Green Climate Seeker

Tag: greenhouse gases

  • Deforestation Awareness Campaigns and Their Impact

    Deforestation Awareness Campaigns and Their Impact

    An increasing number of people depend on healthy forests for sustenance and climate stability is endangering these trees. Deforestation and climate change pose threats that threaten their survival.

    Governments and companies from around the world have pledged their efforts to reduce deforestation. But is their effort having any tangible results?

    Increased awareness

    Advocacy campaigns aim to bring about permanent policy changes with positive outcomes, like saving British Columbia forests in Canada’s example above. Unfortunately, many advocacy campaigns don’t achieve their desired results — 34 out of 47 studies we reviewed didn’t measure directly how environmental advocacy affected forest conservation or other measurable results.

    Deforestation is a complex issue. Deforestation can be driven by various forces: government policies such as road projects can encourage deforestation; local economic development strategies often necessitate clearing away forest to make way for industrial agriculture; global market pressure on commodities like palm oil and soy is another driver that leads to land clearing in countries like Indonesia.

    No matter the challenges to forest ecosystems, opportunities exist for change. Consumers play an integral role in helping save forests if we act together; one important way we can do so is by supporting Indigenous and traditional forest communities, amplifying their voices, educating friends, family, and our wider communities on living a forest-friendly lifestyle; this might include supporting sustainable food choices like buying products made with recycled or responsibly-sourced wood, cutting down single-use plastic consumption and demanding companies adopt forest-friendly policies.

    Consume more vegetables and less meat to reduce demand for cattle ranching that clears rainforests in tropical regions, or push for zero-deforestation commitments from agricultural producers that increase responsibility and incentives to conserve forests within their supply chains as well as their own forests.

    However, it should be remembered that short-term changes alone won’t stop the rapid and dangerous depletion of natural systems. We require more comprehensive approaches in order to create lasting transformation. One option could include declaring a state of emergency to stop industrial expansion as well as dismantle harmful public subsidies that encourage deforestation.

    Increased political will

    People are becoming more aware of how deforestation affects our planet, prompting many to want to take action against it. One key insight we know is that many frontline communities living in tropical rainforests rely heavily on forests for food, medicine and building materials – they feel the effects directly while having little say over how their land is managed by governments or corporations.

    Advocate campaigns must go beyond raising awareness; they should lead to lasting policy changes that make a real difference on the ground. That is why more research focusing on measuring specific outcomes of forest advocacy campaigns (case-control studies comparing areas where campaigning occurred with control areas) is needed.

    Waswanipi Cree community from northern Quebec, Canada is an example of an environmental advocacy campaign which appears to have resulted in permanent policy change and forest conservation – however this type of campaign may not be commonplace and it’s difficult to know whether environmental advocacy campaigns deliver lasting, concrete results.

    NGOs that run global market campaigns on behalf of corporations and governments typically measure the outcome of their campaigns against their broad goals: stopping deforestation, climate change mitigation and protecting human rights. But these NGOs also recognize that activism isn’t a silver bullet; rather it requires careful political analysis, working with legitimate local actors as well as being adaptive when barriers emerge.

    Remind politicians that how governmental funds are spent ultimately rests with them; listen to your constituents! Call, email, or attend public meetings and tell your elected representatives you support investing in low-carbon development agendas that honor indigenous rights while prioritizing business policies that encourage sustainable sourcing and forest-friendly supply chains.

    Make an impactful difference by decreasing your consumption of single-use products, choosing food made from sustainably produced and responsibly-sourced ingredients, and investing in recycled wood products. But the greatest impact lies in voting with your dollar by boycotting corporations who don’t care for our planet and voting with your dollar instead!

    Increased funding

    Forests provide homes to numerous plants and animals that exist nowhere else on Earth, yet deforestation, the permanent loss of forests, is one of the greatest threats to nature today. Deforestation causes climate change, soil erosion and biodiversity loss as well as lessened crops yields, flooding issues, increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, as well as various social issues for people and communities living nearby.

    Deforestation is driven by demand for agricultural commodities like palm oil, beef, soy and pulp and paper. Unfortunately, until recently many companies failed to take steps necessary to stop their supply chains from contributing to forest destruction. But in 2010, several groundbreaking initiatives committed themselves to supporting only deforestation-free commodity chains by making an unprecedented pledge that has since seen many more companies join this initiative.

    Although it can be challenging to evaluate whether awareness campaigns are making a positive difference for nature and people, most of the 34 articles we examined for our report used perception-based case studies (supported by documents or literature), expert opinions or perception-based case studies as measures of impact; rather than more rigorous methods such as controlled experiments comparing outcomes in areas exposed to campaigns with those not. Even rigorous research related to Zero Deforestation Commitments was limited in scope and used indirect measures only.

    NGO campaigns that engage corporations and governments globally in global market campaigns claim they measure success not just by stopping deforestation but also improving social issues such as alleviating poverty or protecting Indigenous people’s rights. Rainforest Action Network claims its campaign against Indonesian forestry giant APP led to resolution of land disputes as an example.

    To protect forests and natural resources, the world can take several small steps, such as avoiding single-use plastics, purchasing recycled paper products and choosing food grown sustainably or purchasing wood from certified sustainable sources. But the single most essential step we can all take to help is supporting organizations working to save them by contributing either financially or volunteering – acting together creates a movement of global citizens who value our planet and all lives that depend on it.

    Increased pressure on companies

    Though governments and corporations alike have made pledges to curb deforestation, global forest cover continues to shrink despite these pledges, leading to ecological harm for our planet and people reliant on its biodiversity.

    As environmental awareness and rainforest destruction grows, companies are under mounting customer pressure to become more sustainable. One factor driving this is when some make significant pledges against deforestation in their supply chains – yet it is yet unclear if such pledges are actually making an impactful difference in real terms.

    Tourism, automotive and consumer goods companies often report feeling pressure to act due to Greenpeace campaigns. One example includes the world’s largest paper producer APP who, following a major Greenpeace campaign, changed its policy by switching only using timber sourced from plantations-grown sources going forward, helping both save rainforests as well as indigenous communities that depend on them.

    But NGOs must find ways to maintain momentum for these campaigns, so I suggest we conduct more research on how effective advocacy campaigns are at creating lasting change. I recommend conducting rigorous, independent studies as foundations and supporters who fund NGOs expect results.

    Unfortunately, research on boycott campaigns to date is extremely limited and little evidence exists regarding their effectiveness at changing company commitments to protecting forests. This piece of the puzzle is of critical importance as these NGOs rely heavily on boycott campaigns as one tool in reaching their goals.

    The Great Bear Rainforest case study emphasizes the need for improved research into these campaigns. When companies are exposed for wrongdoing, their immediate focus may be to reduce negative publicity by announcing a new sustainability policy or joining voluntary initiatives to keep forests standing; yet once pressure subsides it’s easy for them to return to old practices.

  • Deforestation and Its Impact on Migratory Bird Species

    Deforestation and Its Impact on Migratory Bird Species

    Deforestation poses a grave threat to wildlife, especially migratory bird species. This global issue leads to other problems like habitat degradation and ecosystem disruption, creating additional problems along the way.

    Forest degradation is driven by high demand for crops like soy, palm oil, cocoa and coffee which we consume every day. These crops form part of numerous products we rely on each day.

    Forests are home to a variety of animals

    Forests are complex environments that support numerous animal species. From large deer and foxes, to smaller creatures like bats and salamanders, and insects and fungus. Furthermore, the forest floor itself serves as habitat for an army of microorganisms which decompose leaves, twigs and debris into food for thousands of microbes that serve as the basis of an intricate food chain that sustains forest animals in any number of habitats ranging from rainforests to temperate deciduous forests.

    Forest animals hibernate or aestivate during the winter season. By slowing their metabolism and eating stored food from summer and autumn, forest animals store energy to last them through until spring arrives when trees sprout new leaves and animal life comes back into action again – deer, foxes, bears, hares and wild boars as well as owls, woodpeckers robins and blue jays call forests their home.

    Deforestation poses a significant threat to migrating bird species, particularly on the eastern flyway – one of the richest migration routes worldwide – where forest loss and degradation is among the leading causes of population declines. One study demonstrated this fact by showing that migrants converge on southern forests during winter with densities three times greater than during breeding season breeding sites.

    This study utilized backcast species distribution models to measure habitat change among 54 forest bird species. They discovered that most experienced habitat declines (see Fig 2). This decline can be linked to clear-cut harvest practices as well as reduced frugivorous birds limiting seed dispersal leading to homogenized forest vegetation.

    Short term, these changes can increase the risk of zoonotic diseases – those which spread between animals and humans – but long term they could result in more extreme weather events and droughts that pose health threats both to people as well as animals.

