Deforestation in Illinois: Problems and Description

The conquering and development of natural land has in the past, been seen as a mark of human civilization. In the United States, our progress is often measured by growth and development, but should this be re-examined? There are many opinions on the subject of urban sprawl and its effects on wildlife, but one thing is for certain, we are expanding. From 1955 to 2005, urban and suburban areas grew by 300%, however, the population only increased by 75% over the same period (Ewing, Kostyack and Chen). According to NatureServe, a non-profit conservation organization, urban sprawl threatens one of every three endangered species in the United States. NatureServe’s analysis states, “rare and endangered species data shows that three-fifths (60

The affect of environmental issues occur everyday and in particular deforestation is becoming a highly ranked subject. From animals to the human race, the alacrity of trees that are cut down affects every individual in a variety of ways. Not only do people need to help the planet but they need to help themselves and further generations to come, such as children and grandchildren because these natural resources that are being taken away from society are as well shaping the future. For comprehensible reasons, forests use to make up the world, until man made creatures started to destroy and destruct the most important supply to human kind which are trees. Trees are crucial to every living entity for the reason of providing oxygen to all.

Each and everyone of you in this classroom has a strong awareness to the dangers wildlife habitats face everyday, but we don’t do anything about it. Why? I feel the answer is obvious for most, “...we are to busy with life...” or “...I couldn’t make a difference...” both of these assumptions are the wrong outlook to take.With just these few changes in your everyday life you could help. You could start recycling, make your

"steward" is used to mean that no one can truly "own" the land, it can only be

Did you know that Idaho was recently ranked second in the nation for poor air quality? This problem can be attributed to pollution and other issues that continue to plague Idaho. Pollution is the entrance of foreign or harmful chemicals or other wastes into an environment. One of the main causes of pollution in Idaho is excessive smoke from burning leaves, firewood, and other substances. Water contaminants also contribute a great deal to pollution. Most contaminated water in Idaho is caused by mining. Deforestation is another issue in Idaho, and it is the loss of natural habitat by human developments, whether it be urban growth, mines, logging, or factories. All of these causes

I care deeply about the planet Earth, the home humans originate from, so it pains me to watch “modern” society devastate natural life across the board. I feel personally connected to the issue of how we use our land. Having lived in the Lee County area since birth, I have noticed just in our own little part of the world how much “development” can change things. There used to be so much more plant life: trees, grasses, flowers and a myriad of other greenery. What was once considered “empty” lots, by some, have been adapted to suit human desires be it additional roads, restaurants, shopping malls, and a continuing spread of “chain” corporate industries. Beyond human structures, huge amounts of land also are cultivated for industrial farming

“People who will not sustain trees, will soon live in a world that cannot sustain people”(Bryce Nelson). Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses. Deforestation has overtime become a leading environmental problem in the U.S. It is estimated that at the beginning of the european settlement, in 1630, the area of forest was 423 million hectares. By 1907, the area had declined to 307 million, according to,”U.S forest facts and historical trends”. Deforestation is caused and will affect the human who call the U.S home. Issues with the environment such as global warming, the thinning of the ozone, and deforestation all contribute to critical problems in the U.S. deforestation highly

The Yaak Valley of northern Montana is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the continental United States. It has cores of roadless wilderness that have been untouched by human activity and I believe that they should remain as such. The biodiverse ecosystem of the Yaak Valley benefits its human and non-human inhabitants and we should protect it from the detrimental effects of human activities, especially the violent changes caused by large timber companies and their practice of clear-cut logging. There are sustainable and pragmatic solutions that would address both human needs and protecting the biodiverse ecosystem.

