Deforestation

its affects on our world today

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What is deforestation?

As a group, discuss and share your thoughts As a group, discuss and share your thoughts as to what deforestation is. Put your thoughts as to what deforestation is. Put your thoughts on a piece of A3 paper.on a piece of A3 paper.

Once your group has shared, use the arrow Once your group has shared, use the arrow below to find out what deforestation actually below to find out what deforestation actually is.is.

What are the causes?

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How can we help?

What ideas do you have to reduce What ideas do you have to reduce deforestation? As a group, come up with some deforestation? As a group, come up with some ideas and write them on a piece of A3 paper. ideas and write them on a piece of A3 paper.

Is there anyone trying to reduce Is there anyone trying to reduce deforestation? Click on the arrow to find out! deforestation? Click on the arrow to find out!

DeforestationDeforestation refers to the loss or destruction of Deforestation refers to the loss or destruction of naturally occurring forests, primarily due to naturally occurring forests, primarily due to human activities such as logging, cutting trees human activities such as logging, cutting trees for fuel, slash-and-burn agriculture, clearing land for fuel, slash-and-burn agriculture, clearing land for livestock grazing, mining operations, oil for livestock grazing, mining operations, oil extraction, dam building, and urban sprawl or extraction, dam building, and urban sprawl or other types.other types.

Click the arrow below to find out what the Click the arrow below to find out what the causes of deforestation are:causes of deforestation are:

The deforestation causes include many factors. The destruction of the forests is occurring due The deforestation causes include many factors. The destruction of the forests is occurring due to various reasons, one of the main reasons being the short-term economic benefits. to various reasons, one of the main reasons being the short-term economic benefits. Corruption at the government institutions, wealth and power due to harvesting of the riches Corruption at the government institutions, wealth and power due to harvesting of the riches of the forest, population growth and urbanization are some of the common causes.of the forest, population growth and urbanization are some of the common causes.

Urban ConstructionUrban ConstructionThe cutting down of trees for lumber that is used for building materials, furniture, and paper The cutting down of trees for lumber that is used for building materials, furniture, and paper products have a major impact on forest life. Forests are cleared to accommodate expanding products have a major impact on forest life. Forests are cleared to accommodate expanding urban areas. This results in loss of forest area and massive deforestation.urban areas. This results in loss of forest area and massive deforestation.

AgricultureAgricultureForests are also cut down to clear land for growing crops, build farms, ranches and other food Forests are also cut down to clear land for growing crops, build farms, ranches and other food growing lands.growing lands.

Grazing LandGrazing LandForests are cut down in order create land for grazing cattle. Huge herds of animals require Forests are cut down in order create land for grazing cattle. Huge herds of animals require food and forests are cleared out to make way for grazing lands for these cattle.food and forests are cleared out to make way for grazing lands for these cattle.

Used for FuelUsed for FuelTrees are cut down in developing countries to be used as firewood or turned into charcoal, Trees are cut down in developing countries to be used as firewood or turned into charcoal, which are used for cooking and heating purposes.which are used for cooking and heating purposes.

Commercial PurposesCommercial PurposesSome of the other causes are: clearing forests for oil and mining exploitation, to make Some of the other causes are: clearing forests for oil and mining exploitation, to make highways and roads, slash and burn farming techniques, wildfires, and acid rain. Forest fires highways and roads, slash and burn farming techniques, wildfires, and acid rain. Forest fires can occur naturally or in most cases are deliberate attempts by man to clear huge forests. can occur naturally or in most cases are deliberate attempts by man to clear huge forests. Most of the time, these forests may recover, but usually the cleared land is used for Most of the time, these forests may recover, but usually the cleared land is used for construction and agriculture purposes. This leads to construction and agriculture purposes. This leads to

To find out what you can do to help click the arrow below!To find out what you can do to help click the arrow below!

IUCNConserving biodiversity is central to the mission of IUCN. We demonstrate how biodiversity is Conserving biodiversity is central to the mission of IUCN. We demonstrate how biodiversity is fundamental to addressing some of the world’s greatest challenges: tackling climate change, fundamental to addressing some of the world’s greatest challenges: tackling climate change, achieving sustainable energy, improving human well-being and building a green economy.achieving sustainable energy, improving human well-being and building a green economy.