    To effectively address this problem, we must protect critical habitats and reduce shade-free lands such as cattle pastures – which will in turn stop migratory bird populations from declining further.

    They help to regulate the climate

    Forests help regulate climate by absorbing carbon dioxide – one of the primary greenhouse gases responsible for global warming – from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. When forests are destroyed, however, this natural process is disrupted and leads to increased global warming and climate change; impacting wildlife species as well as humans alike. Deforestation also alters local regions’ weather by making temperatures vary more dramatically from day to night, decreasing water availability for animals, and leading to longer day/night cycles and fluctuation.

    Forests not only regulate temperature, but they can also have a cooling effect due to their dark-coloured trees that don’t reflect back a great deal of light into space. When forests are removed, however, their former locations typically become lighter-colored land that reflects more light back out into space and thus creates shorter term cooling effects from deforestation of tropical rainforests.

    These changes have devastating impacts on wildlife, particularly migrating species. Many migratory birds rely on forests as breeding grounds, yet have experienced widespread and subtle population declines in recent years. A number of them fall under Partners in Flight conservation status system’s red or yellow category for increased susceptibility to deforestation.

    Deforestation is driven largely by agricultural expansion. Clearing forest for farming causes biodiversity loss, habitat fragmentation and edge density and isolation which reduce bird-plant interactions while diminishing network evenness.

    Deforestation increases soil erosion and water runoff, impacting ecosystem services as well as increasing risks of water-borne diseases affecting endangered species. Furthermore, deforestation leads to increases in regional air pollution; its negative effects can be mitigated through better forest management and land-use practices.

    Sustainable production of food and forest products is the cornerstone of deforestation prevention, so consumers can help by purchasing sustainably produced and certified foods, and supporting businesses dedicated to supporting sustainability within their supply chains.

    They provide food

    Deforestation deprives birds of natural habitats they need for survival, leading to population decrease and species extinction. Furthermore, forest destruction impacts migrating birds traveling between breeding seasons; specifically those spending winter months in tropical environments before returning home for breeding season in North America – these migratory birds require plenty of food sources in these environments to sustain long journeys home for breeding; it is therefore imperative that we protect habitats that provide them.

    Forests provide shelter and shade to a range of wildlife species, from insects and mammals to birds and others, which depend on its rich soil for sustenance. Tropical forests typically boast more plant species diversity and more significant nutrient accumulation compared to their temperate counterparts.

    At one time, when global populations were smaller, clearing forests to build farms or homes wasn’t such an urgent priority. Nowadays, however, with such large numbers wanting access to land for farming, livestock grazing or other uses it’s become vital that as much land be reforested as possible.

    Forests provide more than just plant matter; they’re also essential habitat for birds as a place of shelter and nesting sites, water sources for migrating birds, and an important refuge from predators. A study by scientists discovered that birds who resided in forests had higher survival rates than their urban counterparts due to better food resources in forests as well as decreased chances of being killed by predators.

    While many are concerned about deforestation’s impact, many are uncertain how best to stop it. One effective approach is supporting local conservation groups where deforestation occurs – these groups promote sustainable ecotourism while helping communities earn money while protecting forests. Central and South American conservation groups (many affiliated with Audubon’s International Alliances Program) train wildlife guides and create tour routes in order to foster ecotourism.

    They protect water

    Timber production forests use up a significant part of global forests for lumber production, which can have severe environmental effects on wildlife habitats. Forest birds are especially vulnerable to these effects as loggers tend to remove large quantities of standing deadwood that provides food and shelter for these birds – so protecting these bird species during forestry operations is vitally important.

    We investigated the impact of landscape-scale deforestation on forest bird communities in Colombia, one of the world’s richest biodiversity countries. Our study demonstrated that forest bird abundance is negatively impacted by both past and projected future deforestation, with climate change compounding this impact. Furthermore, large snags or other woody debris like logs or branches positively affecting bird community composition in forest settings.

    Our results illustrate how migratory birds that breed in forest ecosystems can be particularly sensitive to changes in their wintering habitat, particularly long distance migrating species like the common whitethroat and American redstart. They rely heavily on non-breeding forest habitat for survival; therefore conservationists must improve forest management at both their breeding and wintering locations.

    This poses a formidable challenge as much of the world’s forests are being converted for agricultural and commercial uses, including conversion of forest-breeding species into agricultural crops or pulp for paper pulp production. One such region where deforestation is driving population declines of forest breeding birds is in East Asian Flyway region with high diversity forest breeding species where this process likely linked with forest loss/degradation across breeding, staging, wintering/stopover ranges for birds that migrate from their breeding grounds or staging grounds to their wintering grounds/stopover ranges/stopover areas of birds that migrate annually from breeding areas that has some of highest diversity of forest breeding species available anywhere: breeding species declines can likely be traced back to deforestation in this region with high diversity forest breeding species present there in breeding ranges where migration happens naturally each spring/autumn/autumnia!

    Increased forestland can benefit migratory bird populations, but we must preserve forest interiors from development and other disturbances. Forests protect water quality while providing shelter to many species including those found migratory birds. Conservation efforts need to continue within logging areas while working with forestry companies to ensure their forests are properly managed and preserved – this will benefit both the bird species and other parts of nature alike.

  • Deforestation’s Connection to Global Food Security

    Deforestation’s Connection to Global Food Security

    Deforestation unquestionably has some short-term economic gains, but these should not be used as an excuse to delay or roll back legislation to stop forest destruction – the long-term costs are far greater.

    Agriculture is responsible for most global deforestation, clearing land for crops such as coffee, palm oil, soy and rubber – products we rely on daily.

    Impacts of Deforestation on Food Security

    Destruction of forests for agriculture may bring short-term economic gains, but its long-term repercussions can be disastrous. 250 million people worldwide depend on forest resources for food, medicine, fuel and income – often living in poor rural areas unable to afford switching land uses such as livestock or plant cultivation that may be more lucrative but require larger tracts. Deforestation also disrupts local weather patterns leading to drought and desertification that further threaten food supplies.

    Food and nutrition security can be achieved without cutting down more forests, by employing forest resources in integrated farm systems to increase productivity while decreasing clearing. This type of farming has become increasingly popular in Ethiopia where farmers work closely with forests to produce nutritious crops like teff and sesame.

    But to stop cutting down forests, the international community must adjust its approach. They should set more stringent standards for products we purchase and insist upon zero deforestation production and supply chains. Furthermore, they should assist farmers adopt more sustainable agricultural practices like using trees as natural windbreaks or using mulch to boost soil fertility.

    Richer countries should also closely examine their domestic deforestation rates in relation to global reforestation efforts, and stop pushing for policies that enable agribusinesses to clear rainforest for soy, palm oil, or cattle ranching production.

    Food and nutrition security for the world’s population while simultaneously protecting natural environments is an immense challenge, yet achievable through concerted efforts from governments and private sectors around the globe. We must not fall into the habit of prioritizing food over protecting the planet that sustains us; similarly we must not allow shortsighted politicians use Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an excuse for postponing or rolling back regulation that would help safeguard forests and climate.

    Impacts of Deforestation on Climate Change

    Deforestation is not only responsible for stripping us of essential forests, but is also an ongoing contributor to climate change. Greenhouse gases released by burning fossil fuels exacerbate global warming; forests absorb some of this heat through reflecting sunlight back into the atmosphere; when trees are cut down or burned this process is interrupted and local temperatures increase dramatically due to deforestation-induced local warming which has been linked with increases in heat-related illnesses and deaths.

    Agriculture is responsible for most tropical deforestation. With demand for commodity crops like palm oil and soya increasing rapidly, large-scale commercial producers are clearing forests to make way for large-scale production while smaller scale subsistence farmers clear forest to increase food supplies and generate extra income.

    Deforestation now accounts for more than one-third of global CO2 emissions, according to FAO figures. This includes both direct emissions from deforestation itself as well as indirect ones caused by products produced using commodities harvested from deforested land.

    Madagascar ranks highest for tropical deforestation worldwide, losing an average of 25 percent of its forests annually from 1990-2005. Other high-rate deforestation countries include Comoros, Burundi and Togo in Africa as well as Papua New Guinea, Mauritania and Indonesian islands.

    Deforestation rates worldwide are on an alarming trajectory. To address this crisis, some rich countries are increasing their commitments to forest restoration initiatives domestically; however, domestic projects do not compare to global impacts of commodity-driven deforestation on global forests.

    To address deforestation, all stakeholders involved must collaborate. Public health agencies should work alongside researchers studying climate change’s relationship to land-use patterns; agriculture ministries must coordinate with environmental and labor officials on farms for sustainable practices that protect workers’ safety; consumers can help by supporting companies who pledge no deforestation policies and buying certified sustainable products.

