market clamoring for cheap beef. Mining and petroleum exploration projects are given precedence over preservation of rainforests. For example, Carajas in Brazil was allocated large areas of rainforest for its mining operations; gold mines (“placer mining”) in all the Amazon basin countries have no problem in securing vast rainforest areas to commence operations. Oil exploration, if anything, is accorded even greater priority than mining. For example, Ecuador granted oil exploration crews the right to clear vast rainforest areas situated on its seismic lines and set up operations (CFAN, 2003). Infrastructure projects are given priority over rainforest preservation. For example, the Trans-Amazonian highway involved clearing of huge rainforest areas in all the Amazon basin countries. Hydroelectric projects are also accorded priority (CFAN, 2003). 4) Forest Exploitation Forests are destroyed by fuel wood collectors, fuel wood being used as the principle source of energy by poor people who comprise the major part of developing nations’ populations. Logging, especially using the ‘clear-cut’ technique (as opposed to the ‘selective’ technique where only designated trees are allowed to be felled), leads to large areas of rainforest being degraded and destroyed. Steps recommended to be taken by governments, companies and citizens to lessen the negative impact of deforestation and prepare the degraded land for a more sustainable future are founded on the conviction that it is vital for people and entities who derive income from forests be involved in finding and putting into practice suitable solutions for management and benefit-sharing of rainforest resources. In this, they have to be supported and helped by the government and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the form of providing material and human resources. Governments should establish networks of protected areas where rainforests can be safe. The United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development (UNCED) advised countries to reserve at least 12 per cent of forests for this purpose (CFAN, 2003). Environmental groups and NGOs should educate the general populace (whether adult or children, rich or poor, living in rural or urban areas) as well as the country’s policy makers about the value of forests. Rainforests have been undervalued; there is a lack of understanding of the full range of forest values (CFAN, 2003). For example, people should be taught about rainforest medicinal plants: they have provided a wide variety of medicines including quinine, curare, steroids and cancer drugs; the rainforest could well be the source of new drugs to cure hitherto incurable diseases like cancer, AIDS, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease (Raintree Nutrition, 1996). Governments should provide encouragement for growing industrial plantations. Citizens (farmers) should respond positively to this because the fast growing trees in such plantations succeed in meeting most of the demand for rainforest products, thereby curtailing the need to encroach on rainforests. Brazil has been a successful exponent of this practice. Lumber companies should follow sustainable timber harvesting policies which include logging only in “production” forests, reducing tree felling damage, and maintaining forested buffer areas along the path of the Amazon. Obtaining timber certificates should be made mandatory. By implementing this policy, Brazil has succeeded in reducing sawn wood and plywood to 10 per cent (CFAN, 2003). Ranching should not be allowed to go out of control. Beef production in Brazil shot up from 2.85 million metric tons (of which 15 percent or 500,000 metric tons were exported) in 1980 to 4.96 million metric tons (of which 5 percent or 270,000 metric tons were exported) in 1996 (the decline in exports towards 1996 was not as a result of local reduction in livestock rearing, but rather due to the Brazilian government stopping its subsidies to this sector) {CFAN. 2003}. Like Brazil, Amazon basin governments should ban or at least severely restrict the export of beef, while ranching companies and individual ranchers should cooperate in this. Governments should encourage the practice of agroforestry. Citizens (farmers and ranchers) should cooperate by adopting this practice that requires trees to be grown on the same piece of land where farmers grow crops, or where ranchers grow livestock pasture. Trees play an important role by conserving soil and preventing erosion, thus benefiting the land user. Governments should provide incentives to citizens (farmers) to restore degraded rainforest land by planting trees, firmly assuring them protection from logging and grazing. Governments and companies should invest in research with the aim to improve the productivity of subsistence agriculture and extensive livestock ranching, because this will lessen the pressure to convert rainforests for these uses. There should be a reformation in the pattern of forest management. Government policies that encourage deforestation should be replaced by policies that encourage sustainable use of natural resources. Forestry bodies should be strengthened and their activities closely monitored. Citizens should play an increasing role in monitoring forest conditions and policy implementation. In 1998, the World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development (WCFSD) recommended that a citizen’s forum named “ForesTrust International” should be formed (CFAN, 2003). Funding of the above solutions can be found locally as well as from international sources. The governments of Brazil and other South American countries in the Amazon basin should allocate a healthy part of their annual budgets for rainforest preservation measures. Local companies can invest in many projects that can save rainforests (such as purchasing tracts of rainforest to develop protected networks, and investing in research and development of productivity of subsistence agriculture and extensive livestock ranching). International funding can be obtained through the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) that helps development of farms and forests. The FAO has recognized that the Amazon basin countries are developing countries that can only allocate limited resources towards sustainable forest management and development. The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) and the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) can be approached for funding. The extent and terms of funding would depend on the evaluation of the preliminary study of such projects (Kilawe Edward, 2001). Some countries (other than those in the Amazon basin) that have rainforest deforestation problems are Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and India. Indonesia tried the method of planting pine trees in cleared rainforest land (CFAN, 2003). Such trees can subsist on almost infertile soil; they not only prevent soil erosion, but also generate a good source of income: palm oil (Earth Balloon, 2001). The fact that Indonesia has been exporting palm oil at a rate of 7 per cent of total production for the last 15 years is evidence of the success of this method (CFAN, 2003). The success of this method points to the social factor, namely, cooperation of the farmers to ensure that it was a success. Thailand and Malaysia have tried the method of planting bamboo trees in areas of rainforest that have been cleared. Like the pine, bamboo too does not need very fertile soil and the trees have thrived in these countries. The success of this method is evident from the production figures of paper and paperboard. As compared to 1980, the 1996 production in Thailand showed a 6 fold increase, while Malaysia’s production recorded a 11 fold increase (CFAN, 2003) The success of this method has mainly been due to the social sector’s technological development of the paper industry in these countries. India has adopted the policy of developing protected areas of rainforest called wildlife sanctuaries. A large number of such wildlife reserves exist all over the country, for example, Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park and Namdhpaha National Park (Wildlife Tours India). This step has been a success as not only has the flora and fauna content of these areas been preserved, but also these sanctuaries are generating excellent income from tourism – both local as well as international. Its success has been due to the excellent environmental surrounding as well as due to strict monitoring of such reserves to prevent against illegal logging and animal poaching. References used: Anon. (1996). “Amazon Rainforest.” In The World Book Encyclopedia (Vol 1, pp 298-299). World Book International. Anon. (2001). “Earth Awareness: Rain Forests.” Retrieved October 20, 2006, from Earth Balloon Web site: http://www.earthballoon.com/rain.htm Anon. (No date). “Indian Rainforest.” Retrieved October 20, 2006, from Wildlife Tours India Web site: http://www.indianwildlifeportal.com/indian-rain-forest Anon. (2003). “Tropical Forests in Decline.” Retrieved October 20, 2006, from CFAN Web site: http://www.rcfa-cfan.org/english/issues.12-1.html Anon. (1996). “Welcome to the Rainforest.” Retrieved October 20, 2006, from Raintree Nutrition Web site: http://www.rain-tree.com Kilawe, Edward. (2001). “CPF Sourcebook on Funding for Sustainable Forest Management.” Retrieved October 20, 2006, from Fao.org Web site: http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y4744e/y4744e04.htm Read More