Up until now I haven’t specified exactly what I intend to change in my life, although I’ve had a few ideas based on what I already know about the causes of deforestation.
Today’s post is my lesson to myself: what are the causes and what tiny shuffling steps will lead me to stand against deforestation?
~ Cattle ranching is the reason for 70% of Amazonian deforestation. After few years they must move on when the ground is no longer suitable. And all the time, meat prices increase, making this an attractive investment.
~ Agriculture: soy and palm oil, the latter named «Fastest Forest Destroyer» by the Guinness World Book of Records. Ironically, much soy is used for biofuel…
~ Logging is surprisingly not the biggest cause. Illegal logging, much more common than legal, is seen as an income generator for the poverty-stricken while those who sell it gain up to $15 billion every year.
~ Road building often cuts straight through pristine forest to reach inaccessible places that then brings settlers and workers who show no respect to the forest that remains. Nearly 10,000 miles of road have been built since 1970’s!
Frightening, perhaps, to consider some of these facts. Not a simple problem, not black and white. In some places, a vicious circle of poverty and desperation.
So what do I do? For each cause, an action I could take:
~ Going veggie (very popular!)
~ Identifying foods with palm oil and soy in them and starting to wean myself off them.
~ Reducing, re-using and recycling paper
~ …. no idea!
Next week: my thoughts on my soon-to-be actions. And, hopefully, something that can be done about road building!
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