Solutions to the Problem of Deforestation

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Solutions to the Problem of Deforestation

Personal:

There are many things that one can do personally to rectify the

problem of Deforestation. These include such things as using wood

sparingly, planting indigenous trees, purchasing the most ecologically

sensitive products, recycling paper, reducing consumption of wood

related products, communicating your opinions to the proper

authorities, calling on forestry companies to act responsibly, and

more. Education, however is the most effective catalyst for change, we

must respect the forests as living communities not just resources to

be exploited.

Government:

There are many things that governments are doing to rectify this

problem. Probably the most effective of these are Forest Protection

Schemes, Farm Forestry and plantations, and Raising

Awareness/Education.

First and foremost is the establishment of Forest Protection Schemes,

which mainly aim at setting up National Parks and Forest Reserves.

Although this is a very effective method it is not enough and such

schemes tend to be used to justify destructive exploitation of

unprotected areas of forest.

Farm Forestry generally refers to the incorporation of commercial tree

growing into farming systems. Farm Forestry is as effective as it is

because it takes the load off old-growth forests. Farm Forestry, along

with Plantations, is very effective in preserving old-growth forests.

The Combined Standing Forest Resource in Australia was 1.5 million

hectares of planted trees. . In China, the law states that each and

every citizen must plant at least 11 trees a year, every year.

Raising awareness and education are other...

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... resources, and improved understanding of environmental implications of

harvesting and trade of forest products.

The UN Commission on Sustainable Development is another important and

effective step towards the rectification of Deforestation.

Non-Government Organizations (NGO’s) play an important, but in some

cases, inappropriate role in rectifying the problem. NGO’s like Green

Peace and the World Wildlife Fund are two such NGO’s. The Australian

Rainforest Memorandum, which recognizes the rights of traditional land

owners is endorsed by over 40 NGO’s.

Working Towards an end to foreign debt is yet another crucial role to

ending deforestation. The condition imposed by the International

Monetary Fund often forces heavily indebted countries to sell their

national resources far in excess of sustainable exploitation.

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