Deforestation and Climate Deforestation and Climate ChangeChange

Phillip LarsonPhillip Larson Ben MancheskiBen Mancheski

Andrew RooyakkersAndrew Rooyakkers&&

Aaron SchaufenbuelAaron Schaufenbuel

IntroductionIntroduction

Definition: the deliberate clearance of forested land by cutting or burning. Can have a major impact on:1. surface water flows2. hydrographs3. soil erosion4. Climate

What causes deforestation?What causes deforestation?

1. Agricultural Practices1. Agricultural Practicesa. Shifting Agriculturea. Shifting Agriculture

b. Permanent Agricultureb. Permanent Agriculture

2. Cattle Ranching2. Cattle Ranching

3. Commercial Logging3. Commercial Logging

Shifting AgricultureShifting Agriculture

1. Traditional shifting cultivation1. Traditional shifting cultivationa.a. ““slash and burn”slash and burn”b.b. Regeneration: 15- 20 yearsRegeneration: 15- 20 years

2. Short rotation cultivation2. Short rotation cultivation a. fallow periodsa. fallow periods

3. Encroaching cultivation3. Encroaching cultivation a. Spreading from main roadsa. Spreading from main roads

Permanent AgriculturePermanent Agriculture

1. Why is it a problem?1. Why is it a problem?

2. Fish Farming2. Fish Farming

3. Government Resettlement Schemes3. Government Resettlement Schemes

Cattle RanchingCattle Ranching

- Law states that ½ of land must be retained as - Law states that ½ of land must be retained as forestedforested

Other causesOther causes

1. Mining1. Mining

2. Hydro electric plants (Tucuru Dam)2. Hydro electric plants (Tucuru Dam)

3. Urban expansion3. Urban expansion

4. Cultivation of illegal4. Cultivation of illegaldrugsdrugs

Commercial LoggingCommercial Logging

-alleviates debt-alleviates debt

-developing countries (Brazil)-developing countries (Brazil)

Climate ChangesClimate Changes

1. Increase in solar radiation= cooling1. Increase in solar radiation= cooling

2. Less evapotranspiration= warming2. Less evapotranspiration= warming

3. Rainfall3. Rainfall

4. Mountain climates4. Mountain climates

Wisconsin?Wisconsin?

- Many rivers (easy transport)- Many rivers (easy transport)

- First paper mill built in Appleton in 1853- First paper mill built in Appleton in 1853

(Fox, Wisconsin, Chippewa, Menominee, Peshtigo, Eau Claire, Flambeau)

Natural Causes of Climate ChangeNatural Causes of Climate Change

Glacial Ages (Ice Ages)Glacial Ages (Ice Ages) Milankovitch Cycle/ Orbital ChangesMilankovitch Cycle/ Orbital Changes Carbon Dioxide/ Atmospheric ChangesCarbon Dioxide/ Atmospheric Changes Volcanic ActivityVolcanic Activity Sea Water CirculationSea Water Circulation Continental PositionContinental Position

Over the past 750,000 years of Earth's history, Ice Ages have occurred at Over the past 750,000 years of Earth's history, Ice Ages have occurred at

regular intervals, of approximately 100,000 years eachregular intervals, of approximately 100,000 years each

http://www.clearlight.com/~mhieb/WVFossils/ice_ages.html

Over half the Earth’s surface was covered by Glaciers or extreme deserts Over half the Earth’s surface was covered by Glaciers or extreme deserts at the extent of glaciation 18,000 years ago.at the extent of glaciation 18,000 years ago.

http://www.clearlight.com/~mhieb/WVFossils/present_interglacial.html

Present day vegetation coverPresent day vegetation cover

http://www.clearlight.com/~mhieb/WVFossils/present_interglacial.html

Deforestation and Climate Deforestation and Climate ChangeChange

(A) Mass deforestation of Amazon regions (A) Mass deforestation of Amazon regions could increase in the mean surface temperature could increase in the mean surface temperature 2.5°C and decrease the annual evapo-2.5°C and decrease the annual evapo-transpiration (30% reduction), precipitation transpiration (30% reduction), precipitation (25% reduction), and runoff (20% reduction) (25% reduction), and runoff (20% reduction) in the regionin the region

Deforestation and Climate Deforestation and Climate ChangeChange

(B) There has been an increase in atmospheric (B) There has been an increase in atmospheric concentration of CO2 of 90 ppm between the pre-concentration of CO2 of 90 ppm between the pre-industrial era and year 2000. The projected range of industrial era and year 2000. The projected range of CO2 concentrations in 2100, under a range of CO2 concentrations in 2100, under a range of emissions scenarios developed for the IPCC, is 170-emissions scenarios developed for the IPCC, is 170-600 ppm above 2000 levels.600 ppm above 2000 levels.

