Depletion of Land and Trees

1. Depletion of Land and Trees Angie Roller Kimberly Myers Christian Banks Amanda Eubank Olumuyiwa Okunlola

2. Forestry facts • 2-3 % of forests are lost each year globally • 60% of the benefits that the global ecosystem provides (water, clean air, stable climate) are being degraded or used

3. Causes: Cattle raising Agriculture or urban development Due to population boom Effects: Spread of infectious diseases Interruption of ecosystem Erosion of soil Deforestation

4. Deforestation and Wildlife • Tropical forests cover 7% of the earth’s dry land but shelter about half of the world’s species • Decreases habitat for wildlife species • Extinction or Displacement

5. Deforestation and Wildlife

6. Deforestation and Diseases • Spreading of Infectious Bacteria and Viruses • 48 Hours Video

7. A Solution to Deforestation • Environmental issues effect everything on this planet from the smallest bacteria to human beings. • Life on Earth is a balance between it’s natural settings and the way we treat it. • It is certain that finding the ultimate solution for deforestation is difficult, but if everyone contributes it will benefit the Earth in tremendous ways.

8. A Solution to Deforestation Reforestation • Earth day • Is a day that marks the first day of spring and to show a global appreciation to Earth in hopes to carry out this thought for the rest of the year. • Paulownia & The Environment (tree farms) • Paulownia lumber is farmed on plantations rather than taken from old forests. It’s alternative to other hardwoods that can be found in the jungles and rain forests. • Recycling • Reusing materials reduces wastes and makes new products

9. Solar Alternative in Wood scarce areas • Families in most parts of the world each consume about 3 tons of wood. • In much of Africa desertification is a risk and wood is scarce. • Solar cookers use energy from the sun to cook food. • Solar energy is an appropriate alternative to wood and other fuels because it is renewable daily. • "A solar cooker can save one ton of wood per year." 

10. Consumption at the primary producer level (plants) • 90% of total energy is lost in each ascending move up the trophic pyramid. • "It takes 9 pounds of feed to produce 1 pound of beef ready for human consumption." • Example: 2000 lbs. grain can feed 5 people per year or 1 person if fed to cows and consuming the meat. • The world already produces enough calories for everyone but it is distributed unevenly: • 70% of grain grown in the US and Canada is feed to cattle, not hungry people. 

11. Problems in Farming • Farmland is not being used efficiently, and uncultivated or abandoned arable land is increasing. These are due to inadequate efforts to increase principal farmers, and a lack of progress in producing feed crops through collaboration between crop and livestock, farming, among other reasons.

12. Farmland • How do we keep what we farm from being wasted? • How can we use the land efficiently?

13. Actions *Promoting consumption of rice and other domestic agricultural produce. • Ensuring a stable supple of food –taking into account the whole food chain • Promoting food education aimed at achieving ideal diets • Promoting local consumption of local produce • Securing the stability of food imports and food security in emergencies • Supporting and recruiting farmers to establish an ideal agricultural structure

14. Genetically Modified • GM Genetically modified food is produced from plants which have had their genetic make up tweaked in the lab. This can allows the plant to exist in a more hostile environment than normal. • Controversial? The modified crops could “escape” and cross with wild plants, with unknown consequences. • Benefits: GM crops can be enriched with nutrients and they can produce bigger yields and therefore can use farmland more efficiently.

15. The World’s 50 Largest Metropolitan 5,008,000—Miami-West Palm Beach—the smallest 33,190,000 -- Tokyo-Yokohama—the Largest 22 in Asia and the South Pacific 12 in the North America 6 in South America 6 in Europe 4 in Africa Growing pains—Growing cities

16. Growing pains—Growing cities

17. Estimated Urban Land Area: Selected Nations (2006 data)

18. Solving the problem Personal • Careful thought about where to and how to live Community (University or Village) • Careful land use planning Global • Controlled and contemplated urban development • Efficient use of currently occupied urban areas • Curbing population growth

19. Solving the problem • Smart Growth (Urban Consolidation) Land rationing Extravagant Amenities Excessive infrastructure fees Approval processes The culture of control • Housing Affordability The question of how God would have us live with what we have is one that will have to be answered because no human solution can adequately address the problems that we will face with growing cities and the depleting natural resources.

20. References • Butler, R (2005, December 9). Environmental Damage Linked to New Diseases says WHO. Retrieved April 17, 2007, from Mongabay Web site: http://news.mongabay.com/2005/1209-who.html • "Demographia World Urban Areas Projections 2007 & 2020 (World Agglomerations)." Demographia (2007): 1-16. • "Demographia World Urban Areas (World Agglomerations)." Demographia (2007): 1-16. • "Estimated Urban Land Area: Selected Nations (2006 data)." Demographia. 1994-2005. Wendell Cox Consultancy . 19 Apr 2007 <http://www.demographia.com/db-intlualand.htm>. • Jocelyn Stock Andy Rochen (2007). The Choice: Doosday or Arbor Daywww.umich.edu/~gs265/society/deforestation.htm • Lindsey, R (2007, March 30). Tropical Deforestation. Retrieved April 17, 2007, from Earth Observatory Web site: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/Deforestation • Nature’s conservancy (2007).Protecting Nature Conserving Life http://www.nature.org/ • Patz, J, Daszak, P, & et all(2004). Unhealthy Landscapes: Policy Recommendations on Land Use Change and Infectious Disease Emergence. Environmental Health Perspectives, 112, Retrieved April 17, 2007, from http:www.ehponline.org/members/2004/6877/6877.html/ • The office of waste and reduction (2006). The Report http://fmbld02.uncc.edu/Recycling/Materials/Default.htm • www.solarcooking.org • http://www.cbot.com/cbot/pub/page/0,3181,963,00.html • http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/main.htm