Global warming and illegal logging
by: Camela Dawn Derecho
Forests, farms, snowcapped mountains, and coasts. The face of the earth, as we all know it, hangs in the balance. Global warming, climate change, and weather disturbances—problems we’ve been studying for years. Are these still new to us? How do we cope with this undying problem that we’ve been working on?
The Earth’s climate has changed throughout history. The current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it is very likely human-induced and proceeding at a rate that is unprecented in the past 1,300 years. (www.climate.nasa.gov) Today, our world is hotter than it has been two thousand years ago. Climate change may be one of the greatest threats facing the planet.
Global warming, according to www.livescience.com, is a change that is believed to be permanently changing the Earth’s climate. According to the research, the earth’s temperature has risen between 0.4 and 0.8 °C over the past 100 years. Natural events and human activities like land clearing, burning of fossil fuels and whatnot are believed to have been the sources of global warming over the past 50 years. Furthermore, Global warming is also caused by the increase of “greenhouse” gases like Carbon Dioxide (CO2 ). A warming planet thus leads to climate change which can affect weather in various ways.
According to NASA, there are evidences for rapid climate change. First, Sea level rose about 17 centimeters (6.7 inches) in the last century. Second, All three global surface temperature reconstructions show that Earth has warmed since 1880. Third, the oceans have absorbed much of this increased heat, with the top 700 meters (about 2,300 feet) of ocean showing warming of 0.302 degrees Fahrenheit since 1969. Fourth, both the extent and thickness of Arctic sea ice has declined rapidly over the last several decades. Fifth, satellite observations reveal that the amount of spring snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere has decreased over the past five decades and that the snow is melting earlier. (www.climate.nasa.gov)
Given the primary sources of climate change, global warming hits another area of concern: deforestation. Deforestation, according to (http://environment.nationalgeographic.com), is clearing Earth’s forests on a massive scale resulting in damage of to the quality of the land. About 30% of the world’s land area are still covered with forests. Trees are cut down for many reasons, but most of these reasons are for money or the people’s need to provide their own families. The biggest driver of deforestation is agriculture. The farmers cut trees in order to provide more room for planting crops and livestock. Moreover, not all deforestation is intentional. Some are caused by a human and natural factors like subsequent overgrazing and wild fires which prevent young trees to grow.
As we all know, trees are the first line of defense against typhoon, tropical storms, floods, and whatnot. With this non-stop logging, the Philippines is rapidly losing its forest cover and its natural protection against destructive storms. The forest cover of the Philippines cover from 70% to 20% over the course of 20th century. According to research, there are 197 illegal logging “hot spots” in provinces like Isabela, Surigao, Agusan and Davao.
Cagayan de Oro has been experiencing climate change tragedies these past few years. All of that because of human activities. Industries has risen and projects of road widening were accepted which results to tree cutting for land clearing. To provide the needs of this city, there has been cutting of trees which is where the buildings will be put.
The climate changing easily and the weather that goes from intensely hot to intensely cold have been undoubtedly “the new normal”.
Promoting sustainable forestry
“Permit should be done so the illegal logging will be reduced and this is to enhance environmental protection…” –Bebot G. Catipay, DENR.
According to (http://www.scientificamerican.com), there are 10 possible solutions for staving off climate change. First is to forego fossil fuels, eliminate the burning coal, oil, and natural gas. Second is infrastructure upgrade. Third is to move closer to work. Fourth, consume less or buy less stuff. Fifth, be efficient. Simpler and bigger impact can be made by doing more with less. Sixth, eat smart. Seventh, stop cutting down trees. Eighth, unplug. Tvs, stereo equipment, computers, chargers and a host of other gadgets and appliances consume more energy when swithed off, so unplug instead. Ninth, one child or continuing such population growth seems unsustainable. Tenth, Future fuels.
The WWF created the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN), a global partnership comprised of suppliers, producers, and purchasers from across the forest industry supply chain that are willing to lead the industry in sustainable forest management and trade. The GFTN aims to eliminate illegal logging by helping its participants overcome forest management and responsible purchasing challenges.
The list above are just some simple ways to somehow solve the climate change but it is up to us whether we will follow it or not, help the world or remain the reason why there is warming in the planet.
