Introduction to Topic-

Forests cover 31 percent of the land on Earth. They provide oxygen and homes for people and animals. Most of the world endangered species live in forests, and 1.6 billion people rely on forests for food, water, medicine, and shelter. Forests play a key role in climate control by taking in CO2 that would other wise be free in our atmosphere and contribute to global warming. Though forests play such vital roles in our ecosystem we are loosing tons of them through the years,  46-58 thousand square miles of forest are lost each year. That the same as making 36 football fields every minute. So the questions are, Why is deforestation happening so quickly, How will it affect us in the near future, and what is being done or can be done in order to prevent further destruction of the world's forests.?

Questions for Discussion-

1. What can be done to better prevent illegal logging and forest fires, and what kind of incentives can governments offer people, in order to sustain and protect forests? 
2. Do you think using specialized fishing gear to stop bycatch is enough to sustain the commercial fishing industry? If not, what else could be done?
3. Genetically Modified Crops are cost-effective and many has been made to thrive year-round, but what are some problems that can arise from the use of Genetically Modified Crops?

Vineeth Mantena:

Deforestation and Its Extreme Effect on Global Warming 

By: Roddy Sheer and Doug Moss

Deforestation adds more CO2 to the atmosphere than all the cars and trucks in the world combined. According to the World Carfree Network (WCN), cars and trucks are responsible for 14 percent of global carbon emissions, while researchers estimate that deforestation is responsible for up to 15 percent of global carbon emissions.

Logging damages the climate because when trees are cut they release the carbon they’ve been storing into the atmosphere which contributes to global warming. According to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), 32 million acres of tropical rainforest were cut down each year between 2000 and 2009. Also that the pace of deforestation is increasing and it may put another 200 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere in the coming decades if it doesn’t slow down or stop. Deforestation also affects biodiversity, especially in tropical rainforests which hold half of the world’s plant and animal species.

One way countries are decreasing deforestation is by participating in the United Nations’ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation program (REDD). REDD provides incentives for the people who sustain forests while still being economically beneficial, such as using less land for meat and milk production. The REDD program has produced 117 million dollars in financial aid for national deforestation reduction efforts in 44 developing countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America since 2008. Brazil is among the countries making efforts to reduce carbon emission. Thanks to REDD, Brazil has slowed deforestation by 40 percent and is on track to an 80 percent reduction by 2020. Environmentalists are optimistic about REDD and hope that it will help reduce deforestation in other parts of the tropics as well.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deforestation-and-global-warming/

Dillon Bruer:

Deforestation

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview/

Deforestation is becoming a large issue in the world. Due to over logging and clearing of land areas of forest equal to the size of Panama are lost each year. The earth is still covered with 30% forests, but at the current rate of deforestation these natural ecosystems could disappear completely within the next 100 years.

Deforestation in most cases is caused by the need for land. This land is often used for agricultural reasons such as to grow crops or to raise livestock such as cattle. Both of these reasons need large amounts of land in order to produce the amount of product needed. In some cases logging companies will clear the land of wood and sell it to buyers to be used for firewood, construction, etc. Many of these operations are conducted illegally and in areas deep into the forests causing a larger spread of deforestation.

In some cases deforestation is not caused intentionally. There are often areas that due to human interference such as pollution, or overcrowding it can prohibit the growth of trees. Another example of this would be in the cases of wildfires, especially in dry areas of the world wildfires can completely destroy an ecosystem.

One of the largest impacts deforestation can have on the ecosystem is the destruction of habitat for animals. 70% of earth’s land animals and plants live in forests, this habitat loss can affect millions organisms in the environment. Habitat loss is one of the main factors causing the endangerment of species and unless reduced will begin to cause these forest reliant animals to become extinct. The best solution to stop deforestation would be to force companies and people to replant trees in an area equal to the amount of land they clear cut. Or to create more national parks in areas that are threatened by deforestation and to deem the land unclearable.

Matt:

Commercial Fishing: Potential Environmental issues

http://sustainableseafoodcoalition.org/commercial-fishing-potential-environmental-issues/

There are many issues surrounding the commercial fishing industry, the biggest is overfishing. This occurs when the amount of fish caught goes above a sustainable amount. By 2009, over half of the world’s stock will be overexploited. Another issue is bycatch, or the accidental catching of animals other than the ones targeted. This issue can be slowed by using specialized fishing gear that is designed to only catch the target animal. Commercial fishing also contributes to sufficient destruction of marine habitats. Bottom trawling in vulnerable areas can disrupt ecosystems and destroy animal’s habitats.

Allen Thomas:

University Research Could Boost Agriculture Options

By: Roy Aker
http://www.mndaily.com/news/campus/2014/04/06/university-research-could-boost-agriculture-options

Researchers at the University of Minnesota are working on making plants like pennycress thrive off season. The state of Minnesota faces winters that make farming certain crops impossible, but through the work researcher, Kayla Altendorf, this can be changed. Altendorf is a graduate student at the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, and her plan can not only benefit the farmers but also the state economy.

The plan requires $1.4 million in state funding this season. There are legislatures on board with the plan and a decision is to be made in the coming weeks. The reason this plan is popular among Minnesota legislatures is because the plan is cost-effective and allows farmers to get more money. Minnesota is big on cash crops such as soy and corn, which dominate farmland in Minnesota. These cash crops do not thrive in winter, so during winter there are barren fields. The snow on barren land can lead to soil erosion and water pollution which can be a problem for Minnesota residents. The plan will allow for the farmland to be productive year round and reduce all issues associated with the lack of plants. Also since the farmland is being used during winter, farmers can reap higher revenue. Another positive with the plan is that farmers can change existing vegetation without displacing cash crops, which is important to the economy.

This green plan has been in the works for over a decade, and the money from legislature would allow for the University to hire more staff to work on the plan. Minnesota currently imports many plants during winter such as pennycress, and the green plan will end that transaction. There are already companies such as General Mills that have taken interest in the plan. Going forward, technology will become cheaper and more efficient allowing the green plan to reach its goals.

Works Cited

Aker, Roy. “University research could boost agriculture option.” 6 Apr. 2014 <Http://www.mndaily.com/news/campus/2014/04/06/university-research-could-boost-agricultur-options>.

“Commercial fishing: Potential environmental issues.” 5 Apr. 2014 < http://sustainableseafoodcoalition.org/commercial-fishing-potential-environmental-issues/>.

Sheer, Roddy, and Dough Moss. “Deforestation and Its Extreme Effect on Global Warming.” 6 Apr. 2014 <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deforestation-and-global-warming/>.

“Deforestation.” National Geographic. 06 Apr. 2014 <http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview/>.