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User:Sltannaeemi/Deforestation in Central America

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History

Aftermath of deforestation processes due to cattle ranching purposes in the region of Honduras.

Deforestation in Central America is one of the environmental problems that is linked to the settlement of agrarian frontier areas by land-seeking farmers and commercial agrarians, who facilitated the conversion of forest land to pasture, more expansion of cash crop like coffee, banana, logging activities, pasture and fuelwoods among other urbanization activities.[1] The central American region experienced the highest rate of deforestation in the world between the 1960s to 1970s.[1] The so-called "hamburger connection" has been the leading cause of deforestation in the region, with more settlers concentrating on clearing the land for cattle ranching and commercialization activities.[1] Moreover, various research statistics provide that approximately 949,150 acres of forest, in which equals to 384,107.377 ha of forest, were lost each year between 1990 and 2010 in the United States.[2] According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), central America lost an average of 285,000 ha of forest annually between 2000 and 2005.[3] One of the most troubling observations made by the research team in the report is that in the past 15 years, the three largest remaining forest blocks in Central America have been decreased in size by more than 23 percent.[3]


Global Impact

Endangered Spider Monkey's due to deforestation processes

Losing Central America's forests does not just threaten the region; it has global implications. Forests help absorb and store carbon dioxide that heats the planet. But whenever they are destroyed, they increase the rate of carbon emissions to the environment hence heating the planet for the interest of a few land-settler, business people, and drug traffickers.[4] Subsequently, the following carbon emissions that are a result of the deforestation processes are reportedly linked and associated with hindering the atmosphere and can play a factor in then warming the planet.[5] In which, this correlates to playing a role in the increase of carbon emissions in the atmosphere, a reported amount of 10-20% accounted from deforestation processes.[5] Moreover, drug traffickers in the region increase the rate of migration or relocation for the locals when they are developing the routes in the regions. This increases the rates of poverty and political instabilities in the region.[4] On the other side, the development of these drug traffickers in the region increases the availability and use of drugs in the community hence destroying youths, families, and productivity in the community.[4]  The eradication of the habitat for rare species like the jaguar, tapirs, and scarlet macaws may reduce the tourist rate, which is a local and global issue.[4] Furthermore, it has been reported that through tropical deforestation like that of in the Central America's, there have been 140 species extinct.[5] Potential loss or loss of species, contribute to the food chain in which could play into adverse affects to the surrounding environments and can then possibly be linked to other external environments indirectly.[5]


Scientific Background Linked to Deforestation

An example of flooding occurring in result from anthropogenic actions like that of deforestation.

In part of the deforestation processes of the Central America region, the following practices are associated with scientific aspects. In which, are associated and/or resulted from these following actions.[6] As previously stated, the trees present are taking in the carbon dioxide and help to store the following substance away from the atmosphere. In which essentially, serves a role to assist in making the atmosphere a healthier environment.[5] However, in the process of deforestation, the trees are being removed and thus contribute to less trees available to remove the substance and can potentially lead to an increased greenhouse effect.[6] The increase of the greenhouse effect is a product of the atmosphere in turn warming up.[6] In which case, will open up various affects like linking to flooding in certain regions, droughts in certain regions and overall portray a wide-variety of climate change implications.[6] The warming up of the atmosphere can potentially link to all these factors and events through disrupting the ozone layer, and then possessing effects that can make certain glaciers and ice formations to then melt and result to a rise in sea-level.[6] This can then be observed to produce extreme levels of water that can potentially take over lands and result to crash-floods.[6] In addition, the process in which the warming up of the atmosphere by way of deforestation, could possibly lead to the sun having increased exposure with stronger UV-rays that will be able to penetrate through the atmosphere.[6] Therefore, manage to result in areas to dry up and have pro-longed exposure compared to regularly amount of sunlight needed.[6] Subsequently, climate change effects like producing unusual weather condition patterns are associated along with warming the atmosphere. This would be through a disrupted Ozone layer in the atmosphere and having the earth prone to exposure of increased sunlight in areas in which usually dont have as much sunlight and warmth in particular seasons, and could potentially have pro-longed summers along with it, in part of the increased sun rays and the atmosphere possessing additional openings for sunray to come through.[6]

An example of soil erosion in result from anthropogenic related actions like deforestation.


Moreover, another aspect in which is linked to the processes of deforestation is soil erosion. In which is noted as a process that occurs naturally, however it is noted to be faster and produce at a rate that incorporates implications when deforestation occurs.[7] The following trees and plant species are present in environments to essentially slow down the rate at which water is going through in the environment.[7] The roots of the following trees present are there to ensure that the soil is not taken away from the water passing through.[7] In addition, the non-appearance of the trees/plant species could potentially play into the part of the topsoil of the land to erode in a fashion that is rapid like.[7] Eroding of topsoil can have a factor in preventing healthy soil flourish and ensure species grow effectively.[7]


Deforestation is linked to aspects of playing into factors of groundwater levels.[8] Trees assist and contribute in producing water vapour contents in the atmosphere.[8] Therefore, in the process of deforestation, this can mean less sources of trees to contribute water vapour out to the atmosphere.[8] In which, results to less production of rain and indirectly plays into the factor of possessing adverse effects of the total levels of groundwater available.[8]



Efforts to reverse the effects

The image depicts an environmental activist organization promoting growth of trees, through planting them in this area. This in turn presents, a possible course of action when attempting to combat deforestation processes.

