In the article, ”Illegal logging-destroying the last Ancient Forests” (n.d), the author points out that the ancient forests are special and unique habitats for species and home to millions of people. However, there are 80 percent of ancient forests that have been ruined, and much of what remains is threatened by illegal logging. Illegal logging is an overwhelming threat to ancient forests, and illegal logging results in deforestation, the loss of biodiversity, and climate change. In addition, illegal logging makes the legal timber production become weaker and its revenue decelerate quickly. In another article, “Deadly battle with Amazon’s mafia” (2005, para. 8), the author says that “it is estimated that the Amazonian timber trade is worth close to $1bn, and that much of the trade is illegal.” Next, importing and trading illegal logging products is another way to assist the forest crime. In those, the illegal logging problem is not only about the environmental concentration but also related with the global economic damage. Even though the government has some actions to make the deforestation rate lower, the real consequence of stopping deforestation still depends on the commodity price (Colitt, 2007). It means that the Brazil government has to work hard continually to make the actual non-deforestation.
In “Greenpeace Activists Trapped by Loggers in Amazon”, the author states that “Deforestation is responsible for three quarters of Brazil’s greenhouse gas emissions, and makes the country the fourth largest climate polluter in the world” (2007, para.1). First, it damages the environment when illegal logging makes the forests disappear. So we should rebuild the ancient forests and reforest them. Second, illegal logging also impairs the economy; we should stop buying art made by the illegal wood carving, and the governments should develop the policies to protect them, and the more developed countries should help the developing countries to use different energy, and stop using wood for fuel. Third, the government should help the logger find other jobs, and then they will not depend on illegal logging for a living.
First, I think we have enough technological skill to rebuild the forests, and we can help the amount of species become more and more prosperous. The Brazil government claimed that Amazon deforestation has been controlled (Colitt, 2007), but stopping the logging is not enough anymore. We should replenish the forests. In Taiwan, the government builds the forest parks; there are experts to care for the ancient forests, and experts also concentrate on fostering the forests. Therefore, if someone wants to enter the forests, they have to get admission. I think this would be an appropriate way for Brazil’s forests. The experts also can help the endangered species to survive and live in the Amazon. Not every species can restore itself and breed actively by itself.
Second, the governments, like France, UK, Belgium, and Netherlands, should stop allowing the importation to get the wood arts or furniture from illegal loggers (Wikipedia, n.d). And they also should ban the people who buy these. If there is no one who wants or can buy them, mostly loggers will not cut down the trees. And the Brazilian government can develop the new species for trees that can grow up fast or find a new way to improve the growing of trees, and use them to make the necessary wood products. Some countries have an illegal logging problem because of using the wood for fuel. I think that the developed countries should help these countries find the substitute energy resource, instead of cutting trees for fuel. The deforestation is not just a problem in the countries that have the ancient forests, but also the issue about whole world, so the developed countries should help the developing countries in the technology and finance. Buying the timber from illegal logging is also crime; it helps that illegal loggings occur continually. I think that illegal logging also includes the illegal transport and export. The loggers avoid the tax and other charges. We shouldn’t buy the illegal wood also will allow us to save money, because the cost in environment that we pay will be more than that of using the wood.(Cowell, 2005) The government can make protective taxes or make economic policies to reduce illegal logging’s transport to different areas, or put the certificate on the illegal timbering. I think it is an appropriate way to prevent illegal logging from damaging the international timber trades.
Third, I think Brazil’s government can help the people change their jobs from illegal logging to other jobs that don’t hurt the environment. If the government helps people to live without depending on logging, the condition will improve quickly and easily. Only a powerful government can lead the people acts to doing right things in the right ways. People may work in illegal logging, because they are earning the income to support the family. I think the government can develop alterative ways to help people earn money; furthermore, the government also can put some punishment on the illegal loggers. The Brazilian government can also change the energy to let people use it; it should know the people’s need and help them solve the problems of living. Avoid any way to use the wood, and then make the ancient forests live continually. If there is no need for the woods, the amount of wood require will decrease.
Some people think we still have many forests; in fact, we don’t. “Over the past 30 years 15% of the Brazilian Amazon has been completely destroyed, reaching over 590,000 square kilometers- an area larger than France” (The Amazon rainforest: history, 2001). Some people think we can just stop illegal logging, but I think it is not sufficient, and we have to compensate the mistake we did. It is the reason why rebuilding is important. Because we already have lost so much forest, it also made the wounds to the environment. We can do something more for the hurtful forests and inhabitants.
In conclusion, we all know the serious damage done by illegal logging; besides just stopping, we should do more things to recompense. In addition, we still have to ban illegal logging totally. We can follow the protection organizations’ steps continually, and the ancient forests should be renewed. Humans can discover ways to make the species exist continuously. After the basic work to forbid illegal logging, I state that we have some advanced work to do. We can act in both passive ways, like forbidding illegal logging, and optimistic ways, like rebuilding the ecosystem, at the same time. The actions of protecting the ancient forests are not the only responsibility for the country that has the ancient forests, because the environment belongs to everyone. If the environment fights back one day, I think it is also assumed by everyone.
Reference:
Colitt, R. (2007, August 10). Amazon deforestation drops sharply: Brazil govt. Reuters. Retrieved October, 22, 2007 from http://www.reuters.com/articleprint?articleld=USN1029015620070810
Cowell, A. (2005, November 16). Deadly battle with Amazon’s mafia. BBC News. Retrieved October 24, 2007 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/this_world/4429612.stm
Greenpeace Activists Trapped by Loggers in Amazon. (2007, October, 18) Greenpeace. Retrieved October, 22, 2007 from http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/activists-trapped-by-loggers071018
Illegal logging - destroying the last Ancient Forests. (n.d). Greenpeace. Retrieved October, 22, 2007 from http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/forests/threats/illegal-logging
Illegal logging. (n.d). Wikipedia. Retrieved November, 12, 2007 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_logging
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