Deforestation and the effects on the environment with philosophical theoretical issues - Essay Example

Current paper focuses on the expansion of deforestation as a critical environmental problem in countries internationally. Emphasis is given on the potential explanation of deforestation using appropriate philosophical approaches. As already noted, deforestation affects all aspects of life; its evaluation could be therefore initiated using philosophy, which has highly contributed in the explanation of critical social phenomena, such as the response of individuals to environmental threats. It is made clear that deforestation can be explained using philosophy, but the assumptions made can be differentiated under the influence of the local social ethics and beliefs but also the level of the willingness of the local government to guarantee the protection of natural environment.

In any case, it seems that the expansion of deforestation is difficult to be controlled, even if appropriate initiatives are developed for urging individuals to respond dynamically to the particular problem. In accordance with a relevant study, ‘between the years 1950 and 1982 tropical forests worldwide shrank by between 25% and 40%’ (Babin 2004, p.63). . This is the economic aspect of deforestation. It seems that the most important effects of deforestation are not related to the market. Indeed, forests can secure biodiversity and help towards ‘the regulation of climate’ (Montagnini 2005, p.115). At the same time, forests are valuable in controlling floods and keeping carbon at low levels (Montagnini 2005).

In the study of Goudie (2006) reference is made to the role of forests in controlling the flow of river water, keeping the temperature of the water at a specific level and affecting the ingredients of stream water. Indeed, in accordance with the above researcher, forests help in the development of a chemistry process through which the ingredients of stream water are secured, at the level that the forests are ‘important sources of nutrients’ (Goudie 2006, p.152). The aesthetic aspect of forests cannot be ignored.

At the same time, forests are used as areas of leisure, enhancing the relationship between the humans and the natural environment. However, their value is often disregarded. Strong financial interests promote deforestation with no prior planning, leading, among other consequences, to severe turbulences on climate worldwide. As Montagnini (2005) notes the development of deforestation internationally reveals the inability of governments to introduce effective plans in regard to sustainability and management of natural resources.

Moreover, the expansion of deforestation indicates the lack of willingness to control economic interests of multinationals, which hold the major responsibility for the radical increase of deforestation the last decade. From this point of view, deforestation cannot