Slash and Burn (Rainforests)

Member Name: thespurs

Product:	Rainforests
Date:	15/02/05 (1375 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It is a valuable resource, Helps economies to develop and grow, People can survive and have a better quality of life

Disadvantages: It is a valuable resource, The trees are being felled at an alarming rate, Trees aren't being replaced

The world's vast rainforests are under an ever increasing threat that shows no sign of receding at any point in the future. They are a huge natural resource that the worlds population seeks to exploit for their benefit. Timber is the driving force behind many national economies and its availability is very important.


The process of slash and burn is very popular in the Amazon rainforest in South America. The migrant tribes are constantly on the move and looking for more land to cultivate. They will clear a large area of land in the forest, felling all of the trees and clearing vegetation. This is then burnt on a large scale in an effort to make the soil more fertile and crop growth and yields much better.


There are problems that arise from this process and also a number of constraints. The main one is that the land can only be cultivated for a very short time, before it becomes infertile and unusable. The land then lies derelict and the forest struggles to recover with the lack of nutrients in the soil. The tribe will then move on to another part of the forest and undertake the whole process again, destroying more of the forest.


The amount of food that can be produced from the very weakly untreated soil is very low. The yields are only just about enough sufficient to support the tribes, with no spare to be sold or traded. There is no access to fertilizers or pesticides and the channelling of rainfall can also be very difficult.


The burning process that goes on can sometimes go wrong. Large forest fires can start if the area isn't properly cleared and prepared for burning. This can lead to sections of trees being lost where this isn't a need and therefore they are wasted.


The other main cause of deforestation on a global scale, is logging. The islands in and around Indonesia, such as Borneo, are particularly prone to this. The trees that are felled provide the inhabitants with a product that they can use to improve their lives.


It is used to construct homes, businesses and transport. These all go towards improving the living standards for many people in the area and they can then use that as a launch pad for further economic development and improvements. They can start to sell the wood, in its raw form or as crafted furniture to the rest of the world. There are some multinational companies that muscle in and log on a large scale and make huge profits from the rainforest.


The cheapest form of fuel available to many people in less economically developed countries is wood. They cook with it and heat their homes/shelters with relative ease and it is widely available. There isn't access to gas or electricity, so many people are dependant on a supply of wood just a basic living requirement.


The main issue that is raised when it comes to the global rate of deforestation, is how long can it continue at its present rate? There is going to come a point in time when there will be very little rainforest remaining and it will become a problem for everybody. The thing is, there is no way that the rate of deforestation can be reduced, with global demand at the level that it is.


The forests aren't being replenished on a large or effective enough scale to repair any of the damage. There has to be a set of measures put in place to aid the global replanting of depleted forests very soon, in order that we don't have wood and paper shortages in the future. There isn't enough attention paid to the seriousness of the problem and there is going to have to be some action soon.


There is also a wildlife factor to take into consideration when discussing deforestation. The ecosystems of rainforest are being hugely changed and the animals and plants that live within them are being impacted upon. They are losing their habit and breeding patterns and food supply are being changed. There is a huge threat to thousands of rare species on the island of Madagascar, as the island continues to be exploited for its wood by the population.


All in all, I think that the deforestation issue is one that needs to be looked at. I feel that in the future, wood supplies will be another reason to fight wars and the knock-on effects will be huge. Timber is a renewable resource that can flourish on earth, as long as it is not over exploited and that it is adequately replaced when it is removed. There should never be a problem with wood supply and the consequences of the serious issues can be easily averted with careful planning and organisation.

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