ASD Libraries: G06: Ecosystem Problems & Solutions: Rainforests & Deforestation

Problems

Deforestation

Deforestation is leading to more infectious diseases in humans
As more and more forest is cleared around the world, scientists fear that the next deadly pandemic could emerge from what lives within them.
Deforestation: Facts, causes & effects
Today, most deforestation occurs in the tropics, but wherever the land-clearing happens it impacts our planet's climate.

Forests and Deforestation
Forests account for a little over one-third (38%) of habitable land area. This is around one-quarter (26%) of total (both habitable and uninhabitable) land area.

This marks a significant change from the past: global forest area has reduced significantly due to the expansion of agriculture. Today half of global habitable land is used for farming. The area used for livestock farming in particular is equal in area to the world’s forests.
Why are rainforests being destroyed?
Every year an area of rainforest the size of New Jersey is cut down and destroyed. The plants and animals that used to live in these forests either die or must find a new forest to call their home. Why are rainforests being destroyed?
Humans are the main cause of rainforest destruction. We are cutting down rainforests for many reasons
Deforestation: facts, figures, and pictures
Here are some basic facts about deforestation. These facts are explored in greater depth below.

Climate 101 Deforestation
Deforestation (Gale Opposing Viewpoints)
Deforestation refers to the intentional, permanent clearing of forested areas for commercial or strategic reasons. Land conversion, in which forests are cleared and repurposed for uses other than the extraction of timber, drives a great deal of global deforestation. While land conversions can accommodate urban growth and residential development, they are usually performed to create commodity and cash crop farms. Four commodities—beef, palm oil, timber products, and soy—drive most of the world's tropical deforestation.
Deforestation Within Forest Biomes
Physical geography Story Map. Deforestation is the clearing of forests on a large scale, which results in the decreasing of land condition and quality. As of 2015, more than 80% of the Earth’s forests have been deforested.

Palm oil deforestation

Palm oil is everywhere – but where did it come from?
What do lipstick, frozen pizza, and laundry detergent have in common? Palm oil. This tropical vegetable oil that most people have never heard of is in half the packaged goods sold in the supermarket. Almost certainly, people are going to continue to use it. That makes it important to know when and where forests were cut down to make the palm tree plantations (from which we get the palm oil), where future plantations might be, and how they endanger plant and animal species.

Palm oil: scourge of the earth, or wonder crop?
From The Conversation "an independent source of news and views, sourced from the academic and research community and delivered direct to the public."
Palm Oil
Grown only in the tropics, the oil palm tree produces high-quality oil used primarily for cooking in developing countries. It is also used in food products, detergents, cosmetics and, to a small extent, biofuel.
Palm oil production: what are the social and environmental impacts?
"Palm oil is tainted by environmental destruction and poor working conditions but global production is soaring. What does the industry look like behind the scenes?"

Solutions

Reduction of deforestation and replanting

Norway Becomes World’s First Country to Ban Deforestation
Norway has become the first country to ban deforestation. The Norwegian Parliament pledged May 26 that the government’s public procurement policy will be deforestation-free.
Protected areas DO save wildlife: Just ask these 5 species
As public awareness about the plight of the world’s tropical forests has risen in recent decades, rainforests have become a frequent symbol of destruction and loss.
But there’s good news: New data collected by more than 1,000 camera traps across the tropics — and published today in the journal PLOS Biology — paints a more nuanced picture for the future of wildlife in these forests.
Women are key to saving the environment, new study shows how
When women make decisions about how to use land, it is a good thing for the environment, a new study has found.
The recent study shows involving more women can help stop deforestation. The study looked at what happens when more women are in groups deciding about land.
How to Reduce Deforestation While Growing More Food
It’s commonly estimated that about 15 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are linked to deforestation. A major driver of deforestation is agriculture, as producers in many areas of the globe cut down or burn forests to grow crops and graze livestock.
But the tide is turning.
Drones Spray Tree Seeds From the Sky to Fight Deforestation
First, a drone scans the terrain and develops a 3-D map of the area. Then, using the data from this “smart map,” the team develops an algorithm for a unique planting pattern. A “firing drone” uses the algorithm to carry out the planting strategy.
How sustainable plantations help save Uganda’s decimated forests
Sustainable forestry is helping the country electrify, cutting down on firewood use—and providing livelihoods.

Cell phones to save the rainforest

Your Old Cell Phone Can Help Save the Rain Forest
National Geographic Explorer Topher White has created a clever way to listen for sounds of illegal logging.

How to restore a rainforest

Transcript of Willie Smits Talk
Use this transcript in order to study the talk in detail
Challenge to Talk
At TED2009, Willie Smits gave a talk titled "How to Restore a Rainforest." Since then TED has heard criticisms of this talk from a number of sources. In response, we invited the critics to point us to a scientist who could give a written critique. That has led to this letter from Erik Meijaard, who has worked as a forest conservation scientist in Indonesia since 1992, and a response from Willie Smits.

Sustainable palm oil

RSPO
What is Certified Sustainable Palm Oil? We call it palm oil that was certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) according to specific criteria. By respecting those criteria, we can help to reduce the negative impacts of palm oil cultivation on the environment and communities.

G06: Ecosystem Problems & Solutions: Rainforests & Deforestation

Books - Rainforests

Problems

Deforestation

Palm oil deforestation

Solutions

Reduction of deforestation and replanting

Cell phones to save the rainforest

How to restore a rainforest

Sustainable palm oil