    Impacts of Deforestation on Water Resources

    Deforestation’s rapid spread has far-reaching repercussions for global economy and food supplies. Loss of forests and greenspace results in decreased water yield and quality; consequently, increasing treatment needs while diminishing availability.

    Forest ecosystem loss reduces rain and snowfall, leading to severe droughts and aridification, with direct implications on food production – decreasing agricultural yields while driving up prices of staple foods such as cereals.

    Forest loss also alters the hydrology of local watersheds, with an adverse impact on their hydrology. Studies have demonstrated that water quality largely depends upon the health and integrity of its forested ecosystem; watersheds with healthier forests yield higher water yields with lower turbidity, thus decreasing treatment needs; forests also help control soil erosion which reduces sediment load as well as nutrient runoff into lakes and rivers.

    Deforestation’s impact on water resources is especially acute in countries with high rates of deforestation such as Brazil and Africa. Most global deforestation is driven by agricultural expansion – this accounts for roughly 89% of global deforestation.

    According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), commercial agriculture accounts for much of deforestation worldwide; small-scale farming practices and infrastructure development also play a significant role in forest destruction in developing countries.

    At a time when global population numbers continue to increase exponentially, there is an urgent need for action that can improve agricultural productivity and food security without harming Earth’s precious natural resources. Support government regulation and policymakers that facilitate transition away from destructive agriculture practices while investing in sustainable farming techniques as part of an holistic landscape approach to conservation and restoration are crucial steps towards success.

    Many companies are making progress: in 2017, over 60% of publicly-listed companies reporting to CDP included forest status into their water risk assessments – up from less than half in 2015. And an increasing number of firms setting goals related to reforestation, ecosystem preservation, and watershed remediation is setting up goals as well. Yet governments in consumer hubs must resist calls from industry to delay or reverse environmental legislation.

    Impacts of Deforestation on Wildlife

    Humans have for millennia been clearing forests to make way for agriculture, livestock grazing and fuelwood production, but recently this process has accelerated dramatically – estimated loss is between 50-75%; estimates are that between 8000 BC to 1900 alone half of global forests were lost, while in just this century another 50%.

    Forests that are cut down and burned release carbon into the atmosphere, trapping heat in and contributing to global warming. Furthermore, this reduces biosequestration and negative feedback cycles which help maintain climate stability on Earth – further contributing to desertification, habitat degradation, and animal extinctions.

    Forests provide habitats to many endangered animal species as well as shelter, water and food to many rural populations around the world. When habitats disappear, animal populations must struggle for survival in an increasingly hostile world – herbivores in particular suffer due to reduced food sources.

    Without access to natural resources, animals become susceptible to predation, hunting, wind and sun exposure and invasion by exotic plant and animal species into remaining forest habitat. Without food, water and shelter they become infertile for reproduction with other members of their population due to increased competition for resources like food and shelter.

    Ultimately, if we continue eating meat as a society, deforestation will increase; but if we cut back or eliminate meat consumption altogether, deforestation won’t be required to feed global appetites.

    Deforestation threatens habitats that provide essential animal and plant pollinators and ecosystem services, impacting agricultural production and leading to food insecurity. While food security is of utmost importance for our own wellbeing, failure of sustainable food production will have devastating repercussions for families and communities worldwide. Therefore, it’s imperative we continue advocating for policies and practices that support healthy plant-based diets as part of a balanced and nutritious diet plan.

  • Deforestation and the Loss of Medicinal Plant Species

    Deforestation and the Loss of Medicinal Plant Species

    Deforestation unquestionably has short-term economic benefits for some, yet losing medicinal plants makes treating diseases like malaria or STDs more challenging in communities that rely solely on traditional medicine. Many top-selling prescription in the U.S. contain plant compounds as ingredients.

    Forest regrowth forests have been found to possess greater medicinal plant diversity than logged forests, possibly because regrowth forests retain soil nutrients and moisture more effectively than their counterparts.

    Medicinal Plants

    Forests provide habitats for an incredible diversity of life and they are quickly disappearing at alarming rates. Forests store carbon, provide water, food and fuel – as well as shelter and protection – while deforestation occurs when humans clear-cut or burn forests for development, agricultural land use or fuel source purposes; deforestation also increases global temperatures by making way for development projects, agricultural practices or firewood harvesting. Destruction of rainforests increases global temperatures while leading to the extinction of animals that live there or around it.

    Deforestation is driven primarily by global demand for agricultural commodities. Agribusinesses use this demand as motivation to clear rainforest in order to plant high-value crops such as palm oil and soy, or ranch cattle on cleared plots of land.

    These crops are used in everyday products ranging from soap to margarine and cosmetics, ice cream, chocolate bars and paint; animal feed (80% of world soy goes toward feeding cows, pigs and chickens); as well as commodity-driven deforestation of tropical rainforests to produce these crops – something expected to continue as long as there is demand.

    Rich countries in Europe, North America and East Asia may be increasing their tree cover through afforestation efforts; however, they still account for two-thirds of global deforestation due to purchasing goods produced in tropical nations through long supply chains that reach beyond national boundaries.

    Climate change and biodiversity loss aren’t the only threats to rainforests; other threats include land clearing for agriculture and mining; government policies meant to encourage economic development can cause deforestation too, such as tax breaks for agricultural production; building roads or railways through forests; as well as international factors like foreign debt, growing markets for timber products, or cheap labour in developing nations which influence decisions to deforest.

    Deforestation rates accelerated rapidly over the last century as people sought new sources of farmland and fuel to meet growing populations’ food demands. While this rate has since stabilized, rainforests across the world continue to lose trees at an alarming pace.

    Medicinal Uses

    Deforestation may bring short-term financial gains for those harvesting or selling trees and wood, but it also negatively impacts those relying on forests as communities sustainers. Over 250 million people reside in rural areas in low to middle income countries where forests supply essential goods like plants for health, such as medicines for malaria treatment, antibiotics or cancer therapies.

    A new study examines the future of medicinal plants, finding their use is threatened by global changes. Published in Global Ecology and Conservation journal, this research identified medicinal plant species most likely to be affected by climate change and other factors that are altering their habitats; average results suggested species from islands such as Papua, Java and Sulawesi were expected to experience reduction in distribution area; similarly species with medicinal uses only known through endangered languages were also at risk.

    Medicinal plants are vulnerable to overexploitation and collection practices that result in their decline or extinction, though this impact varies among species depending on biological features such as habitat specificity, population size, reproductive system efficiency and generation time for seed production. However, overexploitation and collection does not impact all medicinal species equally and each may experience unique consequences depending on various biological characteristics such as habitat specificity, population size, reproductive system efficiency or generation times taken for seed production.

    Deforestation and unregulated extraction are not the only threats facing medicinal plant biodiversity; land-use changes, residential/commercial development, agriculture, climate change are also significant threats. Land-use changes alone were responsible for 54% of species assessed as Critically Endangered/Near Threatened being lost as well as 28% decline among Vulnerable species.

    Though rich nations deforest less of their forests than poor countries, they still contribute to global forest loss. To reduce their impact, rich countries need to invest in reforestation efforts as well as promote sustainable land management practices in countries where they export food – including investing in technologies that increase productivity while decreasing environmental degradation.

    Medicinal Value

    The world’s 60,000 plants and fungi believed to have medicinal value are integral parts of global ecosystem, providing essential services that support biodiversity as well as human health. Furthermore, keystone species like Dingetegna tree from mountainous regions of Africa and Madagascar that is harvested for its bark to treat prostate problems provide essential support for other plants, insects, mammals, birds etc. But despite being so sought-after they risk becoming extinct at alarming rates.

    Overexploitation is the main driver behind rare plants’ disappearance, including unregulated collection, habitat destruction and unsustainable harvesting. Furthermore, many medicinal properties of rare plants come from secondary metabolites that only function properly under natural environments; artificial reproduction cannot replicate their medicinal benefits.

    One solution may be cultivating medicinal plant species, yet this comes with its own set of challenges. Cultivation can expose cultivation sites to environmental and health risks, including genetic diversity loss or contamination with pests or diseases; additionally, cultivation places additional stress on natural habitats already under strain from destruction.

    Many natural plants, like echinacea and cranberry, thrive best when collected directly from their wild environments, where they have evolved and adapted over time to thrive there. While cultivating medicinal plants may benefit certain medicines with high demand, cultivating medicinal plants may not provide an answer for rising demand and diminishing natural resources.

    Protecting and conserving medicinal plants in their natural environments by creating systems for inventorying, monitoring and sustainable use is an ideal approach to ensure their preservation and ensure their continued medicinal efficacy in traditional forms of medicine like Ayurveda. This necessitates creating natural reserves, wild nurseries and botanical gardens as well as employing in situ and ex situ conservation strategies; taking this holistic approach especially applies to native and endemic medicinal species which must remain within their native environments in order to retain medical efficacy as well as ensure survival of traditional forms such as Ayurveda.

