Deforestation and the Effects on the Environment With Philosophical Theoretical Issues - Essay Example

Deforestation and the effects on the environment with philosophical theoretical issues Deforestation and the effects on the environment with philosophical theoretical issues 1. Introduction The increase of environmental problems worldwide has been related to the failure of governments to assess the value of environment as a source for covering vital human needs but also as a source for keeping balance in social and economic life globally. In this context, the challenges in regard to the management of environmental resources worldwide have been increased. The measures taken are often proved inadequate in order to secure the protection of environment as a factor influencing all aspects of daily life. 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). The use of philosophical approaches for evaluating deforestation could potentially help to understand the causes of this phenomenon; the actual limitation of deforestation would require carefully planned projects ensuring supported by states which can secure the availability of necessary sources. 2. Deforestation as a modern phenomenon Deforestation can highly affects all aspects of social and economic life. In accordance with Montagnini (2005) can result to the limitation of ‘timber resources and fuelwood’ (Montagnini 2005, p.115). 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 be clearly evaluated as a purely environmental phenomenon; it would be rather studied using, primarily, appropriate theoretical approaches related to philosophy. The reasons for the response of individuals towards critical environmental issues, such as deforestation, cannot be identified without referring to the facts and beliefs that are likely to affect the human behavior within each society. Philosophy is a science focusing on all aspects of human behavior, including the responses of individuals to the challenges related to the natural environment. 3. Effects of deforestation as related to philosophy As explained earlier, the effects of deforestation on daily life can vary. Deforestation can affect human life either directly, through the limitation of timber sources, and indirectly, such as the transformation of landscape, the deterioration of climate and the increase of carbon worldwide. Despite its negative aspects, deforestation is often regarded as an activity necessary in order to promote specific economic or political projects; for example, through deforestation the income of locals working in the specific industry can be increased (Bhalla 1992). On the other hand, deforestation may be unavoidable in case that the plans of local authorities in regard to the landscape of a specific region require the limitation of forest across the above area (Bhalla 1992). In other words, deforestation may be considered as unavoidable or, even, as necessary for supporting specific social interests, an issue, which should be explored by referring to the philosophical approaches, related to the particular subject. In accordance with Sarkar (2011) environmental philosophy is quite important since it helps to understand the actual causes of initiatives related to the natural environment. For instance, when the transfer of a species from a habitat to another one is initiated, the environmental philosophy can help to understand why this transfer took place; it was an initiative aimed to protect the species involved or it was decided for aesthetic reasons? At the next level, Sarkar (2011) notes that ‘environmental issues are often related to concepts such as equity and justice’ (Sarkar 2011, p.13). For example, it is possible that deforestation is highly developed in a region, which is characterized, by severe social problems or conflicts (Sarkar 2011). In the above case, the development of deforestation indicates the inability of the government or the local authorities to secure the interests of all citizens. Another aspect of deforestation, as an issue explored in the philosophy, is highlighted in the study of Schiffman (2011). The above researcher emphasized on the protection of animals, as related to deforestation. As noted above, deforestation can change landscape highly affecting the daily life of animals living in the relevant forests. From this point of view, it is suggested that deforestation can be related to two, different, philosophical debates: ‘the philosophy related to animal liberation, as developed by Peter Singer and the philosophy for animal rights, developed by Tom Regan’ (Schiffman 2011, p.321). The above philosophies are based on a common approach: animals have’ rights that should be respected’ (Schiffman 2011, p.321). However, the above two approaches have a key difference: the animal rights theory emphasizes on the need for respecting the rights of animals while animal liberation accepts that the respect of the rights of animals would not prohibit their use as food for humans. Deforestation can result to the limitation of animals living in a particular region and for this reason it could be considered as related to the philosophical debates of animal rights and animal liberation. At the next level, Schiffman (2011) notes that the traditional philosophical debates on human value, as related to the environment would be changed; the importance of ‘human use value’ (Schiffman 2011, p.321) cannot be ignored but it would be necessary for ‘new systems of thought to be introduced’ (Schiffman 2011, p.321) ensuring that the involvement of humans in the environment does not result to severe environmental damages. From a similar point of view, Gabbay et al. (2011) notes that deforestation can reveal the inability of local authorities to ensure the promotion of equality among locals. More specifically, the participation of individuals in deforestation needs to meet specific terms, meaning that such activities have to be aligned with the relevant legal provisions. Allowing the development of such activities in certain enterprises, a government can cause severe social conflicts giving the impression that the application of law is depended on specific social and economic criteria. In this context, deforestation can be a threat for justice and equality. If related to the above concepts, deforestation can be also regarded as a cause of specific social