Issue
- The issue of deforestation and reforestation. |
Iker Abalo
Chair |
Felix Grimaldi
Co-Chair |
ISSUE #1: The issue of deforestation and reforestation.
Background information:
Currently in 2021 there are only 31% naturally grown forests in the world which at the rate they are being cut down all natural forests will be destroyed by 2030. Deforestation is one of the biggest threats to global warming and lack of biodiversity and every year this concern keeps growing as more natural forests are cut down. Reforestation is seen as a viable solution for this issue as reforestation plans could provide a substantial decrease in carbon emissions with trees absorbing greenhouse gases. Of course sometimes afforestation can do more harm than good as shown by China’s afforestation efforts with poor maintenance and not enough space for the trees to grow. These are some of the reasons why this issue is such a big concern for the coming years as it could really affect the environment, but how does this issue continue to grow and how can it be fixed. The protection of Primary Forests is probably the main concern in this issue. Naturally growing forests or primary forests are the biggest factor when trying to solve this issue. This is because these forests have been growing and evolving through thousands of years and have unique ecosystems that humans can’t replicate. Inside these unique forests and rainforests there is almost 80% of all terrestrial biodiversity with naturally grown rainforests having the highest biodiversity of every place on earth. The destruction of these forests is one of the primary concerns for the survival of these species as humans wouldn't be able to replicate the specific environments that these species need to live. This is the main problem that reforestation plans are facing as human generated forests are having trouble lasting long-term compared to naturally growing ones.
Global warming is also a massive concern with deforestation as it is responsible for 20% of all carbon emissions over the last 20 years. This is a massive problem as the more trees are cut and burned the more this percentage will grow up as trees are one of the best emission absorbers when in large quantities. Deforestation is also an extreme concern for world ecosystems because it causes erosion which could potentially be the biggest threat to worldwide ecosystems if it continues at its current rate.
Reforestation is widely seen as a solution for this issue as it provides a wider net of forests worldwide. A great example of these efforts is China with its 10 year reforestation program seeing great progress as it has extended all of its total forests by 16%. Although this might be a temporary solution, man made forests are very high maintenance while growing trees and very expensive procedure meaning some less developed countries won’t have the option of reforestation if needed. This method is also dangerous as if done incorrectly or without proper care it could end up with a great loss of time and resources due to a poor forest ecosystem. An excess in reforestation efforts could also cause an increase in poverty, an increase in real estate prices, and a loss of good soil if done incorrectly. Hence if a reforestation plan is to be made the country responsible will need the proper resources and expertise to carry it out correctly.
In conclusion, deforestation is an extremely dire issue . This is especially true in the years to come as deforestation rates are only going up because of the agricultural industry and the need for new real estate. Therefore countries should take quick action to face this issue. Since these ecosystems are essential for thousands of species to survive and to decrease the carbon footprint forests should be protected and replanted to the best of countries abilities as it would provide a more environmentally friendly earth.
Important Questions:
Ideas for Resolutions:
Helpful Links:
Works Cited“We're Losing Earths Original Wild Forests.” The World Counts, https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/planet-earth/forests-and-deserts/why-is-deforestation-a-problem/story.
“What China's Successful Reforestation Program Means for the Rest of the World.” The World from PRX, 27 June 2016, https://theworld.org/stories/2016-06-27/what-chinas-successful-reforestation-program-means-rest-world.
Fleming, Esther. “Is Reforestation Good or Bad for the Environment?” SidmartinBio, 21 June 2019, https://www.sidmartinbio.org/is-reforestation-good-or-bad-for-the-environment/.
Background information:
Currently in 2021 there are only 31% naturally grown forests in the world which at the rate they are being cut down all natural forests will be destroyed by 2030. Deforestation is one of the biggest threats to global warming and lack of biodiversity and every year this concern keeps growing as more natural forests are cut down. Reforestation is seen as a viable solution for this issue as reforestation plans could provide a substantial decrease in carbon emissions with trees absorbing greenhouse gases. Of course sometimes afforestation can do more harm than good as shown by China’s afforestation efforts with poor maintenance and not enough space for the trees to grow. These are some of the reasons why this issue is such a big concern for the coming years as it could really affect the environment, but how does this issue continue to grow and how can it be fixed. The protection of Primary Forests is probably the main concern in this issue. Naturally growing forests or primary forests are the biggest factor when trying to solve this issue. This is because these forests have been growing and evolving through thousands of years and have unique ecosystems that humans can’t replicate. Inside these unique forests and rainforests there is almost 80% of all terrestrial biodiversity with naturally grown rainforests having the highest biodiversity of every place on earth. The destruction of these forests is one of the primary concerns for the survival of these species as humans wouldn't be able to replicate the specific environments that these species need to live. This is the main problem that reforestation plans are facing as human generated forests are having trouble lasting long-term compared to naturally growing ones.
Global warming is also a massive concern with deforestation as it is responsible for 20% of all carbon emissions over the last 20 years. This is a massive problem as the more trees are cut and burned the more this percentage will grow up as trees are one of the best emission absorbers when in large quantities. Deforestation is also an extreme concern for world ecosystems because it causes erosion which could potentially be the biggest threat to worldwide ecosystems if it continues at its current rate.
Reforestation is widely seen as a solution for this issue as it provides a wider net of forests worldwide. A great example of these efforts is China with its 10 year reforestation program seeing great progress as it has extended all of its total forests by 16%. Although this might be a temporary solution, man made forests are very high maintenance while growing trees and very expensive procedure meaning some less developed countries won’t have the option of reforestation if needed. This method is also dangerous as if done incorrectly or without proper care it could end up with a great loss of time and resources due to a poor forest ecosystem. An excess in reforestation efforts could also cause an increase in poverty, an increase in real estate prices, and a loss of good soil if done incorrectly. Hence if a reforestation plan is to be made the country responsible will need the proper resources and expertise to carry it out correctly.
In conclusion, deforestation is an extremely dire issue . This is especially true in the years to come as deforestation rates are only going up because of the agricultural industry and the need for new real estate. Therefore countries should take quick action to face this issue. Since these ecosystems are essential for thousands of species to survive and to decrease the carbon footprint forests should be protected and replanted to the best of countries abilities as it would provide a more environmentally friendly earth.
Important Questions:
- How can we help future generations of women suffering from these crimes?
- How can women’s mental health be affected by this?
- What can we do to abolish the variations of these laws?
Ideas for Resolutions:
Helpful Links:
- www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40947448.
- www.equalitynow.org/not_backing_down_against_marry_your_rapist_laws?locale=en.
- www.nytimes.com/2017/07/22/world/middleeast/marry-your-rapist-laws-middle-east.html.
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=A41XXPtl1XM.
Works Cited“We're Losing Earths Original Wild Forests.” The World Counts, https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/planet-earth/forests-and-deserts/why-is-deforestation-a-problem/story.
“What China's Successful Reforestation Program Means for the Rest of the World.” The World from PRX, 27 June 2016, https://theworld.org/stories/2016-06-27/what-chinas-successful-reforestation-program-means-rest-world.
Fleming, Esther. “Is Reforestation Good or Bad for the Environment?” SidmartinBio, 21 June 2019, https://www.sidmartinbio.org/is-reforestation-good-or-bad-for-the-environment/.