Deforestation and forest degradation can be dictated by the rising of the temperatures due to the climate change cause by human activity or by the cutting of the trees to make space for plantations. Among the human activity we can list agriculture settlement, building of road and infrastructures.
MAIN CAUSES OF DEFORESTASTATION AND FOREST DEGRADATION
Conversion of forest: into plantations, pastures or settlements.
Forest fires: they have devastating consequences on the biodiversity of an ecosystem but when managed they are beneficial for the flora.
Illegal and unsustainable logging: this activity destroy the natural environment and wildlife without any consideration of the need of the environment.
Fuel wood harvesting: not regulated charcoal harvesting for domestic or commercial use notably damage forests.
Mining: the demand for mineral increased in the recent years as consequence mining has too. These projects mean major infrastructure to be built in the forest putting at risk the flora, fauna and the fresh water ecosystem.
Climate change: threaten the biodiversity of the forest, reduce the rains and increase the risks for fires.
BORNEO AND SUMATRA
The rain forests of Borneo and Sumatra are well know for having the most diverse species of animals of the world (leopards and elephants). However, the recent selvage degrade of the environment for palm oil, pulp, rubber, minerals and timber have put in danger the existence of the animals.
Illegal activities that took place in the recent decades, such illegal wildlife trade and illegal deforestation have severely affected half of the Borneo forests. Studies conducted by WWF in 2012 showed that if anything will be done NOW by the 2020 the rainforest will be reduced by over 75% of its original coverage.
The main issue in this part of the world are the palm oil plantations. Borneo is the major producer of this item and in order to respond to the increase demand of this product, producers have to create new spaces for cropping palm trees, therefore new cultivable areas are generated illegally burning down square meters of forests. Animals face serious threats to their lives because the areas needed for their survive and reproduce are reduced, together with the resources they need to get from trees and soil. Nevertheless, the new roads that lead into the forest give easy access to poachers, another menace for elephants and leopards.
The solution to this dramatic situation can be find in educating and regulate the savage deforestation that is taking place at the moment. The "Heart for Borneo" association aims to maintain the improved living standard of the local population as results of the trades and protect the Borneo rainforest helping to use the natural resources that it can offer without spoiling them.
Please have a look at the below link for further details about this project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BRGj0DwYwA
CONGO
The Congo Basin it the second largest tropical forest of the world. It covers six countries (Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon) and it covers a surface of 301 million ha. Among its rivers, forests, savannas, swamps and forests it gives home to gorillas, bonobos, okapis chimpanzees and elephants.
Unfortunately nowadays the forest in under threat. The growing number of the population requires more land for building houses, the illegal cut of trees increased due to the major demand of timber and unauthorized poaching killed several animal of protected species. All these selvages activities already transformed some areas of forest into savannas.
It is estimated that by 1990 and 2000 at least 91 thousand square meters of forest were lost, comparable at three times the size of Belgium.
If the deforestation continues at this pace, it is estimated that by 2030 the at least 30% of the actual forest will disappear forever.
EAST AFRICA
The area of East Africa includes Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Kenya. The forest of this part of the country offer a great mix of coral reefs, mangroves, lowland forests and savanna woodlands.
East Africa is one of the poorest country of the entire world therefore it is common for the population to exploit the natural resources they have at disposal in order to survive and feed their families. Agricultural areas are created by cutting trees at the edge of the forest and most of the time they are not regulated or illegal. At the same time, mines for the extraction of oil and gas require infrastructure and to do so more trees are being cut.
Also,timber and fuel wood are withdrawn by the natural resources without any regulation.
The natural consequence of this salvage exploitation is the undermining of the ecosystem and the biodiversity of the natural environment. Between 2000 and 2010 East Africa lost more than 5 millions of forests and, if the deforestation will proceed at this pace, WWF estimates that by 2030 East Africa will lose over 10 millions ha of forest.
Something is being done in order to marginalize the damages that are happening in both Congo Basin and East Africa, in fact WWF is working with local charities in order to educate the populations about the importance of conservation of these rain forest areas.
