Deforesation

Deforestation Rates in Developing Countries

For years developed countries have criticized developing countries for their inability to reduce emissions. On of the main problems facing developing countries is deforestation. Out of 16.3 million hectares deforested annually, 15.4 million of those hectares come from developing countries. Deforestation is to blame for a vast increase in carbon dioxide emissions in developing countries. Deforestation is the second largest human initiated source of carbon dioxide emissions. However, the question remains: Why are these emissions so much higher in developing countries? The answer is a combination of population growth, modernization, and a growing dependence on developed countries.

Population expansion is perhaps the most obvious of the causes. If the number of people increases it logically follows that emission would increase as well. However, the problem goes quite extensively past this; agricultural growth and efficiency, economic independency, and birth and death rates. When population growth rates are high and development is low, deforestation rates have been seen to rise. This is increase is based on policy choices and development constraints. Faulty policy in developing countries may cause loss of forested land but a policy can be changed. The more severe problem is facing deforestation from development constraints, as these cannot be resolved by simply changing the policy at fault.

This leads to the issue of modernization. Many studies have show direct correlations between the development rate in a country and environmental degradation. To a certain extent it has been found that economic growth will increase deforestation, however, after a certain point of economic empowerment the deforestation rates drop dramatically along with carbon dioxide emissions. The increase caused by the expanding availability of capital for mining, logging, and plantation agriculture. As countries become more developed their dependence on the resources from deforestation at first increases but takes a sharp plummet as alternatives to forest resources are found, as technology becomes more efficient, and as a country develops stricter management practices. Shifting an economy from an industry-centric view to a service-centric view (education, banking, cleaning, other fields of expertise, etc.) lessens the dependence on forest resources.

Developing countries have taken the lead on assisting developing countries with their economy; at what cost? Countries that are characterized by their labor-intensive production systems have been deemed ‘peripheral countries’ while developed countries have been placed in the center of the global economy. Trade between these peripheral countries and a core country has increased exploitation of developing countries natural resources. These countries pay for high-priced, technologically advanced goods with raw materials such as lumber. When the price is too high these countries may seek loans from another core economy with promises of more lumber and raw material. Exports then are expanded to pay back this loan and the environment suffers.

Deforestation plays a vital role in the economy of developing countries. It allows them to grow and develop the same way that the current-day developed countries did. However, without price deflation countries placed on goods from developing economies this impact could be made a lot less severe. The impact of development must be taken into consideration and, when possible, it needs to be mitigated for the greater good of the planet. Developing countries are not able to make this step without the help and support of the developed countries economies.

Bibliography

Allen, Julia C., and Douglas F. Barnes. "The Causes Of Deforestation In Developing Countries." Annals Of The Association Of American Geographers 75.(1985): 163-184. OmniFile Full Text Mega (H.W. Wilson). Web. 15 Oct. 2012.

Anil Markandya, et al. "Linking Reduced Deforestation And A Global Carbon Market: Implications For Clean Energy Technology And Policy Flexibility." Environment And Development Economics 16.4 (2011): 479-505. OmniFile Full Text Mega (H.W. Wilson). Web. 22 Oct. 2012.

Brondizio, Eduardo, and Moran, E. "Level-Dependent Deforestation

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