    Medicinal Threats

    Human bodies depend on plants and animals for essential resources, making their loss even more damaging to human health. Many of the most widely-used pharmaceuticals in the US contain natural ingredients as antibiotics, antifungals and pain relievers; even ancient Greeks used willow bark (source of acetylsalicylic acid) to alleviate fevers and headaches – this natural component remains popular today as aspirin.

    Wild medicinal plants can often be overharvested and lost due to habitat destruction, making them highly vulnerable. According to a global medicinal plant conservation assessment conducted in 2010, 31% of the medicinal species assessed were either endangered, threatened or vulnerable and 48% had declining populations – this trend being particularly acute in developing nations where demand is highest and accessing natural environments challenging for sourcing these medicinal plants is most crucial.

    Medicinal plant species are also highly vulnerable to climate change and other environmental threats, including land use changes, fragmentation and agricultural impacts that lead to habitat degradation or even total loss of their native environment – which in turn contribute to their potential extinction from global markets.

    Establishing sustainable sourcing strategies and supporting local herbalists and farmers in developing countries to sustainably harvest medicinal plants are of utmost importance, while it’s equally essential to educate on biodiversity preservation, promote education on how it benefits ecosystems and support research and development into alternatives that could potentially replace those obtained through medicinal plant sources.

    By taking steps to prevent deforestation, protect medicinal plant species and their habitats, provide community access, and compensate communities for using traditional knowledge, we can ensure that indigenous medicinal plants remain available both for current medical treatments as well as scientific research in the future. Amanda Clark is currently studying Sustainability Studies at Muhlenberg College; as a Wilson Center Africa Program Staff Intern she hopes to continue bringing this passion for international development, international trade, environmental sustainability, human security, and the intersection between environmentalism and global trade to bear.

  • Deforestation’s Impact on Clean Water Sources

    Deforestation’s Impact on Clean Water Sources

    Deforestation refers to the destruction of forests for purposes such as lumber production, agriculture (such as coffee or corn crops) or extraction (like mining oil and gas extraction). By cutting down forests for such purposes, deforestation removes trees that provide essential services like pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere while contributing to water cycle regulation and helping the water cycle function properly.

    Researchers studied satellite images, microsurvey data and population statistics to discover that every decade of deforestation in Malawi decreases access to clean drinking water by one percentage point – equivalent to having almost one tenth less rainfall!

    Water Cycle

    Forests play an essential role in maintaining global water supplies through an intricate water cycle, and play an indispensable role in managing their quality, quantity, cost and use by mitigating flooding risks and drought effects, controlling erosion rates and decreasing pollution entering lakes rivers and streams.

    Deforestation alters this balance by decreasing rainfall and increasing runoff, potentially leading to floods, droughts, soil erosion and contamination with harmful heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead contaminating water resources. This process also alters biodiversity.

    Lack of rainfall and increased runoff lead to sand and silt flowing downstream, decreasing access to clean drinking water for households. According to one study, each one percent reduction in forest cover decreased access by 0.93 percentage points – thus impacting availability of clean drinking water for every household in America.

    Deforestation increases water flows through surface channels by speeding evaporation; thus resulting in less available to drink through streamflows. Trees help slow the flow by absorbing rainwater into their roots, which reduces streamflow. Conversely, trees help slow the flow by soaking it up through their roots into their roots, thus decreasing streamflow. This creates an ironic result as less rainwater is available for consumption as a result of deforestation resulting in higher streamflow volumes than otherwise available through trees absorbing raindrops becoming available through surface channels due to faster evaporation rates which means less available water is available through streams reducing streamflow but ultimately less water is available as more people opt out to drink this source!

    As forests are deforested, more sources of pollution arise downstream; for instance agribusinesses, mining companies and logging operations that operate in forests. Their activities pollute waters with chemicals and pathogens that can have serious health repercussions for those who consume their waters.

    Loss of trees increases the risk of flooding and landslides, which in turn can pollute freshwater sources with harmful metals and chemicals that eroded soil will transport via rivers and streams into inland bodies of water. This pollutant could include toxic metals used for industry as well as other chemicals which pollute freshwater supplies such as lakes.

    Pollutants found in water threaten human and environmental health, as well as cause higher costs for companies using polluted water in production processes, like Danone which lost EUR740,000 due to contamination at its Brazil facilities when river water entered their supply chains contaminated. As a result, companies such as Danone are taking measures such as protecting and restoring forests within their supply chains to preserve clean water sources while building resilience against climate change; their efforts are supported by investors like Norway’s largest sovereign wealth fund who have set a goal to disclose deforestation/water security policies by 2020 for all 4,600+ companies within their investment portfolios – both initiatives have goals set to keep these initiatives on track with regard to deforestation/security actions taken within each company in their supply chains.

    Soil Erosion

    Soil erosion is a natural process caused by wind, water currents and gravity pulling away soil particles, but can be hastened by human activities like clear-cutting. Not only does soil erosion devastate ecosystems but can also degrade water quality by polluting it with toxic chemicals contaminated soil particles which eventually find their way into rivers and waterways causing blockages or flooding.

    Erosion also contributes to water contamination by increasing sediment and turbidity, decreasing water quality and making treatment for homes and businesses harder. Although exact numbers on how much soil erosion occurs globally are difficult to ascertain, most scientists believe human activities account for two-thirds of global erosion.

    Studies have demonstrated that deforestation significantly decreases the amount of rainwater that infiltrates soil, increasing runoff and erosion that impacts rivers and streams, ultimately decreasing available water for human use and economic development. This can have negative repercussions for human health as well as economic growth.

    Deforestation is one of the primary contributors to global soil erosion. It can result from both natural and human factors; for example, tree felling for timber production or expanding agricultural lands for oil palm cultivation are major sources of deforestation, while climate change can increase erosion by decreasing rainfall or increasing winds.

    Hisahiro Naito and Annie Mwayi Mapulanga conducted a groundbreaking study that linked satellite data quantifying forest cover loss in Malawi with household drinking-water access statistics in Malawi. As a result, 0.93 percent fewer households would have safe drinking water for every percentage point loss in forests.

    Soil erosion can be caused by several factors, including climate, terrain, aggregation and the type of crop grown. Erosion tends to occur more quickly during severe weather events or with machinery used for farming or conventional irrigation – both can dislodge soil quickly enough that floodwaters carry it away quickly – while overgrazing makes bare fields even more vulnerable.

    Flooding

    Deforestation directly impacts water resources of an area and can cause flooding disasters that kill many people and destroy homes and crops, as well as cost billions annually in financial losses. As this issue has become so serious, it has even been included within the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

    Studies have linked deforestation and flooding together. Trees act to slow the flow of water by absorbing it; when they’re cut down, this process accelerates and floods are much more frequent; one study found that every 10% increase in deforestation raises flood risks by 28 percent.

    Deforestation not only stymies the water flow, but it can also result in erosion that reduces soil quality and leads to the release of stored ground and aquifer water; consequently reducing available drinking water supplies.

    Deforestation has another negative impact on clean water sources in that it alters the morphology of river basins, which can have particular ramifications in flood-prone flat areas. Furthermore, deforestation lowers hill and mountain elevations which makes it harder for water to move downhill preventing flooding events from taking place.

    Deforestation also reduces precipitation levels; trees play a pivotal role in helping transform liquid into air through evaporation, with leaves and roots taking in ground water, storing it within their tissues before dissipating into the atmosphere through their leaves and roots. When trees are lost this process is disrupted and much needed moisture evaporates away into thin air – meaning we lose water as precipitation!

    Recent research in Malawi demonstrated that just 10 years of deforestation could decrease access to clean water by an equivalent of 9 percent less rainfall, suggesting we need to preserve forests and reforest areas that had previously been deforested. This is an alarming realization and underscores why protecting and replanting areas that have previously been cleared is so vitally important.

    Water Quality

    Destruction of trees causes disruptions to the water cycle and erosion of soils, leading to increased sediment and turbidity levels in streams, rivers and lakes resulting in decreased drinking water quality as well as higher costs associated with treatment processes.

    Deforestation leads to reduced rainfall levels in an area, which in turn affects its ability to provide clean drinking water to its inhabitants. This may lead to water shortages which threaten both their health and well-being in affected communities.

    As previously discussed, trees are essential in maintaining high-quality water by soaking up rainwater through their roots and reducing runoff rates. Without trees, water flows more quickly through soil layers with reduced infiltration rates and an increase in runoff speeds that could cause flooding concerns as well as higher concentrations of pollutants being transported into nearby sources.

    The TERENO study in Malawi discovered that when forest cover decreased by just 1 percent, access to piped water at public taps and use of unprotected wells as sources of drinking water decreased proportionately. Researchers also observed an increase of 0.59 percentage points for every increase in forest area/land area ratio.

