Picture: This shows of a forest that has been deforested for palm oil farm.
Summary:
What concerned people from organization like Greenpeace is the fact that about half of 8.6 million acres of forest in Indonesia is not protected by the government. The Indonesian forest is a swamp like forest that supports great biodiversity and it is a great carbon reserve. The current moratorium ( the suspension of activity) of deforestation in Indonesia was suppose to protect all of the forest in order to reduce emmision which causes the greenhouse gas. Their primary goal was to reduce the emission to 26% by 2020 or even up to 41%.Yet, the moratorium has been weakened down only to protect the major forests due to the pressure of the large business. Also, Indonesia is currently the 3rd largest emitter of greenhouse gas due to the deforestation that has been caused by the palm oil farming, mining and paper industries.
Reflection:
I really do think that a government should enforce things like the moratorium if it was decided to enforced. I think deforestation is a serious matter as the trees and plants that are suppose to absorb the large quatity of carbon dioxide that we spewed out is getting killed. Not only that, fire that is used to get rid of the forest is an extra quantity of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and the loss of forest also equals loss of habitat for many animals and plants that could be endangered or not even discovered yet. Also, the industries like palm oil farming are very hazardous to the enviornment as the controled enviornment that such industries create is not suited for animals and plants that used to occupy the area. It hurts my feeling to see the forests getting ripped out of its roots and if half of the forest is not protected, that would mean that about half the forest could get demolished. This would obviousely be a bad sign for the rate of carbon dioxide we are going at these days. I only do hope that the Indonesian government would enforce this moratorium rather strictly.
Expansion:
1)Would it be the responsibility of the government to enforce this moratorium or the responsibility of the industries to follow them? Explain.
2)With the carbon dioxide rate going up these days, is there any ways we can stop at least a bit of the carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere?
3)Is there any positive effect of deforestation? Explain your answer.
Reaction:
ReplyDeleteInteresting! I also think that the government should step in and try to save and protect the forests. Deforestation has a significant impact on the earth and the organisms living in the forest. Indonesia needs the high biodiversity and needs to try to get rid of the greenhouse gasses. Not only does the government need to protect the forests because of the high biodiversity but also because of the ability, the trees have to absorb the carbon dioxide. Forests like these help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere and help reduce the effects of global warming. The government should have given more attention to protecting the forest as well as our environment.
Expansion:
Answering question two: With the carbon dioxide rate going up these days, is there any ways we can stop at least a bit of the carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere?
The solution can be very clear, we need to plant more trees. Instead of destroying acres after acres of forests, we should be planting them! Planting trees can eliminate the Co2 as well as provide fresh oxygen. I know I planted two new trees at my house and four at my grandmothers house. Trees are an inexpensive way to clean the air and remove the co2.
They should enforce the matorium. It is important that we save what we have left of the forests. The worst part is that we are using the forests for things like paper, and we don't necessarily need as much as we are taking. Also, I agree that another reason we need the trees and plants around is to absorb all the carbon dioxide, and also provide more oxygen. I read an article pretty similar to this about deforestation in Brazil. The government there was trying to pass a law that would allow logging companies to but parts of the Amazon rainforest. That was also for something unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteLink: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Deforestation/deforestation_update3.php
This is a NASA website and on the page it shows a graph that says Indonesia is number two for areas with the most deforestation going on. It has that as well as other graphs and paragraphs specifically about tropical deforestation.
I agree with everyone in this blog that the moratorium needs to be fully enforced. The environment has precedence over businesses, and we need to do all we can to preserve our environment the best we can. Besides, the government should not be pressured by businesses; the government has more power and in this case is on the right side of things. The businesses will be set back, but they will most likely be able to find resources elsewhere. I dont think that this article really ties into my personal life at all, besides the fact that this situation does affect me as well as all of us. I guess I could relate it to all of the attention brought forth to the depleting ozone layer and global warming, which is accelerated by these greenhouse gases. We have been hearing about it a lot in this class as well as in the news, as it has become a big topic.
ReplyDeleteQuestions:
1.How does deforestation emmit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere?
2.Are there any ways that companies can deforest without emmitting any greenouse gases? If so, how and why is it not used more? If not, what is the safest way to deforrest?
3.Are there problems similar to this is the US? And how could we help the forests in Indonesia?