Cause - Effect
Deforestation has been pinpointed as a serious environmental problem in Southeast Asia. What are the causes/circumstance that give rise to this problem?
(Human has prehistorically involved in deforestation. While there are various definitions of deforestation, it generally refers to the destruction of forests due to human activities. In recent centuries, the rate of deforestation has increased along the rise of human population and activities. In the 21st century, deforestation has been declared as one of the major environmental concerns as the rate goes too high and its impact is catastrophic.)
In Southeast Asia, deforestation is mainly due to logging activities, forest fires, agriculture and urban development. Tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia are mainly consists of highly demanded hard woods which are valuable because of their high quality. As a result, the old, big trees are chopped down without proper limitations in virtually all countries in Southeast Asia.
Today, most of the nomadic aborigines in Southeast Asia still utilize the 'slash and burn' technique to obtain farmland. The process of chopping down the trees and burning them is preferred because it enables the land to be cleared easily, while fertilizing the land to improve the yield of their crops. The degree of deforestation caused by this method is said to be insignificant as compared to other causes. However, the process of burning the trees often leads to uncontrollable forest fires which leads to a more catastrophic disaster.
The development of the developing countries in Southeast Asia has also contributed to the deforestation in this region. Huge amount of land is in demand for urban, industrial and agriculture development, and forests are often being cleared up in order to fulfill these demands. For instance, forests in Malaysia and Indonesia have been used for oil palm cultivation to fulfill the economic demand for palm oil. Hydroelectric projects in Malaysia, such as the Bakun Hydroelectric Project and the Kenyir Dam have produced artificial lakes, which completely destroy the forests within the dam.
My bloggin buddy: Xuejie
(Human has prehistorically involved in deforestation. While there are various definitions of deforestation, it generally refers to the destruction of forests due to human activities. In recent centuries, the rate of deforestation has increased along the rise of human population and activities. In the 21st century, deforestation has been declared as one of the major environmental concerns as the rate goes too high and its impact is catastrophic.)
In Southeast Asia, deforestation is mainly due to logging activities, forest fires, agriculture and urban development. Tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia are mainly consists of highly demanded hard woods which are valuable because of their high quality. As a result, the old, big trees are chopped down without proper limitations in virtually all countries in Southeast Asia.
Today, most of the nomadic aborigines in Southeast Asia still utilize the 'slash and burn' technique to obtain farmland. The process of chopping down the trees and burning them is preferred because it enables the land to be cleared easily, while fertilizing the land to improve the yield of their crops. The degree of deforestation caused by this method is said to be insignificant as compared to other causes. However, the process of burning the trees often leads to uncontrollable forest fires which leads to a more catastrophic disaster.
image courtesy: uk.encarta.msn.com
The development of the developing countries in Southeast Asia has also contributed to the deforestation in this region. Huge amount of land is in demand for urban, industrial and agriculture development, and forests are often being cleared up in order to fulfill these demands. For instance, forests in Malaysia and Indonesia have been used for oil palm cultivation to fulfill the economic demand for palm oil. Hydroelectric projects in Malaysia, such as the Bakun Hydroelectric Project and the Kenyir Dam have produced artificial lakes, which completely destroy the forests within the dam.
image courtesy: dimensibaru.com
My bloggin buddy: Xuejie
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