    Water quality can be defined as the concentration of organic and inorganic substances – such as metals, nutrients, hydrocarbons and others – present in a sample of water. Aesthetic characteristics like colour, odour, taste and turbidity also help determine its quality; recent studies have demonstrated this. Undisturbed forest waters often boast excellent water quality.

    Numerous companies are taking steps to decrease their impact on forests around the world and protect and restore local clean water sources, setting an example for others that it is possible for businesses to be both socially responsible and financially sound by investing in protecting environmental resources; some are even committing to deforestation-free supply chains and reporting progress with CDP.

  • Stories of Resilience Against Deforestation

    Stories of Resilience Against Deforestation

    Indigenous communities have a proven record of protecting forests. Furthermore, a recent study demonstrated their expertise at overseeing regional biodiversity.

    Stopping tropical deforestation alone won’t do. Communities must also benefit from what the natural world provides them – so recognizing Indigenous rights legally is critical.

    Deforestation

    Indigenous tribes across the globe depend on forests for food and income, yet deforestation threatens their sustainable lifestyle by impacting traditional sources of organic foods and medicinal plants that provide organic nutrition, as well as hunting grounds that support hunting opportunities for Indigenous tribes. Deforestation also alters hunting grounds which become less viable, leaving these tribal communities more susceptible to poverty and hunger with serious repercussions for health; plus destruction of natural resources leads to disruption of their self-sufficient economy as well as social inequality.

    Indigenous people and their lands have taken center stage at recent global climate negotiations, with leaders pledgeing to reach net-zero deforestation by 2030 – but this feat may prove daunting as global deforestation occurs at a rate of 22 square kilometres daily.

    Responding to this threat, some Indigenous communities are joining forces in protecting their land and water. Patrol groups enlisted by these Indigenous communities often identify illegal activities like logging and cattle ranching and take measures against them; In Brazil for instance, “Forest Guardians” patrolled their territory regularly after receiving reports from citizens; detained trespassers were then handed over to federal police stations.

    However, their efforts are often compromised by complex power relations and micropolitics that span gender and generational divides. Furthermore, they must address desires to continue traditional practices while maintaining equitable relations with nature; discussions surrounding how best to approach deforestation tend to become heated when values such as Indigenous autonomy collide with healthy environments (Thompson and Ban 2021; Whyte 2020).

    Indigenous territories remain effective defenses against deforestation despite these challenges, according to several studies in Australia, Canada, and Brazil that demonstrated they serve as one of the primary protectors against biodiversity loss and climate change. A study in the Amazon showed lands protected by Indigenous people with legal property rights saw lower deforestation rates than unprotected areas – results similar to others conducted elsewhere around the globe such as Australia Canada Brazil where Indigenous territories proved to be some of the best shields against environmental destruction.

    Indigenous and tribal communities must receive more financial support from the international community if they are to fulfill their role as custodians of some of Earth’s most diverse ecosystems, according to a new report by State of Finance for Nature 2022. As currently only US$154 billion are being invested into nature-based solutions – less than half what’s necessary to meet climate and biodiversity targets.

    Degradation

    Degradation of forests threatens the very survival of Indigenous communities. It depletes land that they depend on for food and income, pollutes water sources and poisons the air, causes soil erosion, increases climate change vulnerability and disaster risks, makes maintaining traditional lifestyles and cultural values impossible and hinders traditional lifestyles and values from being upheld. Indigenous people are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation: their subsistence economies, development opportunities and culture all become vulnerable due to pollution from large scale industrial activities, conflicts, forced displacement or environmental destruction.

    Indigenous communities are fighting hard to protect their lands and way of life from governments and developers who threaten it with destruction or development projects, setting an example in leading by example and trusting in a brighter future for themselves and future generations. But more funds must be found to meet such ambitious goals – the current level of funding for nature-based solutions falls far short of meeting them all.

    Recent research has demonstrated the power of Indigenous communities in combatting deforestation. A study published by Nature Sustainability indicates this fact, with Indigenous territories significantly outstripping protected areas in terms of deforestation reduction; they also boast higher biodiversity levels indicating superior land management practices.

    Research findings such as this are especially impactful when you consider that every year the world loses enough forests to cover Portugal. Unfortunately, much of this land loss occurs on Indigenous lands without their knowledge or consent; Indigenous communities such as Waorani of Ecuador are fighting hard to preserve their forest ecosystems by patrolling their territories, challenging government agencies, companies, and using cultural knowledge of ecosystems they inhabit to educate others on why preserving rainforests is important.

    Forests play an essential role in keeping Indigenous communities healthy by providing microclimate regulation, medicinal plants for healthcare systems and serving as natural buffers against environmental degradation, such as pollution and climate change. Unfortunately, as forest health declines these communities become vulnerable to harmful pollutants – including increased risks of diabetes and hypertension; childhood leukemia; cancer; neurological effects and changes to menstruation patterns.

    Displacement

    Indigenous communities have long defended their forests from deforestation; yet, they continue to bear many of its effects, such as habitat loss, soil degradation, water contamination and climate change. Furthermore, they face more grave threats to their survival from land invaders and illegal activities by local officials.

    Genilson Guajajara leads a tribe of 300 in Picarra Preta, Brazil that works tirelessly to defend their ancestral forest from illegal miners and loggers – but his task can be arduous: “We’re always at risk,” says Guajajara; people and companies want to occupy it and force out natives from it.

    Guajajara is an acclaimed photographer capturing both the beauty and destruction of his native Brazilian Amazon through social media posts, but this puts him directly in the crosshairs of those engaged in illegal activities to exploit its rainforests. “The world depends on us to protect our homeland,” he asserts.

    Guajajara and other Indigenous people around the globe struggle to defend their lands from development pressures, but new research from Nature Sustainability found that Indigenous territories provide one of the best safeguards against deforestation – yet this protection can only exist if full property rights are granted to their territories.

    The study examined satellite data to gauge how well 377 Indigenous-owned lands protected their forests. Researchers discovered that forests within fully recognized Indigenous communities generally experienced lower deforestation rates – possibly due to forest guards or patrols which prevent trespassers.

    Indigenous communities around the globe rely on protecting their homelands to maintain their cultures and economies. Their forests offer essential organic resources such as medicines, fruits, nuts and hunting grounds; in addition to being crucial carbon sinks that mitigate climate change while slowing biodiversity loss.

    Researchers say the world must increase investments in sustainable agriculture and forest protection to support these communities, with less than half the funding currently available for such initiatives being sufficient to reach climate, biodiversity, and land-use targets by 2025.

    Violence

    Indigenous people and their forest territories serve as one of the best defenses against deforestation, yet protecting their legal right to these lands can often be challenging. Communities often face land-grabbing or even murder when resisting logging companies or trying to protect biodiversity – this occurred most infamously when Brazil’s Guajajara tribe were murdered after confronting illegal loggers; indigenous leaders across Brazil also regularly find themselves involved in standoffs with trespassers.

    Indigenous communities rely heavily on forests and savannahs for food, medicine and economic resources; when threatened, however, their survival becomes even more precarious, risking losing their way of life and further pushing them into poverty and dependence.

    That is precisely what happened in Brazil’s Amazonian state of Ituna-Itata, where Indigenous communities have long battled logging and mining operations on their ancestral lands for decades. Many of them belong to isolated or uncontacted bands with special protection under Brazilian law but remain vulnerable to violent land grabbing and deforestation.

    Indigenous communities have proven effective at combatting deforestation and protecting biodiversity despite these difficulties, according to research published in Nature Sustainability. A recent study discovered that deforestation rates on Indigenous lands in tropical areas were one-fifth lower than in protected areas, according to Kathryn Baragwanath and Ella Bayi of Nature Sustainability; their authors concluded that indigenous community-based initiatives can most efficiently reduce forest degradation when given full property rights.

    Indigenous cultures see nature and its resources as inextricably linked with their culture. Indigenous people understand that healthy environments are crucial to human wellbeing; protecting these resources forms part of their religious traditions, traditions and values.

    Indigenous populations account for only five percent of global population, yet are responsible for approximately 20-25% of earth’s most biologically diverse land, making up an estimated 20-25%. Protecting both their cultures and forests against destruction is of critical importance to preserve both.

  • The Link Between Deforestation and Climate Change – A Deep Dive

    The Link Between Deforestation and Climate Change – A Deep Dive

    Deforestation is one of the primary contributors to climate change. Clearing away forests releases carbon dioxide that they store through photosynthesis, contributing to global warming and worsening global temperatures.

    Deforestation’s consequences extend far beyond greenhouse gas emissions; local populations in and around forests also bear its burden as large companies that produce palm oil, soy beans and beef push them off their land to cultivate and produce products like these.