Complete global deforestation over the same time Complete global deforestation over the same time frame would increase atmospheric concentrations by frame would increase atmospheric concentrations by about 130-290 ppm. about 130-290 ppm.

Deforestation and Climate Deforestation and Climate ChangeChange

(C) Managing forests to help control (C) Managing forests to help control greenhouse gases can be complicated. If the greenhouse gases can be complicated. If the forests are cut down again before they grow to forests are cut down again before they grow to their optimum carbon storage potential, they their optimum carbon storage potential, they might not prove to be as helpful to counter-might not prove to be as helpful to counter-balance deforestation as once was thought.balance deforestation as once was thought.

Preventing DeforestationPreventing Deforestation

Several techniques already in placeSeveral techniques already in place

Tree incentive programTree incentive program

Tree replacement programTree replacement program This program offers an incentive in the form of This program offers an incentive in the form of

money to those who plant trees. money to those who plant trees. Many state governments have joined this Many state governments have joined this

approach.approach.

BenefitsBenefits

Helps shoulder the overall cost of planting Helps shoulder the overall cost of planting new trees.new trees.

Gives incentives to business by using the Gives incentives to business by using the capitalist system to replant trees after cutting capitalist system to replant trees after cutting them down.them down.

PitfallsPitfalls

The money incentive is often not enough The money incentive is often not enough money to cover the full cost of planting trees.money to cover the full cost of planting trees.

This leads to mainly environmentalists or This leads to mainly environmentalists or corporations planting trees. People who most corporations planting trees. People who most likely would have done so at a loss anyhow.likely would have done so at a loss anyhow.

Non-Profit OrganizationsNon-Profit Organizations

There are many non profit organizations who There are many non profit organizations who go about collecting money / donations to plant go about collecting money / donations to plant trees.trees.

Some even encourage children to buy land in Some even encourage children to buy land in the rain forests through the schools.the rain forests through the schools.

Preventing DeforestationPreventing Deforestation

Several ways that deforestation could be Several ways that deforestation could be preventedprevented

Social ReformSocial Reform

The current capitalist system takes advantage The current capitalist system takes advantage of the earths resources to the point where of the earths resources to the point where permanent damage can be expected.permanent damage can be expected.

There currently societies who live within a There currently societies who live within a sustainable rate of environmental degradation.sustainable rate of environmental degradation.

Social ReformSocial Reform

Not likely to happen.Not likely to happen. The current setup of our government allows The current setup of our government allows

candidates to be “bought” by big money.candidates to be “bought” by big money. Corporations donate money to a candidate’s Corporations donate money to a candidate’s

campaign and the candidate will look out for campaign and the candidate will look out for that corporation’s interests in return.that corporation’s interests in return.

TechnologyTechnology

There is the possibility that technology could There is the possibility that technology could progress to the point to where we once again progress to the point to where we once again live in a sustainable environment.live in a sustainable environment.

Our capitalist system dictates that corporations Our capitalist system dictates that corporations will always try to corner the market and by will always try to corner the market and by doing so make huge profits.doing so make huge profits.

TechnologyTechnology

Often, for a corporation to receive such an Often, for a corporation to receive such an edge is through technology. This ensures the edge is through technology. This ensures the progression of technology.progression of technology.

Technology could come to the point where it Technology could come to the point where it becomes so advanced through the capitalist becomes so advanced through the capitalist system that the demand for natural resources system that the demand for natural resources becomes significantly reduced.becomes significantly reduced.

Strict RegulationsStrict Regulations

Throughout history, we see that public outcry Throughout history, we see that public outcry has elected politicians who take to hart what has elected politicians who take to hart what the people want rather than the needs of the the people want rather than the needs of the corporations.corporations.

If there is enough of a public outcry over If there is enough of a public outcry over environmental issues, candidates and environmental issues, candidates and government leaders will begin to enforce government leaders will begin to enforce stricter environmental regulations.stricter environmental regulations.