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I plan to discuss Deforestation as a critical global concern, exploring the causes of deforestation and its impacts. I will also considering deforestation in Costa Rica specifically, looking at the major sources/causes of deforestation. I will also consider what is being done to slow/stop deforestation and what is being done to repair the damage already caused by considering the situation in Costa Rica.
I. Introduction: Deforestation as a global problem
-clearing of land for other uses like logging and agriculture
-done for short term profit often at expense of long term stable economic and environmental policy
II. impact of Deforestation
A. Green house gas emission Ð CO2
-deforestation adds C to the atmosphere
-in the 80s, deforestation accounted for1.6 tons of carbon emissions (IPCC estimate)
-major cause of future climate change
B. Biodiversity loss
C. Significant economic impacts
D. Culture impacts - indigenous
III. Causes of Deforestation (globally)
A. rapid population growth in developing countries. Competing for space
B. poverty
C. ÒfailureÓ of economic markets to reflect true value of environmental systems.
IV. Situation in Central America, Specifically Costa Rica
A. almost 60% of lowland forests in C. America had been felled by 1980
B. pop pressure and poverty key fundamental causes
C. position in global economic system
D. Costa Rica: from 81-85, annual lost of 3.9% of forests
(largely due to massive expansion of cattle ranching)
-1983: ~83% of Costa RicaÕs forests felled.
V. Causes/Effects specific to Costa Rica
A. Cattle Ranching
B. Migrant Farmers
VI. What is being done Ð (specifically in Costa Rica)
A. CR has been most successful (of all of Latin America) in setting aside legally protected areas to limit deforestation
B. recent years; taking on conservation attitude.
C. Ecotourism is key
VII. Future outlook/conclusion
Works Cited:
Bailey, Robert C., Headland, Thomas N, & Sponsel, Leslie E (eds). (1996). Tropical Deforestation: the Human Dimension. Columbia University Press:NY.
Brown, Katrina, & Pearce, David W. (eds). (1994) The Causes of Tropical Deforestation: the Economic and statistical analysis of factors giving rise to the loss of the tropical forests. Vancouver, British Columbia: UBC Press.
Kricher, John. (1997). A Neotropical Companion: An introduction to the animals, plants and ecosystems of the New World Tropics. Princeton University Press, 2nd ed.
Lawton, R.O, Nair, U.S., Pielke Sr., R.A Welch, R.M. (2001). Climactic Impact of tropical lowland deforestation on nearby montane cloud forests. Science, 294, 5542, p584-588.
Moran, Matthew D. & Spray, Sharon L. (eds). (2006). Tropical Deforestation. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield
Perkins, Sid. (2001). Lowland Tree Loss threatens Cloud Forests. Science News, 160, 16, p245.
Wunder, Sven. (2000). The Economics of Deforestation: the example of Ecuador. New York: St. MartinÕs Press, Inc.
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