    Forests absorb carbon

    One of forests’ greatest contributions to our environment is their capacity to absorb carbon dioxide and cool our planet. Forests reduce atmospheric CO2 levels by sequestering it in living biomass, dead wood and soil – this process known as carbon sequestration is part of Earth’s climate system and has helped slow global temperature increases.

    However, forests’ ability to store carbon varies depending on both their location and species of tree. Eucalyptus trees in particular can absorb carbon more rapidly than oak or beech due to being faster-growing and producing more leaves – but forests must still be properly managed in order to maximize carbon sequestration.

    Forests help the planet stay cool by absorbing heat and emitting water vapour, making them highly effective at cooling tropical regions of Earth’s lower atmosphere. A recent study conducted by a group of scientists estimated that, by 2050, the world’s forest cover could reduce surface temperatures by more than half a degree Fahrenheit if left at its current levels.

    Researchers employed computer models to simulate the effect of global deforestation. They investigated how different aspects of forests, such as evapotranspiration and uneven canopy cover, affect regional and global temperatures. Their findings published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences demonstrate that forests no longer serve as carbon sinks if lost from certain parts of the world.

    Forests act like natural air conditioners by reflecting sunlight back into space and acting as a buffer against sun’s warming rays, acting like an “all-natural air conditioner”.

    Forests’ cooling effects owe much to their rough texture, which causes wind currents to swirl and mix, dissipating heat into the atmosphere and dispersing it further. Furthermore, forests play an essential role in providing rainfall and managing water supplies.

    Although these positive outcomes exist, scientists caution that protecting existing forests or planting more trees aren’t enough. Instead, both should be done strategically so as to maximize climate benefits.

    They cool the planet

    Forests serve as natural carbon sinks, pulling CO2, one of the primary greenhouse gases driving climate change, from the atmosphere and storing it in wood, plants and soil. Furthermore, forests act as natural cooling systems by reducing surface temperatures through evapotranspiration – this makes forest management essential.

    Deforestation releases carbon stored in forests back into the atmosphere, increasing global warming. Furthermore, deforestation contributes to other effects of climate change such as habitat loss and biodiversity loss as well as altered climatic conditions and increased aridity due to trees releasing water through their leaves; when these trees are cut down or burned they release that water into the atmosphere and accelerate global warming further.

    Forest clearance effects vary by region, with tropical forests emitting more carbon than other forms of land. But local weather patterns can play an outsized role. For instance, in regions where deforestation has been widespread, hot days of the year have become significantly hotter due to deforestation than they would have been without the trees present.

    In other areas, trees have contributed to making even the hottest days more bearable than they would be without them, likely due to their dark colors absorbing light that otherwise gets reflected back out into space. This principle also holds for vegetation such as grasses and shrubs; when these plants are removed, their albedo increases significantly leading to higher temperatures overall.

    Global demand for crops such as palm oil and soybeans that are typically produced on deforested land adds significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, yet by stopping our dependence on them and clearing forests to meet that demand we could begin seeing a decrease in deforestation’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions – an opportunity which should not be missed before it becomes too late!

    They protect water

    Deforestation is one of the primary contributors to global warming and is also responsible for biodiversity loss and water scarcity issues. Clearing forests causes habitat destruction and the disappearance of plant and animal species – some which could even go extinct altogether. Deforestation also changes climate conditions by altering rainfall patterns, leading to drought conditions; it alters climate conditions by altering weather patterns; it impacts crop yields significantly in developing countries; it even can limit food supply!

    Forests absorb carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases contributing to climate change, through photosynthesis. They then store this carbon in their biomass and soils until being cut down or burned – at which point its release back into the air leads to further global warming. Carbon sequestration helps slow down greenhouse gas build-up in our atmosphere.

    Researchers have employed various climate models to reconstruct historical hottest day temperatures worldwide and assess the effect that deforestation had on them. Their studies show that although deforestation releases carbon dioxide into the environment, its physical processes also play a large role in local weather; clearing forests can have both cooling and warming impacts depending on which region and type of vegetation it impacts – for example tropical deforestation produces both warming carbon-cycle effects as well as cooling biophysical ones; however replacing tropical forest with grassland or shrubs may help balance out both effects and balance out both effects more evenly.

    Scientists conducted an in-depth examination of how different forest management strategies impacted daytime temperatures, finding that strategic forest management can significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions while protecting the environment. Governments and private companies should adopt policies encouraging sustainable timber production – including using alternative energy sources like biofuels for powering forests as well as decreasing land usage for agriculture such as cattle ranching or soybean farming.

    Demand for food and other products is one of the main drivers of deforestation, prompting farmers to grow crops in cleared forests for cultivation. Therefore, national-level interventions, including global bans on tropical deforestation and increasing agricultural productivity are critical in curbing deforestation. Collaboration will also be needed between local communities, farmers and international markets in finding solutions.

    They support biodiversity

    Deforestation has an immense negative impact on biodiversity and climate. It results in habitat loss, species extinction and ecosystem shifts; soil erosion; desertification; global warming through carbon emissions from cutting down trees that store carbon during photosynthesis before it is released back into the atmosphere upon cutting them down – this same process applies when people burn fossil fuels which releases more CO2.

    Deforestation and climate change are inextricably intertwined. Tropical forests contain vast populations of animal and plant species, providing incredible diversity to global biodiversity. Deforestation threatens these valuable environments which are home to many unique animal and plant species that cannot survive without them being present – thus having an adverse impact on global biodiversity.

    According to a recent study, forests can help moderate global temperatures by absorbing and storing water from precipitation, thus decreasing evaporation rates and moderating humidity. They play an integral role in keeping our planet livable; any change could have serious repercussions for all life on Earth. Thus protecting forests may help bring significant environmental benefits while their loss could have severe repercussions for human life and ecosystems alike.

    Forests play an essential role in keeping our world cool, which is why their presence is of such significance. Scientists employed a model to predict how deforestation would impact local temperatures. Their prediction suggested that some regions might see increases in hottest day temperatures while other would experience decreases due to lighter surfaces reflecting more light while darker trees absorb a lesser percentage.

    Demand for palm oil, cocoa and soy crops is driving deforestation across many nations. We use these crops everyday – in soap, detergents, cosmetics and food – causing massive deforestation worldwide. Unfortunately, these crops often grow in countries without strong forestry laws or regulations and supply chains that make preventing deforestation more challenging than expected.

  • Deforestation Effects on Biodiversity in 2024

    Deforestation Effects on Biodiversity in 2024

    Forests provide home to an estimated 80% of all species on Earth, helping regulate climate, contain many medicinal plants, and providing an invaluable source of fresh water.

    Agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation. Large-scale commercial agriculture – specifically cattle ranching and cultivation of soya beans and oil palm – accounts for 40 percent of deforestation worldwide.

    Animals and Plants

    Deforestation threatens the home ranges and survival of wildlife by altering or destroying their natural environments, placing animals at risk by eliminating homes, mates and sources of shelter, water and food that they depend on as well as exposing them to predators or new threats who have moved in due to deforestation.

    People clear forests for many reasons, from agriculture and cattle breeding to extracting raw materials for manufacturing and global trade. Coffee, timber, palm oil, rubber and fish products tend to be more profitable. Most forest loss has been caused by human activities that could easily have been avoided.

    Deforestation creates an ideal breeding ground for insect-borne diseases to thrive, with malaria and dengue fever being just two examples that affect humans directly. Researchers have documented dramatic spikes in disease outbreaks after forests are cleared, such as Malaysian Borneo reporting an exponentially increasing rate of malaria cases among its citizens.

    Loss of tree cover means less nutrient-rich soil. Forests contribute nutrients through an ecological water cycle process; trees absorb moisture from the atmosphere and release it back into nature through rain or runoff. As more trees are cut down, this system becomes disrupted, leading to reduced rainfall levels and worsening drought conditions.

    Forests regulate temperatures by blocking sunlight during the daytime and trapping heat at night. Removing these trees, as is often seen through deforestation, can lead to more extreme temperature variations–which has an immediate effect on animal health.

    Climate change alone cannot solve our environmental woes; pollution from deforested land traveling downstream also contributes to altering ecosystems and having negative repercussions for marine life and communities that rely on healthy environments as sources of survival. When coral reefs die due to acidification, for instance, they cannot produce enough algae that support fish populations and other coastal organisms for sustenance.

    Soil

    Removal of forests has many harmful repercussions for both biodiversity and environment. Direct effects include habitat loss for animals and plants as the land becomes barren or unsuitable to their survival needs, while indirect repercussions include changing climate conditions, soil erosion, decreased agricultural yields, increased greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere, social issues for indigenous communities, and social problems among other things.

    Deforestation also disrupts the water cycle. Forests play an essential role in regulating moisture releases into the atmosphere, creating atmospheric rivers. If these resources disappear, rainwater cannot return to its source and becomes a flood hazard for downstream villages, cities, and farms.

