9.+FORESTS

=Chapter 9=

Che Hoon Jeong **__ Our Choice Notes - Forests __** l The CO2 emission from deforestation is second for the greatest source of global warming pollution (covering 15~23% of entire emission annually). l CO2 emission from “ destruction and burning of forest ” is greater than “ carbon emission coming from cars and truck of the world ”. l Loss of habitat for animals living in the forests. l Climate change (respiration cycle disturbed = irregular rainfall, temperature increase)
 * Problems of deforestation: **
 * Statistic: Deforestation in forests **

l ** Every second: ** Slightly more than 1 acre of forests is cleared (43,560 square feet = 4 046 square meters). l ** Every day: ** 100,000 acres (4,356,000,000 square feet = 404 685 642 square meters) l ** Every Year: ** 34,000,000 acres (**__an area the size of Greece__**)

l Only half of the forests exists, which we had 300 years ago.

l Farmland l planting agriculture l Cattle (ranches)
 * Deforestation Purpose **
 * Causes of deforestation: **


 * 1) To overcome poverty and population growth in poor countries (provide farmland, place to live to eliminate overpopulation etc.)
 * 2) __ Globalized marketplace for cheap prices of wood, palm oil, beef, soybean, sugarcane etc. produced in the cleared land __
 * 3) __ Failure to value living forests rather than the profit earned by the destruction of it __.

**Significant Idea: Industries/communities values economic profit over preservation of forests.** **(Leading to deforestation)**
 * 1) Failure to reach a global agreement to put a price on carbon (emission).
 * 2) __ Corruption/ignorance to existing laws designed to prevent deforestation __
 * Deforestation leads to multiple climate crises: **
 * 1) Carbon contained in the trees are released to the atmosphere
 * 2) Trees loses partial ability to reabsorb CO2 as forests no longer pull CO2 from the air, once destroyed


 * Major countries for deforestations: (mostly tropical and subtropical countries) //Brazil, Indonesia.// **

l **World Resources Institute:** satellite data shows over 60 percent of deforestation in the world occurs in Brazil and Indonesia.


 * Brazil: **

l “ Lungs of the Earth ” = conversion of carbon dioxide to oxygen l Home for uncountable amount/species of organisms. l Uncivilized natives become hard to sustain themselves (continue tradition etc.)
 * Deforestation purpose:** ** 20% of Amazon is already destroyed for __cattle and crops__ **
 * Amazon**


 * Indonesia **

l 80% of palm oil of the world comes from Indonesia and Malaysia. l 88% of the forests is destroyed illegally, usually i protected land Brings massive economic profit (billions of dollars revenue), since it is used for: l Food l Biodiesel fuel l Provides job for workers l Bear fruit for 30 years (long term continuous profit) It is believed that biodiesel fuel decrease the amount of carbon emission __by using less fossil fuel mixture__, but actually through calculation, the **__deforestation to make palm oil plantation has far more carbon emissions.__** Orangutan: l Lose habitat l Decrease of population (endangered) l Animal abuse (getting shot, sold or put in cages) Despite these problems: **__Indonesian official policy__ calls for __tripling of palm oil plantation__ by 2020. (Major concern)**
 * Deforestation purpose: ****__ palm oil plantation. __**
 * Why palm oil plantation?**
 * __ Palm oil plantation (deforestation) leads to habitat loss for living organisms. __**


 * Dr.Willie Smits: **

Rainforests have __self-perpetuating water cycle__: __ Deforestation breaks this cycle __, resulting in: l Increased temperatures l Decreased rainfall l Irregular rainfall. In inverse, **__ Reforestation helps restore the natural rain-cycle. __**  By reforestation it benefits for: l Restoration of natural rain-cycle l Decreased temperatures l Provide habitat for organisms (orangutan) l Provide jobs locally l Plantation of some agriculture (placed crops between trees) n Reduce competition between trees: fastens reforestation n Brings agricultural profit
 * 1) Water transpires from trees and vegetation
 * 2) Condenses into clouds
 * 3) Falls down wind


 * The Sixth Great Extinction **

50% ~ 90% of all species on Earth is found in forests. Deforestation destroys habitat for organisms Shrink in animal species effect other species (chain-reaction) Unusual rich reserves of biodiversity (forests) are being destroyed as animal habitat shrinks = **__Sixth Great Extinction__**


 * Economy: **
 * 1) A hectare (2.5 acres) of trees = 300$ profit
 * 2) Destruction of 1 hectare of land (trees) = 15,000$ worth of carbon released into atmosthpere.
 * Vulnerability: **

2.5 °C(4.5 °F) rise in temperature: l Forests lose ability as __net absorbers of CO2__ l Become net __contributors of CO2__

**__Already started to occur in the world.__**

Canada and the U.S are major examples l **Unbalanced species** (Beetles) à destroy more trees as it is not held back by sufficient amount of cold days (due to rise of temperature) l **Increased wild fire rates** – warmer temperature reduce soil moisture and expose trees to drought and beetles.

l Decrease CO2 emission l Preservation of Earth’s biodiversity l Reduce temperature extremes l Provide income – __when managed properly__ l Reduce soil erosion l Enhance availability of clean water l Prevent desertification l Protect against coastal erosion l Control avalanches l Provide habitat for wildlife Major points highlighted according to this note relevance (details this note contains)
 * Benefits for decreasing deforestation: **
 * Changing Deforestation Patterns **

Less-developed countries earn from profits made by the clearance of forests. Wealthier countries à provide aid to less-developed countries to reduce poverty and other issues in exchange of deforestation.