DeforestationDeforestation

Overview of TopicOverview of Topic

DeforestationDeforestation is the conversion of forested areas is the conversion of forested areas to non-forestedto non-forested

Generally this removal or destruction of significant Generally this removal or destruction of significant areas of forest cover has resulted in a degraded areas of forest cover has resulted in a degraded environment with reduced biodiversityenvironment with reduced biodiversity

Deforestation greatly contributes to greenhouse Deforestation greatly contributes to greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmospheregas accumulation in the atmosphere

If the current rate of deforestation continues, the If the current rate of deforestation continues, the worlds forests will vanish within 100 yearsworlds forests will vanish within 100 years

Image source: http://images.wri.org/sdm-gene-02-deforestation.jpg

BackgroundBackground

Deforestation has been practiced by Deforestation has been practiced by humans for thousands of years. humans for thousands of years.

Fire was first tool that allowed Fire was first tool that allowed humans to modify the landscapehumans to modify the landscape

Deforestation correlated with the Deforestation correlated with the agricultural revolution as space is agricultural revolution as space is needed for crops (8-10 thousand needed for crops (8-10 thousand years ago)years ago)

RationaleRationale

Growing worldwide demand for woodGrowing worldwide demand for wood Forest used for fire wood or in Forest used for fire wood or in

construction, paper and furniture construction, paper and furniture Clearing land for commercial and Clearing land for commercial and

industrial development (including road industrial development (including road construction) construction)

Growth of Local Populations in rural Growth of Local Populations in rural areas increases demand for areas increases demand for agricultural space and wood fuelagricultural space and wood fuel

Rationale (continued)Rationale (continued)

Timber and logging industries are Timber and logging industries are one of the main culprits of one of the main culprits of deforestation in the Boreal Forestsdeforestation in the Boreal Forests

Land clearing for grazing cattleLand clearing for grazing cattle Agricultural expansion for local and Agricultural expansion for local and

exportable cropsexportable crops

Effects of Deforestation on Effects of Deforestation on ClimateClimate

Deforestation alters the hydrologic Deforestation alters the hydrologic cycle, potentially increasing or cycle, potentially increasing or decreasing the amount of water in decreasing the amount of water in the soil and groundwater and the the soil and groundwater and the moisture in the atmospheremoisture in the atmosphere

Forests act as a sink for carbon which Forests act as a sink for carbon which reduces the greenhouse effect and reduces the greenhouse effect and global warmingglobal warming

Effects of Deforestation on ClimateEffects of Deforestation on Climate

Nearly half of the estimated 52 billion tons Nearly half of the estimated 52 billion tons of carbon stored in the Earth's biomass is of carbon stored in the Earth's biomass is found in tropical forestsfound in tropical forests11

Deforestation contributes around 25% of Deforestation contributes around 25% of global greenhouse emissions through the global greenhouse emissions through the rotting and burning of vegetationrotting and burning of vegetation22

COCO22 has increased in the atmosphere 30% has increased in the atmosphere 30% in the last 250 years mostly due to in the last 250 years mostly due to deforestation and forest firesdeforestation and forest fires33

Deforestation’s Contribution to Deforestation’s Contribution to Global WarmingGlobal Warming

Image source: http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/solutions/recognizing-forests-role-in-climate-change.html

Effects of Deforestation on ClimateEffects of Deforestation on Climate

Forest and land-use measures have the Forest and land-use measures have the potential to reduce net carbon emissions potential to reduce net carbon emissions by the equivalent of 10-20% of projected by the equivalent of 10-20% of projected fossil fuel emissions through 2050fossil fuel emissions through 205044

Deforestation can lead to:Deforestation can lead to:– Soil erosionSoil erosion– LandslidesLandslides– Flash floodingFlash flooding– Alteration in forest biodiversityAlteration in forest biodiversity– Increased temperatures (estimated to reach Increased temperatures (estimated to reach

130130° during the day)° during the day)– DroughtDrought

Anti-deforestation Anti-deforestation MeasuresMeasures

Increased policing of Amazon regionsIncreased policing of Amazon regions2004 saw the start of integrated 2004 saw the start of integrated actions undertaken by the federal actions undertaken by the federal

police, federal highway police and labor police, federal highway police and labor ministry. There was a further 83% in ministry. There was a further 83% in registered infractions, 73,000 cubic registered infractions, 73,000 cubic

meters of illegally-logged timber were meters of illegally-logged timber were confiscated, and six anti-deforestation confiscated, and six anti-deforestation combat bases (there will eventually be combat bases (there will eventually be

nineteen) were created. nineteen) were created. More frequent satellite sweeps of the More frequent satellite sweeps of the

region to pinpoint illegal activities.region to pinpoint illegal activities.