To deliver conservation and sustainability at both the global and local level, IUCN builds on its To deliver conservation and sustainability at both the global and local level, IUCN builds on its strengths in the following areas:strengths in the following areas:

Science – 11,000 experts setting global standards in their fields, for example, the definitive Science – 11,000 experts setting global standards in their fields, for example, the definitive international standard for species extinction risk – the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.international standard for species extinction risk – the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Action – hundreds of conservation projects all over the world from the local level to those Action – hundreds of conservation projects all over the world from the local level to those involving several countries, all aimed at the sustainable management of biodiversity and involving several countries, all aimed at the sustainable management of biodiversity and natural resources.natural resources.

Influence – through the collective strength of more than 1,000 government and non-Influence – through the collective strength of more than 1,000 government and non-governmental Member organizations, IUCN influences international environmental governmental Member organizations, IUCN influences international environmental conventions, policies and laws.conventions, policies and laws.

TFTWe focus on products and supply We focus on products and supply chains to bring about sustainable chains to bring about sustainable development.development. That's because we That's because we believe this is where the most concrete believe this is where the most concrete and powerful solutions can be found in and powerful solutions can be found in the interest of all society’s the interest of all society’s stakeholders. stakeholders.

To help communities and To help communities and companies deliver Responsible companies deliver Responsible Products and transform product Products and transform product stories we act on the groundstories we act on the ground; we ; we influence product stories from influence product stories from extraction to disposal in forests, farms, extraction to disposal in forests, farms, mines, factories and retail stores.mines, factories and retail stores.

While our work impacts every stage of While our work impacts every stage of the supply chain, our main focus is at the the supply chain, our main focus is at the extraction stage.extraction stage. This is where often the This is where often the most controversial part of a product story most controversial part of a product story takes place, where the impact of products on takes place, where the impact of products on people and the environment is often at its people and the environment is often at its greatest and environmental and social issues greatest and environmental and social issues are at their most complex. Our foresters, are at their most complex. Our foresters, agronomists and social experts work together agronomists and social experts work together with companies and communities to change with companies and communities to change local dynamics towards the responsible use of local dynamics towards the responsible use of natural resources.natural resources.

The rainforest allianceThe Rainforest Alliance uses the power of markets to The Rainforest Alliance uses the power of markets to arrest the major drivers of deforestation and arrest the major drivers of deforestation and environmental destruction: timber extraction, environmental destruction: timber extraction, agricultural expansion, cattle ranching and tourism. agricultural expansion, cattle ranching and tourism. We work to ensure millions of acres of working We work to ensure millions of acres of working forests, farms, ranchlands and hotel properties are forests, farms, ranchlands and hotel properties are managed according to rigorous sustainability managed according to rigorous sustainability standards. And by linking those businesses to standards. And by linking those businesses to conscientious consumers, who identify their goods conscientious consumers, who identify their goods and services through the Rainforest Alliance and services through the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal and Rainforest Alliance Verified™ Certified™ seal and Rainforest Alliance Verified™ mark, we demonstrate that sustainable practices mark, we demonstrate that sustainable practices can help businesses thrive in the modern economy.can help businesses thrive in the modern economy.

Research different environmental groups

As a group, choose one of the pictures on the As a group, choose one of the pictures on the bottom (pictures represent groups), and bottom (pictures represent groups), and research the different environmental groups to research the different environmental groups to compare and contrast their efforts to help compare and contrast their efforts to help reduce deforestation.reduce deforestation.

What groups approaches do you like?

Once your group has done researching, pick Once your group has done researching, pick an environmental group and make a case to an environmental group and make a case to the class as to why your advocate group has the class as to why your advocate group has the best method. the best method.

What areas have been affected…..What areas have been affected…..

Click the “back button” to go back to the Click the “back button” to go back to the environmental groups main page.environmental groups main page.

Amazon rainforestAmazon rainforest

Tierras bajas project in eastern Bolivia Tierras bajas project in eastern Bolivia

Esmeraldas Province in Northwest

Ecuador

Clink on the area that you want to research.Clink on the area that you want to research.