initiatives, as reactions to the relationship between deforestation and justice. Reference can be made specifically to ecology activism, a trend aiming to ensure balance in regard to the obligation of humans to respect the environment (Gabbay 2011). On the other hand, Wissenburg (1998) notes that the expansion of deforestation is often more rapid in countries where moral rules are not appropriately monitored; the case of Africa is mentioned as an indicative example. In the above region, severe social problems have been resulted because of the failure of the government to control diseases and secure the quality of life of citizens; the lack of control in regard to the application of law has led to the increase of environmental damages through activities such as deforestation. Newman (2011) uses different criteria in order to explain the expansion of deforestation. In accordance with the above researcher, the development of activities such as deforestation has been resulted because of the ‘lack of Green ethics and political philosophy’ (Newman 2011, p.60). It is explained that green ethics are not equally respected in countries worldwide, a phenomenon which is related to the local political culture and trends. In any case, it seems that excessive industrialization prohibits governments for taking important initiatives in order to protect the environment. Through this point of view, environmental issues such as deforestation would not be appropriately addressed unless existing political philosophy in countries internationally is transformed. This transformation would result to the introduction of green ethics and the establishment of standards in managing the environmental resources. In this way also, deforestation would be effectively controlled, either in the short or the long term. On the other hand, deforestation can be often unavoidable. In this case, its effects would be controlled if criteria were set for developing the specific initiative. At this point, the following philosophical approach could be used: in accordance with Charles Lyell, physical environment is being changed; however, this process is gradual (Kemp 2004, p.11). In this context, in areas where deforestation cannot be prohibited, as for example when a building that will support vital human needs will be developed in the relevant region, the change of the local natural environment could be, necessarily, considered as negative. In other words, deforestation can severely affect the environment but when it is justified, under specific terms, it can serves important human needs, so its negative aspects could be ignored. From this point of view also, the use of deforestation for the promotion of urbanization could be justified, but only if the particular process is unavoidable for serving key human needs; the above view which is highlighted in the study of Newman (2011) is in accordance with the relevant theory of Thomas (1956) who characterized deforestation as a means for promoting social change, meaning the use of deforestation for changing the landscape of a region, a fact that would also affect the social life of locals. 4. Conclusion The expansion of deforestation worldwide has been proved to be a critical environmental issue. In accordance with Vaipeyi (2001) the average rate of deforestation can be estimated ‘between 2 million and 8 million hectares annually’ (Vaipeyi 2001, p.8). On the other hand, the responses of governments and organizations to the development of deforestation are not standardized. There are governments and enterprises that have set the protection of the environment as a key priority in regard to their plans; others, do not seem to understand the value of forests as parts of the natural environment (Esty and Winston 2006). The review of the philosophical approaches that can be related to deforestation has led to the following assumption: the effects of deforestation on the environment and the social and economic life are not always easy to be understood, since they are not standardized. Indeed, in countries where natural environment is highly valued, such as Britain, the expansion of deforestation is easily controlled. However, there are areas, meaning countries like those of Latin America, where the monitoring of deforestation can be quite difficult due to the structure of the landscape and the climate conditions. The use of philosophy for exploring deforestation could significantly help in order to identify the social aspects of the phenomenon; however, it is clear that deforestation cannot be effectively controlled unless appropriate political initiatives are developed. The terms of these initiatives would be set using various approaches, including philosophical ones, a fact that verifies the significant role that philosophy could play in controlling deforestation. References Babin, D. (2004). Beyond tropical deforestation: from tropical deforestation to forest cover dynamics and forest development. Versailles: Editions Quae. Bhalla, A. (1992). Environment, employment and development. Genève: International Labour Organization. Dellink, R., & Ruijs, A. (2008). Economics of poverty, environment and natural-resource use. New York: Springer. Esty, D., & Winston, A. (2006). Green to gold: how smart companies use environmental strategy to innovate, create value, and build competitive advantage. London: Yale University Press. Gabbay, D., Thagard, P., Woods, J. & Peacock, K. (2011). Philosophy of Ecology. Oxford: Elsevier. Goudie, A. (2006). The human impact on the natural environment: past, present, and future. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. Kemp, D. (2004). Exploring environmental issues: an integrated approach. London: Routledge. Montagnini, F. (2005). Tropical forest ecology: the basis for conservation and management. New York: Springer. Newman, J. (2011). Green Ethics and Philosophy: An A-to-Z Guide. London: SAGE. Sarkar, S. (2011). Environmental Philosophy: From Theory to Practice. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. Schiffman, H. (2011). Green Issues and Debates: An A-to-Z Guide. London: SAGE. Vaipeyi, D. (2001). Deforestation, environment, and sustainable development: a comparative analysis. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group. Wissenburg, M. (1998). Green liberalism: the free and the green society. London: Routledge. Read More