AMAZONE
As everyone should already know, the Amazone rainforest is considered the largest forest of the world, in fact its area covers about 670 million hectares and there are over hundred billion metric tons of carbon stored in the forests. In its rivers can be found the highest variety of fishes that any other rivers and over 10% of the animal species can be found there. Also, about 34 million people live in the Amazone and depend on its resources.
Amazone it is also facing the biggest deforestation rate than anywhere else on the Earth, in fact it is estimated that one third of the it will be distroid by 2030 if this current rate will not be stopped.Reasons for this declined can be found in the needs for cattle fields and fresh water of populations from Brazil, Peru and Bolivia.
However, the governments of the countries surrounding the Amazone are trying to improve this dramatic situation. Zero Deforestation Plans aims to raise awareness of the risks about cutting trees; Education Plans in order to create dialogues with local indigenous population and support them and create communication bridges with communities and investors so that the right choices can be made to safeguard investments and the natural environment.
NEW GUINEA'S FOREST
This forest sits on the island that border with Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The ecosystem varies from tropical to grassland, cloud forests to savannas and mangroves to swamps.This fauna gives shelter to unique species of animals that could not be found anywhere else.
The main threat the island is facing in these days is the deforestation in order to create fields for the crop of palm oil trees. Secondly, there are mining and logging which generate pollution that affect the aquifer ground and as consequence the health of the population living in those areas.
Independent studies showed alarming data: in the last 40 years about one quarter of the rainforest has been cleared or degraded. It is also predicted that the growing of the population rate and the will increase their need for fuel, wood, building and cultivable land.
The only possible solution seems to be involving the government and all the different stakeholders in the management of what is left of this small piece of paradise, and working on a sustainable economic and social development.
The forest of Greater Mekong is a region with sits between Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and South China mountainous jungle. In here it is found the habitat of largest tiger of the world, but in the last 10 years only 30% of them survived.
This area is particular appealing because of its carbon, clear water, food and wood. Unfortunately, the growth of the China economy increase the exploitation of the Great Mekong natural resources and in particular the native forests, the wild plant and many animal species.
Also, the constant growth of the populations rate of these areas pushed for the need of new agricultural spaces in order to feed its inhabitants. Furthermore, it needs to be considered the weakness of the laws and regulations of the local government which do not have adequate structures to protect the natural environments.
It is predicted that by next 15 years up to 30 millions of hectares could be lost, primarily in the Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar areas.
WWF suggests to put in place conservation regulations to manage the development of Greater Mekong area in order to preserve the ecosystem and the fauna that reside in it.
EAST AUSTRALIA
Australia is a unique place on Earth, in fact in this country can be found single type of mammals such as the egg-laying monotremes (platypus and echidna); the marsupials; and the placental mammals. Almost 10% of all kind of live in the planet are found in Australia.
East Australian includes six different eco-regions: Queensland tropical rain forest, Eastern Australia temperate forests, Brigalow tropical savanna, Easter Australia mulga shrublands, Southeast Australia temperate savannah.
The most famous Australian animal and the one which represent the country the most is the koala. Unfortunately, this animal recently has been defined in danger of extinction because the deforestation which is taking place in Queensland and New South Wales is drastically reducing number of eucalyptus which koalas feed themselves.
The reduction of the forests affects also the Great Barrier Reef in fact the pollution sediments end up in the waters and as consequence they suffocate the corrals and they die. This pollution is caused by the soil erosion and the agri-chemical used for livestock and cropping.
Considering what is going on in these seven different areas of the world it seems clear that we are not doing enough in order to protect and safe guard the planet Earth. The monetary interests seems to have priority on the natural environments and the animals that live in it. If we will continue at this rate soon enough there will no be natural resources to exploit not wild animals to admire.
The growing of the population is a fact as well as the need of new spaces for everyone. These issues need to be managed in a sustainable way in order to guarantee a better life quality for the population but it is mandatory to ensure the natural environment for the future generations.
However, something is being done.Each single country is trying to implement educational programs that aim to help the various communities to manage the natural resources in a sustainable way.The common goals is to educate the communities and have legislation in place which regulate trees cutting, improve conservation of the natural environments and their fauna, and ameliorate the quality of life of local residents
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/deforestation/deforestation_fronts/
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