    Once trees are gone, the ground becomes vulnerable to wind and rain erosion, leaving behind only exposed soil that’s easily washed away by wind or rain, leaving its topsoil behind to be washed away forever and depriving further forest life and food crops of essential nutrients.

    Deforestation is one of the main contributors to biodiversity loss worldwide, as it destroys animals’ and plants’ natural habitats. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), deforestation represents the top threat for over 85% of endangered species listed as vulnerable. Deforestation mainly results from human activities like agricultural expansion, ranching cattle for sale or harvesting raw materials like timber.

    Deforestation’s environmental impacts include soil degradation and climate change; both of which can be alleviated through reforestation. Reforestation helps mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon from the air via photosynthesis while also improving soil fertility, making it better able to support plant and animal life.

    Reforestation can provide food security and livelihood opportunities to communities living within deforested regions, particularly vulnerable groups like indigenous and agrarian peoples. Reforestation helps alleviate poverty and hunger in developing nations by helping these communities produce nutritious crops that can either be eaten directly or sold as income-generating opportunities.

    Water

    Deforestation’s most immediate repercussion is the destruction of habitats that provide humans with essential services like erosion prevention, flood control, water filtration and pollination. These functions are especially vital to poor people living in poverty who rely heavily on forest resources for survival. Destroying these ecosystems also reduces renewable food sources like medicinal plants, fruits and nuts or timber sources for sustenance purposes.

    Loss of habitats leads to changes in biodiversity, since forests play a pivotal role in supporting numerous species. Without access to forests, specific environments for certain species may disappear entirely and their populations could slowly shrink or even go extinct altogether.

    Deforestation also threatens the supply of clean water. Forests act as natural filters for rainfall, filtering it down into the earth while limiting how much evaporative loss there is from surface areas of earth surface, with this water then used by vegetation and animals for their needs. When trees are cleared away this natural process is disrupted; rainstorms become less predictable leading to drought and flooding events.

    Forests also help regulate river and stream flow by holding back soil erosion; without trees present, soil becomes looser and more vulnerable to erosion, leading to flooding or coastal floods.

    Deforestation also plays a significant role in global climate change. Forests absorb carbon dioxide from the air while simultaneously emitting oxygen into it; when these forests are destroyed, their delicate balance is disturbed and carbon levels in the atmosphere rise significantly.

    As deforestation continues across the world, global climate will shift further and cause more species to become endangered or even extinct. Without stopping rainforest clearances we simply do not know what will become of our planet’s biodiversity in the coming decades; but there are ways we can slow deforestation rates and preserve its ecosystems; such as adopting sustainable agricultural practices, restricting livestock ranching practices and safeguarding forestlands for indigenous communities to inhabit.

    Climate

    Forests play an essential role in climate regulation. By blocking sunlight from warming their environment during the daytime and keeping air cool at nighttime, forests help regulate temperatures around them – preventing sun rays from heating the earth during the day and keeping nights cool enough. Deforestation removes this protective cover which regulates temperatures more drastically – potentially endangering or even killing many animal species that depend on stability in temperature fluctuations for survival.

    Trees capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and store it away as greenhouse gas, while rainforests act as crucial carbon sinks – yet at an alarmingly rapid pace these invaluable carbon stores have been destroyed through clearing and burning. Rainforests in particular serve this crucial purpose, yet forest loss worldwide has reached unprecedented proportions.

    Deforestation is caused primarily by commercial and local agricultural production for meat, oil, timber, and other purposes such as cattle ranching and oil palm/soy cultivation – these activities being the leading culprits behind its destruction.

    Deforestation damages wildlife long after trees have been cut down; for instance, forest clearing may force animals to relocate or migrate into different climates which could result in mismatches among species (Stenseth & Mysterud 2002).

    Estimates suggest that natural capital accounts for as much as 50% of global GDP; yet this valuable asset is being depleted at an alarming pace. Deforestation is stripping countries of renewable resources they depend on while leaving those dependent upon them without anything of use – particularly developing economies which rely heavily on nature for development and prosperity. Maintaining primary deforestation rates on an downward path will require shifts in domestic politics as well as transition to more sustainable agricultural practices in order to stay sustainable over time.

  • Biking As a Green Commuting Option, You Have to Try.

    Biking As a Green Commuting Option, You Have to Try.

    Research led by University of Oxford transportation professor Christian Brand has shown that choosing to ride a bicycle over driving reduces emissions by 67%.

    Kansas City residents from both sides of the state line participated in this year’s Green Commute Challenge by using personal or shared ebikes, public transportation, or both to take cars off of the roads and instead ride bikes for shorter trips. Here are a few reasons to try biking for short trips:

    It’s Fun

    If you love nature and exercise, biking may be the ideal green commute option for you. Not only is it environmentally-friendly and cost-efficient – saving on gas expenses while cutting maintenance and parking fees costs significantly! But biking also adds fun and affordable transportation to any routine commute, helping reduce carbon emissions.

    Studies demonstrate the many advantages associated with cycling as a mode of commuting: environmental, health and economic. Cycling emits no emissions while using only a fraction of materials and energy that are necessary to manufacture cars; moreover, 20 bicycles can fit in one car-size space!

    Sustainable transport doesn’t produce exhaust fumes that exacerbate asthma and other respiratory conditions, and reduces noise pollution. Many cities have embraced sustainable modes of transport by adding buses and bike trails for public use; this helps lower carbon emissions while saving on oil and gas expenses and cutting traffic congestion.

    Walking or jogging to work can be a great way to reduce your commute costs while getting in some exercise and clearing your mind before beginning each day. Working from home may even be more suitable as this does not require traveling out and saves on commute expenses.

    As it’s unrealistic to make every trip car-free or rely solely on public transit, making other green choices is equally as important – like driving more efficiently and opting for hybrid vehicles when feasible; carpooling also helps reduce emissions, fuel consumption and maintenance costs while carpooling offers reduced emissions, fuel consumption and vehicle maintenance expenses. Also be sure to ask your insurance provider if they provide reduced rates or discounts for green drivers!

    It’s Healthy

    Biking to work can save money and carbon emissions while improving your health in other ways. Biking burns about 400 calories an hour for healthy people commuting by bike – making it an excellent way to lose weight! Plus, exercise benefits your heart, lungs, and muscles in numerous ways; studies have even indicated a lower risk for certain cancers and cardiovascular conditions for commuters who commute by bicycle!

    Biking emits approximately half the carbon emissions produced by driving alone, and walking to work may also be an environmentally friendly commuting option for close distances and destinations that don’t exceed too far. Bus and metro services may provide even faster access.

    If you need to drive to work, try making the most of it by switching to a hybrid or electric vehicle when possible. These vehicles emit less pollution, helping avoid traffic jams in many cities. Carpooling may save gas; check with your employer first as some may offer commuter benefits!

    Consider investing in an eco-friendly commuter bike made of eco-friendly materials like bamboo. Not only will it outlive its predecessor in terms of longevity and value for money; you should purchase from a reliable manufacturer too!

    Bike riding not only reduces carbon footprints but also water pollution. Fewer cars on the road mean fewer oil, antifreeze and other chemicals that leak into groundwater sources and pollute our waters. Furthermore, biking also cuts air pollution, noise pollution and avoids congestion – saving money and energy expenses through reduced energy expenses.

    Of course, green commuting may not be realistic or practical for all; but if it is achievable for you and the environment, the benefits could be enormous. While it may take time to adapt to this lifestyle change, once it does become part of your routine you’ll feel proud that you are making an effort towards protecting it.

    It’s Convenient

    Bicycling can be an ideal green commute option if your work is within a few miles, as it’s quick, easy and affordable while helping burn calories while increasing daily step counts and providing fresh air benefits. Plus, each time you opt to bike instead of drive instead of transportation-related emissions are reduced!

    Nearly every city in the U.S. now features bike lanes and/or public bicycle share programs like Divvy or Lyft for bicycle rental services. Chicago stands out as an exceptional biking city with plenty of bike lanes and an effective Divvy system; even without your own bike you can still reap its benefits by sharing with coworkers or friends while biking to work together.

    Biking may not be your only green commuting option, but it’s one of the easiest. Walking, carpooling and using public transit can all help reduce carbon emissions and traffic congestion while saving some money by not spending so much on gas or vehicle maintenance costs.

    There may not always be the option to walk or bike to work and most workplaces have plenty of parking spots; but, if your goal is reducing environmental impact, here are a few green commuting strategies you could try when driving to your workplace.

