Deforestation: A Crime Against Nature

As we continue to develop our society, we seem to trample over the underlying issue of deforestation. The time to act is now or never.

The aftermath of a forest clearing (Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images)

In the quieting whispers of the towering trees and the delicate dance of sunlight through the dense canopies lies a symphony of life that is rapidly fading away. As the echoes of falling trees reverberate through our conscience, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in Earth’s history. As we witness the relentless march of deforestation, the time has come to silence the axes, halt the chainsaws, and declare a global moratorium on the destruction of our planet’s lungs.

As an Indian and an environmental enthusiast, I have witnessed many instances of deforestation around the world. Specifically, research by the Utility Bidder Company, a UK-based energy supplier, reports that India has lost 668,400 hectares from deforestation, only second to Brazil, with over 1 million.

Banning deforestation isn't just an environmental essential; it's a call to preserve the harmonious melody of nature and secure a sustainable future for generations. The imperative to ban deforestation is grounded in the critical need to mitigate climate change and protect the diverse array of life that depends on the forests.

Forests still cover about 30 percent of the world’s land area but are disappearing at an alarming rate. Since 1990, the world has lost more than 420 million hectares or about a billion acres of forest, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

In addition, about 17 percent of the Amazon Rainforest has been destroyed in the past 50 years and continues to increase. The organization Amazon Conservation reports that destruction rose by 21% in 2020, a loss the size of Israel.

Furthermore, forests contain some of the richest concentrations of biodiversity on the planet. Without the shelter, food, and water these forests supply, the many thousands of species that coexist within and beneath the canopy of trees also vanish.

Protecting forests is key, as they harbor most of the Earth’s terrestrial biodiversity. So much so that in 2020, a report that was produced by the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, shows that forests contain 60,000 different tree species, 80 percent of amphibian species, 75 percent of bird species, and 68 percent of the Earth’s mammal species.

Another study from the UConn Ecology and Evolutionary Biology researcher, Cory Merow, states that since 2001, between 40,000 and 73,400 square miles of Amazon Rainforest have been decimated by human-caused fires. This led to effect of over 95% of all Amazonian species and as much as 85% are listed in danger.

When Brazilian policies were stopped being placed, 2019 and onwards started the massive spread of decimation and destruction throughout the Amazon rainforest.

“Even with policies in place, which you can think of as a brake slowing the rate of deforestation, it’s like a car that keeps moving forward, just at a slower speed,” Brian Enquist, a senior study author and professor in UArizona’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, states. “But in 2019, it’s like the foot was let off the brake, causing it to accelerate again.”

In addition, the dramatic rise of deforestation consequently increases the rise in global warming and greenhouse gas emissions to the world. Researcher Daisy Dunne states that since 1990, around 129m hectares of forest - roughly the size of South Africa - have been chopped down by humans. Deforestation accounts for 11% of annual global carbon emissions. From 1861 to 2000, deforestation accounted for 30% of CO2 emissions.

Deforestation and the effects on climate change conversely relate to each other. Trees store carbon dioxide. If forests are cleared, or even disturbed, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions, which harm the environment. The process of clearing forests also results in more dry land, which can consequently result in an increase of wildfires throughout the area.

“Destroying rain forests for economic gain is like burning a Renaisance painting to cook a meal” states E.O Wilson, a famous biologist and ecologist.

In addition, forests are a crucial component of the water cycle. They have all of the important functions for preventing desertification. Cutting down trees disrupts the cycle by decreasing precipitation and affecting river flow and water volume. Martina Igini, the managing director of the Earth Organization, states that deforestation reduces precipitation in the Amazon by nearly 10%.

The urgency to ban deforestation is not merely a call to protect our planet’s flora and fauna; it is a commitment to safeguard the intricate web of life that sustains us all.

On the contrary, while arguments in favor of banning deforestation are compelling, some may argue that a complete ban on deforestation can have certain drawbacks. Deforestation is often driven by economic needs, such as providing land for agriculture and supporting industries. A complete ban could be seen as a hindrance to economic development, potentially impacting job creation and economic growth in certain regions.

According to the International Labour Organization, an association of the United Nations agency, states that worldwide, the forest sector employs over 33 million people, or 1 percent of the global employment. More than half of these employees are in the wood manufacturing sector.

While there are many short-term economic benefits from logging and land conversion, the long-term consequences such as soil degradation, loss of ecosystem services, and increased vulnerability to climate-related events, can have severe economic repercussions. Banning deforestation is an investment in long-term economic stability.

It is crucial to approach these benefits with a critical lens, as the short-term economic gains often come with the expense of long-term sustainability.

“You can’t see the forest for the trees” states Nicholas Sparks, an American novelist and screenwriter. If we focus on the minor gains, we will never be able to see the big problem.

We can make a change against deforestation by reducing meat consumption, going paperless, and recycling products as much as possible. On a governmental level, the consequences of deforestation can be mitigated by introducing policies that protect natural forests and regulate mining and logging operations.

As we confront the stark reality of disappearing forests, we must acknowledge that the consequences extend far beyond the trees themselves. Banning deforestation is an expenditure in our shared future, a testament to our responsibility as stewards of this planet.