Amazon rainforestAmazon rainforest

60-70 percent of deforestation in the Amazon results 60-70 percent of deforestation in the Amazon results from cattle ranches while the rest mostly results from cattle ranches while the rest mostly results from small-scale subsistence agriculture. Despite the from small-scale subsistence agriculture. Despite the widespread press attention, large-scale farming (i.e. widespread press attention, large-scale farming (i.e. soybeans) currently contributes relatively little to soybeans) currently contributes relatively little to total deforestation in the Amazon. Most soybean total deforestation in the Amazon. Most soybean cultivation takes place outside the rainforest in the cultivation takes place outside the rainforest in the neighboring cerrado grassland ecosystem and in neighboring cerrado grassland ecosystem and in areas that have already been cleared. Logging areas that have already been cleared. Logging results in forest degradation but rarely direct results in forest degradation but rarely direct deforestation. However, studies have showed a close deforestation. However, studies have showed a close correlation between logging and future clearing for correlation between logging and future clearing for settlement and farming.settlement and farming.

Tierras bajas project in Tierras bajas project in eastern Bolivia eastern Bolivia

A large area of soy bean cultivation. A principal agro-industrial A large area of soy bean cultivation. A principal agro-industrial resource in eastern Bolivia. resource in eastern Bolivia.

Since the mid-1980s, people were resettled from the Altiplano Since the mid-1980s, people were resettled from the Altiplano (the Andean high plains) and a large agricultural development (the Andean high plains) and a large agricultural development effort (the Tierras Baja project) has lead to this area's effort (the Tierras Baja project) has lead to this area's deforestation. Soybean production began in earnest in the deforestation. Soybean production began in earnest in the early 1970s following a substantial increase in the crop's world early 1970s following a substantial increase in the crop's world price. The pie or radial patterned fields are part of the San price. The pie or radial patterned fields are part of the San Javier resettlement scheme. At the center of each unit is a Javier resettlement scheme. At the center of each unit is a small community that includes a church, bar/café, school, and small community that includes a church, bar/café, school, and soccer field. The rectangular areas are fields of soybeans soccer field. The rectangular areas are fields of soybeans cultivated for export, mostly funded by foreign loans.cultivated for export, mostly funded by foreign loans.

Esmeraldas Province in Northwest

EcuadorWhile blessed with one of the highest biodiversity indices, Ecuador also has While blessed with one of the highest biodiversity indices, Ecuador also has one of the world’s highest rates of deforestation estimated at over 300,000 one of the world’s highest rates of deforestation estimated at over 300,000 hectares (3%) per year (*2). In the interandean basin native vegetation has hectares (3%) per year (*2). In the interandean basin native vegetation has been practically eliminated since colonial times, replaced by crops, pasture, been practically eliminated since colonial times, replaced by crops, pasture, towns and cities, and exotic tree (eucalyptus and pine) plantations. This region towns and cities, and exotic tree (eucalyptus and pine) plantations. This region suffers serious soil erosion problems and today only about 1 - 2% of its original suffers serious soil erosion problems and today only about 1 - 2% of its original forest cover remains, mainly at inaccessible high-altitude locations above 3400 forest cover remains, mainly at inaccessible high-altitude locations above 3400 meters elevation. Only about 5% remain (mainly within the Aw‡ and Cotacachi-meters elevation. Only about 5% remain (mainly within the Aw‡ and Cotacachi-Cayapas reserves) of the rich forests of the coastal region, most of which have Cayapas reserves) of the rich forests of the coastal region, most of which have been destroyed in the last 50 years by logging, agroindustrial monocultures been destroyed in the last 50 years by logging, agroindustrial monocultures (banana, cacao, coffee, African palm) and colonization. In the province of (banana, cacao, coffee, African palm) and colonization. In the province of Esmeraldas (in northwest Ecuador), the last unprotected old-growth forests on Esmeraldas (in northwest Ecuador), the last unprotected old-growth forests on the coast are now being liquidated by the timber industry and cleared for huge the coast are now being liquidated by the timber industry and cleared for huge plantations (thousands of hectares) of African palm which are currently plantations (thousands of hectares) of African palm which are currently responsible for the fastest deforestation rate in South America.responsible for the fastest deforestation rate in South America.