    Utilizing sustainable transportation such as bicycles can dramatically decrease pollution and greenhouse gases emissions, so if you want to do your part and protect the planet it makes sense to use more sustainable modes whenever possible. Plus, being a green commuter might even save on auto insurance! Enter your ZIP code now to compare rates and find an offer; and, if necessary, consider making your car as eco-friendly as possible when driving to work – that way, you’re doing your part towards combatting climate change and building a more sustainable future! Thanks again and happy commuting!

    It’s Cheap

    Utilizing sustainable transportation options such as cycling to work or carpooling can reduce carbon emissions and help create a healthier planet, but for some it can be daunting to switch from driving a car to using green commuting methods like biking or public transit. There are, however, some straightforward strategies available that can make starting out green commuting much less daunting.

    One of the easiest and greenest ways to commute is on a bicycle. Not only will you save on gas and maintenance costs, but riding 10 miles will burn over 400 calories! So, whether it be weight loss or health improvements you seek, bike commuting could certainly be worth exploring as an option.

    If you don’t already own one, why not rent one for the day from a bike share program in your city? Most cities provide these services as a convenient way for residents and tourists alike to get around town more efficiently; joining is free, and bikes can be found all around town. Plus – why not upgrade with an electric bike for even greater savings!

    Take the bus as one of your eco-friendly solutions – this will allow you to avoid traffic jams while being productive on your computer during the ride! Not only that, but taking public transit also helps lower emissions by decreasing car usage on roads.

    Even though buses, trains, and planes can help to alleviate congestion, they still emit harmful emissions into the atmosphere. According to studies conducted on taxi passengers alone, over 100,000 ultrafine particles (which can settle into your lungs causing respiratory issues) per cubic centimeter are inhaled while bus and car passengers only inhale less than 100,000 ultrafine particles per cubic centimeter compared with taxi passengers alone.

    If public transit isn’t your cup of tea, carpool with coworkers or friends. Not only will this reduce emissions while helping you bypass rush hour traffic and save time!

  • Green Finance and Investments for a Sustainable Future

    Green Finance and Investments for a Sustainable Future

    Green finance is revolutionizing global economies by prioritizing sustainable investments over business as usual. But not all sustainable investments are the same; some may invest in pollution-free energy while others focus on efficiency or policy addressing social issues.

    Due to global climate change and melting polar ice caps, more investors are turning their focus toward environmentally-friendly investments. In response, finance has introduced new metrics and evaluation tools.

    Energy efficiency

    Global economies need a dramatic upsurge and shift of green finance investments and resources in order to meet climate goals, including financing research, developing low-carbon technologies and shifting business models away from harmful activities – especially helping poorer countries meet environmental and biodiversity targets. Green financing may also alleviate poverty by creating jobs and increasing revenues while supporting policies and regulations designed to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

    Green finance is an approach to investment that prioritizes social and environmental impact over financial returns, such as social venture capital, green bonds or any other instrument that supports them. Companies and investors have already begun using such instruments; new ways have also been devised for rating environmental credentials or risks and funding mechanisms designed around such ideals have also emerged.

    Green financing is an expanding field that has taken the world by storm. It seeks to increase financial flows (such as banking, microcredit, insurance and investment) from public, private and not-for-profit sectors to sustainable development priorities with an aim of managing environmental and social risk more effectively, taking up opportunities with both adequate returns and ecological advantages, as well as increasing accountability.

    Energy efficiency is one of the cornerstones of green financing, using low-carbon and alternative fuels to produce and transport goods and services. Energy efficiency has been shown to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as production and transport costs; making this approach particularly advantageous for businesses that operate in regions with limited resources.

    Carbon credit or offset markets can also be seen as forms of green finance, though these projects should not be seen as replacements for green finance’s goal of supporting sustainable economic development. Offset markets exist mainly to make up for emissions already produced; carbon offsetting attempts can provide compensation.

    Increased green finance is critical for developing nations to meet their sustainability goals, so banks must adapt their business model and invest in eco-friendly products, building trust in the marketplace and working closely with other organizations to promote this form of funding.

    Renewable energy

    Green economies are essential in the effort to reduce carbon emissions and advance sustainable development. Governments will need to develop more green technologies while investing in infrastructure that prioritizes environmental sustainability – this investment must come from both public and private sources, with investment banking playing an essential part here; banks that prioritize green finance as part of their strategic planning may lead this transition with investment flows necessary for meeting climate targets.

    Renewable energy finance is making a profound impactful statement about green finance’s relevance in our world today. Investors increasingly desire alternative energy sources that do not emit greenhouse gases and cause harm to the environment, with demand skyrocketing for ETFs and mutual funds dedicated to renewables. Furthermore, investors increasingly favor investments in companies prioritizing sustainability – an influence which central banks around the globe are reflecting with increasing green bonds issued.

    Issuers of bonds offering sustainable development finance solutions are looking for innovative and dependable means of funding their projects, along with benchmarks and methodologies that can evaluate them effectively. Unfortunately, green investing remains in its infancy – more efforts should be put in to making it mainstream, including creating a standard definition for “green finance” as well as taxonomies of green activities that ensure investments are deployed efficiently and do not result in “greenwashing”.

    Another effective means of greening finance is mandating investor disclosure of anticipated climate impacts, an essential first step toward ensuring green investments do not divert capital away from more pressing priorities. France passed the Energy Transition for Green Growth Act in 2016 with its first investor climate reporting mandate requiring all investors to disclose portfolio climate risks, serving as an example to other nations.

    The global economic and financial system stands at a crossroads. It can either finance assets that emit greenhouse gasses and damage the environment, or prioritize green solutions that foster a secure, equitable, and resilient future. Governments, financial institutions, and businesses face the difficult task of finding ways to balance needs from finance system, economy, and environment simultaneously.

    Climate change

    Sustainable future requires collaboration from multiple sectors – finance included – in order to be achieved. Financial institutions are in an ideal position to advance a more climate-friendly world by funding research into renewable energy sources or supporting businesses that uphold fair and ethical labor practices. Investments can help develop new, low-carbon technologies and change business models away from those which harm the environment. To meet the ambitious goals set by the Paris Agreement, large scale investments will be necessary in order to promote low-carbon and nature-positive economies; this may involve directly investing in some high-risk technologies or public infrastructure or catalyzing private sector investment in developing nations.

    Attracting green finance will require increasing levels of green investments, which will in turn help reduce emissions, mitigate climate change impacts, boost economic growth, raise living standards and protect biodiversity. Governments can facilitate this through tax incentives, subsidies and regulatory reforms as well as by setting targets for carbon reduction, biodiversity protection and innovative technology development.

    Governments can also harness public sector financial resources to drive development of low-carbon technologies, invest in decarbonization and reforestation projects, address inequities in disadvantaged communities, fund hedging instruments to mitigate extreme weather events or climate change risks, or re-allocate existing investments towards decarbonization and reforestation projects.

    However, it is vitally important that governments and other actors recognize the challenges they face as they strive toward sustainable future plans. Political short-termism may thwart efforts at addressing complex, long-term issues; lack of budgets, policies, regulations and detailed sector plans may create competing priorities; while siloed culture among government departments makes coordination of environmental efforts difficult.

    To meet these challenges, policymakers and investors must work together to promote green finance. They can establish new financial disclosures and classifications related to climate-related risks as well as stress tests that identify any impact of climate change on financial systems.

    Waste management

    Green finance is a rapidly emerging category of investments, driven by rising awareness of climate change and fossil fuel-based economies as threats. Institutional investors and corporations increasingly look for ways to reduce environmental exposure while governments look for the banking and investment industry to help facilitate transition towards a more sustainable world. There has also been increasing calls for holistic approaches that encompass environmental as well as social impacts when financing projects or businesses.

    Climate-related financial flows still account for only a relatively minor portion of global financial flows; climate-related flows in 2021 totalled US$892 billion, which represents only a fraction of what was spent on oil and gas, fossil fuel subsidies, or pandemic recovery efforts such as COVID-19.

    Investment in sustainable projects can bring many advantages, but it is vitally important that investors and firms understand what constitutes “green” or “sustainable”. While there are standards and organizations available to identify companies’ ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) characteristics, every investor, firm and government must determine which activities or projects best match their individual goals and needs.

    Green investments include renewable energy, carbon offsetting and carbon credits – these latter ones being tradable requests that represent an equivalent amount of CO2 being removed from the atmosphere by another party – making them an excellent way for any entity with high emissions to offset their impact by paying someone else to remove the emissions on their behalf.

    Green finance is expanding rapidly, but not without challenges. One such challenge is its sporadic disclosure requirements which makes it hard for markets to understand and price these investments accurately. Another hurdle involves improving transparency and accountability within green projects – both will need to be overcome for scale up of green finance to take place.

    The green bond market plays a vital role in helping address environmental concerns. By issuing green bonds, governments can fund infrastructure projects while also contributing to sustainability efforts within private businesses and providing capital for energy efficiency, water conservation and waste management projects.