It is found throughout studies and research that most individuals in Central America still depend on wood and charcoal as their primary fuel source.[9] Hence, displaying in how reducing the effective ability to reverse the problem of deforestation in the region could run into implications. However, it is advised from organizations like that of Conservation International, Trees For the Future and Rainforest Alliance, that regions of the Central America's should promote the replanting of trees in the region.[9] This could be a potential push in the right direction, as this method could help in maintaining balance and reducing carbon emission to the environment.[9] It should be noted and made aware, that the government could also take a potential course of action to further develop a campaign that promotes local residence in planting more trees and conservation in order to reduce deforestation.[9] Also, it is strongly advised from various organizations and government parties, that the government should develop policies that protect the locals and grant them land ownership rights in order for them to fight for their rights and reduce drug trafficking in the region.[10] In addition, other government parties and organizations previously mentioned, are vocalizing that local and national governments should regulate the logging practices that are conducted in the areas to ensure that they are replanting trees and as well to ensure, and maintain ecological balance.[10] Furthermore, it is suggested that the government, in collaborations with other organizations, should empower the locals towards conservation of local resources through education, creation of jobs, and a proper justice system, among others.[10] Also, regions of the central America's are constantly reminded and heavily advised to promote a sustainable rural economy through agroforestry with cocoa farming.[10] Suggestions and possible solutions to issues like these, are present to encourage and empower the locals and reverse the rates of deformation in the region.[10]


See Also

  1. ^ a b c Utting, Peter (1997), "Deforestation in Central America: Historical and Contemporary Dynamics", Sustainable Agriculture in Central America, London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, pp. 9–29, ISBN 978-1-349-40014-0, retrieved 2021-02-25
  2. ^ Mayaux, Philippe; Pekel, Jean-François; Desclée, Baudouin; Donnay, François; Lupi, Andrea; Achard, Frédéric; Clerici, Marco; Bodart, Catherine; Brink, Andreas; Nasi, Robert; Belward, Alan (2013-09-05). "State and evolution of the African rainforests between 1990 and 2010". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 368 (1625): 20120300. doi:10.1098/rstb.2012.0300. ISSN 0962-8436.
  3. ^ a b "People and Wildlife Now Threatened by Rapid Destruction of Central America's Forests". www.fws.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  4. ^ a b c d Calma, Justine (2019-10-08). "Cocaine is driving deforestation, climate change, and migration". The Verge. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  5. ^ a b c d e Rosa, Isabel M. D.; Smith, Matthew J.; Wearn, Oliver R.; Purves, Drew; Ewers, Robert M. (2016-08-22). "The Environmental Legacy of Modern Tropical Deforestation". Current Biology. 26 (16): 2161–2166. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2016.06.013. ISSN 0960-9822.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Bala, G.; Caldeira, K.; Wickett, M.; Phillips, T. J.; Lobell, D. B.; Delire, C.; Mirin, A. (2007-04-17). "Combined climate and carbon-cycle effects of large-scale deforestation". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 104 (16): 6550–6555. doi:10.1073/pnas.0608998104. ISSN 0027-8424. PMID 17420463.
  7. ^ a b c d e Lawrence, Deborah; Vandecar, Karen (2015-01). "Effects of tropical deforestation on climate and agriculture". Nature Climate Change. 5 (1): 27–36. doi:10.1038/nclimate2430. ISSN 1758-6798. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ a b c d Carr, David; Barbieri, Alisson; Pan, William; Iranavi, Heide (2006), Brouwer, Floor; McCarl, Bruce A. (eds.), "Agricultural change and limits to deforestation in Central America", Agriculture and climate beyond 2015: A New Perspective on Future Land Use Patterns, Environment & policy, Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, pp. 91–107, doi:10.1007/1-4020-4368-6_6, ISBN 978-1-4020-4368-0, retrieved 2021-04-09
  9. ^ a b c d Ruf, François; Schroth, Götz; Doffangui, Kone (2014-11-18). "Climate change, cocoa migrations and deforestation in West Africa: What does the past tell us about the future?". Sustainability Science. 10 (1): 101–111. doi:10.1007/s11625-014-0282-4. ISSN 1862-4065.
  10. ^ a b c d e Griscom, Heather P.; Ashton, Mark S. (2011-05-15). "Restoration of dry tropical forests in Central America: A review of pattern and process". Forest Ecology and Management. The Ecology and Ecosystem Services of Native Trees: Implications for Reforestation and Land Restoration in Mesoamerica. 261 (10): 1564–1579. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2010.08.027. ISSN 0378-1127.
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