Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
major problem. The precise area of forest lost is unknown but timber and wildlife losses
were appreciable as natural drought and fires intended to clear forest for agriculture
combined together to burn thousands of hectares.
Cutting down of tropical rain forest has now reached such proportions that major
concerns are being raised about its consequences. What we will consider here is, first,
why are the rain forests being cut down? Second, does it matter and, if so, what are the
impacts? Third, can and should anything be done about their management?
WHY ARE THE RAIN FORESTS BEING FELLED?
Surprisingly, this is not a simple question. The reason why trees are felled varies. Table
28.1 lists the main factors which have been put forward as reasons for deforestation by
region. Common factors do appear in each region but with different emphasis (Figure
28.8). The actual felling may be done by agriculturists, by loggers or by fuelwood
collectors but the key factors are access and transport. Without a method of transporting
the wood or the subsequent agricultural production out of the area, the only possibility of
use is for subsistence agriculture (Plate 28.3). Many of the countries containing rain
forest are economically poor, with large population growth rates. Poverty, low
agricultural productivity and an unequal distribution of land may drive people to move
Table 28.1 Important factors influencing
deforestation
in the tropics by major world regions
Region
Main factors
Latin America
Cattle ranching
Resettlement and spontaneous migration
Agricultural expansion
Road networks
Population pressure
Inequitable social structures
Africa
Fuelwood collection
Logging
Agricultural expansion
Population pressure
South Asia
Population pressure
Agricultural expansion
Corruption
Fodder collection
Fuelwood collection
South-east Asia
Corruption