I am going to discuss what clearcutting does to the eastern United State forests. Clearcutting when conducted correctly can be very beneficial to a forest. By following forestry best management practices (BMP), we can reduce the negative effects of harvesting on the forest. BMP vary from state to state. All state and federal forest land have harvesting permits that must be completed before any harvesting. In Pennsylvania to harvest any state or federal land an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan for a Timber Harvesting Operation (E&S plan) must be filled out. This document lays out the laws and regulations as well as the BMP for harvesting timber. The E&S plan gives instruction on how to construct your timber harvest from construction of bridges, roads, placement of runoff management, filter strips, erosion barriers, and even site cleanup. By following these standards we significantly reduce runoff, erosion, and pollutants in our forest and

Figures 1-4 are the soil tests of the Ravine Gardens, and all the tests shows suitable nutrients required for pine trees. Fig 1 pH level shows slight acidity for the ravines’ soil, which is healthy for pine trees. The test shows the pH at 6.5, and most pine trees prefer neutral to acidic soil, which the ravines’ soil is suitable for the pine trees. Figs 2-4 show suitable nutrients for the soil in the ravines garden. The potash level is at a surplus level, the nitrogen level is sufficient, and the phosphorous level is adequate. Compared to the soil that is affected by Georgia Pacific (GP), the results are almost completely opposite. Fig 5 shows that the soil is very acidic, which is not healthy for pine trees. It is at 6.5-pH level, and that is considered to be on high end of acidity. Figs 6-8 show the nutrients of the soil, and it proves that nutrients have been stripped. The potash level is adequate, the nitrogen level is depleted, and the phosphorous level is deficient. This means that the soil will not have the vegetation to support the pine trees in that area if the nutrients are continuously being stripped. According to Georgia Pacific’s statement , they promise to maintain a healthy forest ecosystem, but there is still a significant difference in the amount of nutrients contained in the soil when comparing to the Ravine Gardens. GP also have a policy, for every tree that is uprooted it should be replaced with three more trees. Although, this is a good method, it won’t thrive if soil does not have the nutrients to sustain it. Due to the continuous deforestation of the land, it caused the nutrients to be stripped, which will be difficult for future pine trees to thrive there. It is visible in fig 9 that the soil has lost its nutrients. The soil seems dry and stripped of life compared to the Ravines, where the soil was luscious and filled with nutrients. This could

What is happening to the Earth? Our home is becoming a barren mass of sorrow. Most people in America are blind to what is going on. Could it be that every individual is just turning a cheek the other way. America is faced with an extremely serious problem, and if it is not acted upon there will be nothing left on Earth. Hopefully it will still be able to thrive after the numerous accounts of human destruction. Deforestation in America is a huge problem with devastating affects to humans. The root causes of this travesty are mainly the ongoing need to increase America's economic growth, and the idea of frontierism. These two aspects of deforestation tie together well. Together they help define the thought process that Americans have

Ninety percent of the earth’s trees between three and four hundred years old have been cut down. The remaining ten percent is all we will ever have (Gallant, 97). The definition of deforestation by the Random House Dictionary of the English Language is "to divest or clear of forests or trees.” Deforestation is one of the most significant issues of our time; considerable measures must be taken to prevent further pillaging of our unique forest resource.

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss depicts a world ravaged by deforestation and suffering from other environmental crises. In the town of Thneedville, an aspiring capitalist begins to sell his new product and as a result of booming business, the cornerstone of his business pays the price. The trees, the only natural resource used in production, are harvested to the point of extinction. The lack of trees leads to soil erosion, air pollution, and species extinction. While this is a children’s tale and Dr. Seuss’s illustration may be quite extreme, it is a reality for future generations of our planet. Human involvement in ecosystems by clearing land for urban development, logging, and agriculture have all exacerbated the rate of decline in the region’s natural systems. The deforestation of rainforests for the cultivation of palm oil is causing the possible extinction of orangutans and exacerbating air quality issues in Indonesia.

The Wilderness Society’s Governing Council states that “No other ecosystem in the world can store as much carbon as do these forests, and it’s a capacity they have not yet begun to reach” (Bert5). Trees are very important to all of the living species. The cutting down of the trees is now nearly 4 billion trees or 35% of the total trees cut around the

Deforestation is a major global problem with serious consequences to the planet. These consequences have a negative effect on the climate, biodiversity, the atmosphere and threatens the cultural and physical survival of life. Deforestation is the permanent destruction of indigenous forests and woodlands. It has resulted in the reduction of indigenous forests to four-fifths of their pre-agricultural area, so that now indigenous forests cover only 21% of the earth's land surface. The world Resources Institute regards deforestation as one of the worlds most pressing land use problem.