http://www.brazilsf.org/brazil_press5.htmhttp://www.brazilsf.org/brazil_press5.htm

Kyoto Protocol ConnectionsKyoto Protocol Connections Forests in many parts of the world act as major Forests in many parts of the world act as major

carbon absorbers providing the necessary leeway carbon absorbers providing the necessary leeway for different countries’ emissionsfor different countries’ emissions

Under the Kyoto Protocol countries that exceed Under the Kyoto Protocol countries that exceed their targeted cuts in GHG emissions or are their targeted cuts in GHG emissions or are producing less than the required limit, will be able producing less than the required limit, will be able to sell emission-reduction credits to those unable to sell emission-reduction credits to those unable to meet their targetsto meet their targets

With deforestation and the loss of many forests, With deforestation and the loss of many forests, the carbon storage value dissipatesthe carbon storage value dissipates

Countries will loose substantial economic Countries will loose substantial economic revenuesrevenues

Compensated ReductionCompensated Reduction Countries that elect to reduce national

level deforestation to below a 1980-1990 level would receive post facto compensation

This will create large scale incentive to commit to stabilization and further reduction of deforestation in the future

This will also facilitate significant developing country participation in the Kyoto Protocol Framework

Driving forces behind deforestation Driving forces behind deforestation in Brazilin Brazil

Tax lawsTax laws Corporations and Corporations and

individuals can exclude up individuals can exclude up to 80%-90% (respectively) to 80%-90% (respectively) of agricultural profits from of agricultural profits from their taxable income under their taxable income under various provisions of the various provisions of the tax code Demand for land tax code Demand for land becomes extremely high, becomes extremely high, as agricultural projects as agricultural projects become extremely become extremely attractive to corporate and attractive to corporate and private investors. private investors.

Driving forces behind deforestation Driving forces behind deforestation in Brazilin Brazil

This system harms the small, This system harms the small, poor farmer, since the low poor farmer, since the low tax rate level becomes tax rate level becomes capitalized into the price of capitalized into the price of land, reflected in high land land, reflected in high land prices, making it unprofitable prices, making it unprofitable for the poor farmers of Brazil. for the poor farmers of Brazil. This forces them to move This forces them to move further into the Amazon in further into the Amazon in search of cheap, unclaimed search of cheap, unclaimed land, leading to the rules of land, leading to the rules of land allocation that further land allocation that further encourage deforestation. encourage deforestation.

Driving forces behind deforestation Driving forces behind deforestation in Brazilin Brazil

After 5 years on a plot of After 5 years on a plot of land, the inhabitant gets land, the inhabitant gets legal title to that land. This legal title to that land. This encourages poor farmers to encourages poor farmers to go into the forest and clear go into the forest and clear land for themselves as it will land for themselves as it will be granted directly to them be granted directly to them after 5 yearsafter 5 years

http://www.rcfa-cfan.org/english/http://www.rcfa-cfan.org/english/issues.12-6.htmlissues.12-6.html

Driving forces behind deforestation Driving forces behind deforestation in Brazilin Brazil

Uncleared forest land is Uncleared forest land is considered unused, considered unused, resulting in higher taxesresulting in higher taxes

Three major changes Three major changes needed: lower the amount needed: lower the amount a single land owner can a single land owner can hold from 3000 hectares to hold from 3000 hectares to 100-200 hectares, land 100-200 hectares, land holding ceilings need to be holding ceilings need to be implemented (or reduced) implemented (or reduced) for corporations, and the for corporations, and the definition of “used land” definition of “used land” needs to include various needs to include various forms of forest forms of forest management schemes. management schemes.

http://www.colby.edu/personal/t/http://www.colby.edu/personal/t/thtieten/defor-brazil.htmlthtieten/defor-brazil.html

Questions For GroupQuestions For Group

Do you have any other proposed Do you have any other proposed incentives to curb deforestation incentives to curb deforestation other than changing tax laws, other than changing tax laws, increasing policing and carbon increasing policing and carbon trading?trading?

If deforestation is an issue in your If deforestation is an issue in your country, are there any anti-country, are there any anti-deforestation programs that you deforestation programs that you have successfully implemented?have successfully implemented?

Works Cited

Wikipedia

National Intelligence Council

Tropical Deforestation and the Kyoto Protocol: A new proposal http://conserveonline.org/docs/2004/07/Tropical_Deforestation_and_Kyoto_Protocol.pdf

http://www.physorg.com/news7491.htmlhttp://www.climnet.org/EUenergy/forests_and_climate_change/index.htmhttp://www.rcfa-cfan.org/english/issues.13.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/solutions/recognizing-forests-role-in-climate-change.html