There should be more stringent
regulations on deforestation worldwide. Without regulations that effectively
eliminate deforestation, the Earth will experience severe global warming,
increased desertification and a staggering loss of biodiversity [Canadian
Forestry Advisers Network]. The underlying cause of deforestation is the
overwhelming debt of many developing countries located in the tropical regions
of the world. Tropical rainforest countries own roughly two-thirds of the
developing world's total debt [Mongabay.com]. The only way they can produce
payment of these debts and interest payments are to exploit the natural
resources for quick and easy returns. High interest rates coupled with the
global recession make it impossible for these countries to pay off their
debt.
What current regulations are in
place? Why are they not effective?
The major instruments in the legislative
framework [of Latin America and the Caribbean] are new and improved environmental institutions, such as ministries to
co-ordinate environmental management and enforce laws; the inclusion of
environmental matters in the constitution; the setting of environmental
standards and norms through legislation; the use of economic instruments; and
increased public participation and education. [UN Environment Programme, Global State of
the Environment Programme 1997]
These strategies look great on
paper but actually do very little to control deforestation. Consider the
communist form of government - it appears fantastic on paper, but fails to live
up to its great expectations in the real world. Remember, most of the people in
the regions of tropical rainforest are third world nations. According to
Maslow's hierarchy of needs these individuals have not achieved a high enough
level to even consider caring about the environmental ecosystems. In these
nations, the environment always takes a backseat to social welfare and economic
concerns [Joy Adams]. Interestingly enough, this same mentality is characteristic
of certain corporations in developed nations; except greed corrupts their
judgment. Going back to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, in defense of those who
let the conquest of money dominate their lives, these individuals are stuck in
the fourth level of the pyramid due to a severe deficit in self-esteem and
self-respect. Most importantly, although these nations have recognized the need
for action and even made efforts to protect their environments, they lack the
ability, or - dare I say - desire, to enforce.
Fuelled by demand for cheap supplies of
plywood and tropical timber both at home an abroad, illegal timber is estimated
to account for 80 percent of all timber produced in the Brazilian Amazon.
Yet despite the publication of these figures
by Brazil's National Government in 1997, importing nations such as the US,
Italy, France, UK, China and Japan have taken few steps to ensure that the
products they import from Brazil come from even legal, let alone ecologically
responsible, sources. [GreenPeace.org]
This gives irrefutable proof that
the current regulations in place are not a sufficient means of abolishing
deforestation.
How is the main cause of
deforestation economic? Why are they in debt?
First, one should examine why these
countries are still developing nations. When the Europeans first colonized
these regions the local population experienced a loss of the economic
prosperity as the profits went directly to the mother country. Along with
resource extraction from the region, colonization of these lands initiated
global trade which led to the diffusion of new crops. By the start of the
twentieth century, the dependency on high priced imports developed high poverty
rates throughout the region. Through import substitution these nations saw
promising improvements; however, the crude oil shortage of the 1970's and
1980's and the sharp decline of raw material prices, threatened to hinder the
economic development of the region. In order to prevent such hindrances these
nations withdrew enormous loans from various world lending organizations. After
the exports could no longer support the economy, even the borrowed money failed
to improve economic conditions. These countries are still largely in debt
today. The current economic situation of the region is referred to as a
structural adjustment phase and is aimed at generating enough revenue to pay
back loans by encouraging a free market economy. As a result of these national
debts, extractive activities have increased in order to obtain hard currency.
It is also important to note that the raw material extraction industry is
highly vulnerable to sudden price changes. This presents a catch-22 - when
market prices are good one can expect mass rapid extraction to take place with
little concern for environmental impact, when prices are low the same amount of
detrimental extraction takes place in order for loggers to meet their quotas on
time. Also, the non-effectual environmental policy attracts foreign investment
to corporations looking to minimize costs.
How much in debt are they? [Pulsipher
graph, Economic Issues: Middle and
What are these "stricter
regulations" that should be emplaced?
The best solution according to
Greenpeace:
Strong public
demand and pressure from non-governmental organizations, combined with real
commitments from corporate buyers to purchase products only from FSC certified
forests, is one solution to help stop ancient forest destruction and promote
ecologically and socially responsible management of the world's forests. [GreenPeace.org]
What is the FSC?
FSC certification means that the forest of origin has
been independently inspected and evaluated according to the environmental,
social and economic principles and criteria agreed by the Forest Stewardship
Council A.C.
How do they do it?
The
Furthermore, I propose that the purchase of illegal timber be
monitored by an international bureau of environmentalists from each importing
country. Those reported to have purchased illegally harvested timber, such as
corporations in developed countries, shall pay heavy fines, in the amount that
makes purchasing forest steward certified timber much less expensive a cost.
This money shall be directly spent on whichever environmental preservation
endeavor the bureau deems worthy as long as it helps to end deforestation.
Cited References
<http://www.grida.no/geo1/ch/ch3_20.htm>
[UN Environment Programme Global State of the Environment Programme 1997]
<World Regional Geography
Lecture on
<http://archive.greenpeace.org/forests/>
[GreenPeace.org]
<http://www.angelfire.com/alt2/rob123/images/debt.jpg>
[Pulsipher World Regional Geography Textbook, Economic Issues: Middle and
<http://www.fscoax.org/principal.htm>
[Forest Stewardship Council]
<http://www.rcfa-cfan.org/english/issues.12-6.htm>
[Canadian Forest Advisers Network]