| The term Deforestation is another word for | | | | euthanized or shot) in zoos rather than in burning |
| cutting down massive trees in forests to clear | | | | forests. |
| land. In the new millennium, it is now one of the | | | | If a wildlife forest has a legendary status of |
| most overlooked issues in the United States. My | | | | attracting visitors across the nation and different |
| estimate states that over 6,000 acres of land are | | | | parts of the world, this should tell its frequent |
| developed every day (J. Mitchell, SUNY Potsdam), | | | | visitors something - it needs to be saved for |
| but it costs millions of dollars to re-grow parts of | | | | future generations to enjoy this beautiful scenery. |
| it. Since the late 20th century through its present | | | | People come here for camping and a variety of |
| day, a variety of environmental organizations such | | | | recreational activities that they bring into the area. |
| as Greenpeace USA and Focus the Nation have | | | | This is the number one concern for people who |
| been fighting for a long time to preserve forests | | | | are willing to talk about it. Personal experiences |
| through conservation along with the process of | | | | and the history of a forest should give us the |
| sustainability. So far, there is a mixture of wins | | | | background for decisions on what to do in a time |
| and losses in this situation. I believe that | | | | like this. This reason ties in with economic, social, |
| deforestation is a shared problem across the | | | | cultural, and political dimensions in deforestation. |
| country. Also, I believe that this issue should grab | | | | You have one group who want to destroy the |
| just about everyone's attention - meaning the | | | | forest for houses, buildings, and businesses while |
| people who are willing to listen. For me, I can think | | | | the opposing group is fighting against these ideas |
| of a few reasons why people should care and be | | | | to protect the forest from any damage. Devotion |
| concerned: pollution on land and in the air, wildlife | | | | and dedication in saving the forest takes a lot out |
| endangerment, and the "legendary" status of any | | | | of an individual or group, but it's worth the risk |
| particular forest area across the country. | | | | and effort. |
| Four things are part of the economic dimensions | | | | What I have found puzzling is that it took more |
| in deforestation: excessive logging, harvesting for | | | | than three decades for recycled products to |
| fuel, raising cattle, and the Slash and Burn | | | | become the biggest thing in the market. In the |
| agriculture are very popular in timber companies. | | | | 1990's, recycled products were in tons of 99-cent |
| They give a variety of construction workers | | | | stores, but not as much as in today's times. I |
| extra jobs, money, and hours. Logging is the | | | | remember when schools from grades K to 8, in |
| number one threat to the old growth forests | | | | New York City and across America, were |
| across the northwestern United States, for | | | | participating in events where "Earth Day" is |
| example - which is familiar to this next cause. The | | | | present on a school day. During class time and/or |
| Slash N' Burn agriculture is also a threat to forests | | | | lunch time, the students and members of the |
| as well, most likely tropical rainforests. After a set | | | | faculty would actually clean up the parks located in |
| of acres of land is cleared by this cause, with | | | | front of their schools. For example, the same |
| very low population density, the land is used for 2 | | | | thing has happened to me back in 1994. The |
| to 3 years and then left alone for up to 10 years | | | | students and I would clean up the park in front of |
| to replenish its nutrients (Don Bragow, "What is | | | | our grade school named P.S. 17. |
| Deforestation"). To me, that is wasting a lot of | | | | In the late 1990s, I would catch the "Big |
| land for something that is not worth using. Why | | | | Help-A-Thon" on Nickelodeon to watch music |
| waste that much land if you are only going to use | | | | events and people doing things for strong causes |
| a small set of acres for something that you really | | | | such as preserving forests and helping homeless |
| want? | | | | people. Also, families would call in to pledge in |
| Air Pollution has a connection with deforestation | | | | order to help for strong causes. Every year, I |
| through the issue with Greenhouse-Gas Emissions. | | | | would catch this program since 1996. The last |
| Research shows that up to 30% of global | | | | time I watched it was in 2001 - the year I |
| greenhouse-gas emissions each year were caused | | | | entered my first year in high school. Nowadays, in |
| by the loss of forests (Toni Johnson, | | | | the 2000's, when it comes to promoting |
| "Deforestation & Greenhouse Gas | | | | awareness and addressing any issue (i.e. |
| Emissions") around the world such as parts of the | | | | environment, crime) to the public, the internet is |
| Amazon in Brazil. GHG emissions results to Global | | | | the number one source for anyone to access. |
| Warming, Acid Rain, which damages the plants in | | | | Television and Radio are mostly focusing on |
| forests. Bad weather such as flooding results | | | | politics and the popularity in the Arts & |
| from the role of evaporation, condensation, and | | | | Entertainment industry. |
| precipitation, due to the smoke from the ground | | | | Solutions for these three problems are very easy |
| up and into the air. In November of 1997, | | | | to follow, but it takes a while to get used to |
| thousands of fires were set in Southeast Asia | | | | them and maintaining them for a number of |
| due to the Slash and Burn agriculture. The air | | | | months in your house, building or your work site. |
| pollution in Malaysia raised up to 6 times the level | | | | Buy recycled products such as composition books |
| considered unhealthy (Johnson). | | | | and packs of loose-leaf paper to support |
| In wildlife endangerment, deforestation plays a | | | | sustainability - using things for a limited amount of |
| large role along with scaring away almost the | | | | time and saving things for later use. If you're |
| entire number of any species. Environmental | | | | having breathing problems due to air pollution, get |
| Activists are angry and worried that animals | | | | a prescription for your allergy medicine and/or an |
| would not exist if deforestation takes over. This | | | | inhaler if it gets any worse. For wildlife |
| is probably why individuals and teams now own | | | | endangerment issues and your favorite forest's |
| animal sanctuaries these days. For animal lovers | | | | legendary status - if you're concerned about this, |
| and veterinarians, they have to manage the | | | | join a club or an organization to send the word |
| surviving animals whose environments have been | | | | out. Also, you can volunteer or get a part-time or |
| damaged. It costs millions of dollars in funding for | | | | full-time job at a zoo, an animal shelter, or an |
| animal sanctuaries across the U.S. This country | | | | animal sanctuary. I guarantee that this will look |
| has a history of wiping out species into smaller | | | | very impressive for your resume. Finally, the next |
| numbers up to a point where they become "rare". | | | | solution is to make a petition on paper or online to |
| When deforestation occurs, animals have two | | | | fight against deforestation in upcoming rallies, |
| choices to make: migrate to another place or | | | | protests, or meetings. |
| meet their fate. In some cases, they're taken to | | | | Personally, I have issues with deforestation. It is |
| animal zoos or sanctuaries. All of this takes time, | | | | one of the most overlooked issues in the United |
| money, effort, and a lot of pressure for a place | | | | States. There is something you can do about it, |
| to hold wildlife animals. Yet, there is not enough | | | | but it takes a few things: risk, effort, teamwork, |
| homes for these wild animals. Some will become | | | | and tons of pressure to do something for a |
| very ill and some will meet their fate (i.e. - | | | | cause. |