The Dilemma of Tropical Forest Destruction
Over the last 20 years the impact we have on tropical forests around the world is becoming more and more evident. As a woodworker and environmentalist it has always been important to me to try and have the least negative impact on the world around me, considering both humans and nature. I read all that I can find on the subject and speak to people on both sides of the issue, namely the woodworking industry and the environmentalist organizations. I am not looking for justification in using the woods I do, just the truth about the impact of my use. My research so far has come to several conclusions.
The best that I can find is the tropical forests around the world are being destroyed at an alarming rate. If nothing is done, this will have world-wide implications. People in government will tell you the reasons are complicated and varied.
The truth is not so complicated as politicians would like you to believe. Basically third world and emerging country's populations are growing at alarming rates. These country's populations are expanding into the forests around the cities and towns to live, using firewood for heating and cooking, and subsistence farming. The governments encourage this encroachment because cities are overpopulated and they see the forest land as a possible agriculture bonanza in agricultural exports (cattle, soy corn, etc) that they need. These countries around the world are so desperate for foreign money they choose to ignore the long-term consequences of not regulating forest policies and working on stabilizing population growth. Both religious and cultural influences, whether domestic or foreign, also prevent concrete steps from helping to stabilize populations. Forest destruction is by far a result of agricultural business and human population growth, not by cutting trees for wood products or lumber.
But what is also true is that this relentless deforestation starts with legal and illegal lumber companies building roads into the forest to cut specific trees, then the subsistence farmer enters the forest on these roads and burns down the trees and vegetation that is left. They grow crops for a few years, then move deeper into the forest burning down more forest, with cattle ranchers coming in right behind them. All this is with the explicit, although sometimes covert, consent of the government.
All this said, I have put an emphasis on using domestic woods where forest stewardship has long been practiced, and buying tropical woods from suppliers I know and trust, even though this is probably having no impact on tropical forest destruction. This problem can only be solved by the world working together to educate and stabilize world populations.
