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-
- 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?
- 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?
- 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 Akerhttp://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/>.
Some genetically-modified foods, such as Bt corn, can cause harm to other organisms. The pollen of Bt corn has caused the death of many monarch butterfly caterpillars. Another issue could be gene transfer to non-target species. When plants that are modified to tolerate weeds and herbicides their genes can transfer to other weeds, resulting in “superweeds” that are hard to control. There is also the concern that modifying foods can result in allergies. When people develop an allergy to modified foods, people could also become allergic to the meat they are eating if the animals are also being fed the same genetically-modified foods.
ReplyDeletePerhaps, if it is economically possible, we could slightly increase the income or give a bonus to those who go out and cut down the trees if they decide to use a method that causes a smaller amount of destruction all at once. Or the government could provide incentives for people who recycle a lot in their home instead of wasting so much. The government could also pass an act that requires that a certain percentage of the paper products a company produces are made from recycled material. Any of these methods could be used to prevent the destruction of forests.
ReplyDeleteUsing special anti-bycatch nets is not nearly enough to sustain the commercial fishing industry. I do not believe that there is a truly good response to overfishing; if fishing is cut down or stopped entire towns that thrived off of the fishing industry would collapse. On the other hand, the only way to ensure the survival of the commonly fished aquatic animals would be to greatly reduce or stop fishing. If fishing isn't slowed their will eventually be no more fish left for us to fish. Aquaculture does help relieve some pressure for fish, but it is easier to fish and in many places fishing is a tradition.
ReplyDeleteI believe the main thing that should be done to prevent forest fires and illegal logging is educating the public about how these factors affect the environment. Forest fires, while helpful and beneficial in some areas naturally, can also burn down countless trees which provide the oxygen that we breathe. Additionally, illegal logging for profit is even more detrimental because the forest does not even gain the nutrients from the ashes. If the general public were more educated about how important trees are, I beleive there would be much less of an issue.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Anna, educating the public is something that can be easily done, but can also make a huge difference. The government can offer incentives to people to protect the forests, but I think it would be more effective to charge those that take part in illegal logging and forest fires. When caught there should be huge fines and punishments associated so that people won't want to risk that loss. Also, the effects of these illegal activities are so harmful that educating the public on what could happen if these activities continue will push the public to be on the watch for these illegal activities too.
ReplyDeleteTo decrease forest fires I think using incentives and rewards/consequences would help. For farmers that use irrigation and farming methods that prevent salinization/erosion could be give bonuses or subsidies if they do so. I think money bonuses could also be given to people who participate in planting more trees, etc. Also, consequences such as fees could be given to farmers who don't follow the regulated rules or people who do things that can cause deforestation and fires.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that specialized fishing gear aimed for the target fish will be enough to sustain the commercial fishing industry. I think that this issue is similar to any concerning sustainability. The human race is growing at such a large rate and we are already using so many resources that it will be very hard to turn this destruction around. I would have liked to see some specific examples of these specialized fishing gear. The only alternative to reducing overfishing would be increasing the amount of aquacultures. Here at least the population and breed of the fish can be regulated somewhat.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree, we have the ability to reduce wild fires but at the same time I believe we need to let nature play it's course and destroy forests that naturally catch on fire as it can help certain plants start over or break the shell of the plant seeds.
ReplyDeleteI think that there are several things that can be done in order to prevent illegal logging and forest fires. The government could provide more regulations on the time of year that forests can be logged and the areas that it can occur. Incentives for this could be to pay those who log money if they follow regulations in order to protect the environment and forests. With incentives in mind, I feel that those in the logging business will be more inclined to protect the forests and help their business.
ReplyDeleteMore regulations from government would help to control a lot of these on going problems,such as forest fires. Also to provide higher pay or money bonuses to those who cut down trees in a nondestructive way, or those that plants more trees themselves. This would also help as a bribe to protect forests and still help the business.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that specialized fishing equipment will be enough to sustain commercial fishing. It is true that bycatching is a major issue and does account for a lot of unwanted catch but those catch usually are prey fish. Dolphins, sea turtles and sharks often are caught which we don't used in great numbers as food. The best thing to do to sustain the current commercial fishing market is to shrink it. Less fishing is the only way to maintain fish for the future.
ReplyDeleteAs stated by the US Food and Agricultural Organization (http://www.fao.org/fishery/equipment/brd/en), there is the availability of Bycatch Reduction devices (BRDs) to allow the release of unwanted species including those endangered such as dolphins, seals and turtles. Use of such devices are especially common in trawl nets which contribute to a heavy amount of bycatch in fishing. Reducing bycatch is an achievable goal but the problem is the commercial fishing industry does not rely on this factor alone. With more efficient instruments to catching only the fishes needed, there will be a rise in overfishing which will devastate the industry in the long run. Reduction in fishing and more emphasis on aquaculture are probably the best solutions to consider to try to keep commercial fishing alive.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that having new nets will prevent by catching. Over 25% of all caught fish are caught illegally. The biggest thing that can prevent overfishing is by having international enforcement by a UN organization. This will prevent people from skirting the rules by crossing international borders.
ReplyDeleteSimply limiting bycatch is not going to sustain commercial fishing. Many other factors such as overfishing and illegal fishing are also causing the decrease in fish population. The best way would be to limit fishing greatly or else there will be no fish for the industry left. Although, I agree with Steven- aquaculture would help but there's most likely no way to sustain the commercial fishing industry without entire towns to suffer.
ReplyDeleteIf genetically modified crops continue to grow, they will make the bugs resistant to the crop. This is because the pests will adapt to it. They can also cause long term effects or disease in humans or animals because there is not enough facts on it. Regulations on these crops could help with these unseen problems.
ReplyDeleteI think that we need to have more government regulation in order to prevent these problems. The government could offer to pay more to people who follow the regulations and get trees in a less harmful way to the environment. Paying them more will help the business and economy and will also encourage them to follow the guidelines.
ReplyDelete