Deforestation

One of the measures to solve land constraint is by a method called deforestation. Deforestation is the clearance of naturally occurring forests by logging and burning. It is a good method as empty land is created and can be developed for many uses, such as meeting the demands for more land. However, deforestation brings along with it many disadvantages. Here are some of them: Click on the link below and click on the content header which says 'Environmental Problems'. Read it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation

The term deforestation is also used to describe the process of removing the trees in forests/woodlands, and converting the land to other use.

Since ancient times, Man has been adapting the environment to meet the growing needs of civilizations. From the cutting down of the first trees for fire, to the clearing of woodlands for settlers to build their homesteads, trees have long been at the mercy of Man. In many parts of the world, huge areas of woodlands and forests have been cleared over the centuries to provide wood for essential purposes such as fuel, ships, buildings, as well as to free the land for other uses.

Over recent years, however, we have become more aware of the wider issues of deforestation and the harm that it causes our planet. Just because this is something that we have been doing for centuries does not mean that it is right, or that we have the right to continue. We now know that 80% of the world's ancient forests have been destroyed.

A landmark study shows that Singapore has lost about half of our animal species over the last 200 years. Our nature reserves, which make up only 0.25% of Singapore's land area, are home to more than half of our native animals. The prospects for Singapore's surviving animals look bleak: 77% of the species are under threat, and most of them reside in our nature reserves.

Here are two articles I found interesting on the dwindling wildlife in Singapore and Southeast Asia, a problem largely due to deforestation and other acts of rapid, large-scale habitat destruction for agriculture and urban development. The first article is by Chang Ai-Lien, Science Correspondent, from Straits Times, issue July 24, 2003, 'Singapore has lost half its animal species: study' The second is from AFP, a Paris newspaper, 'Last chance to see - scientists'. Click on the link below and read both the articles (scroll down until you see the small header of the first article. Read it and go on to the second article, the one below the first).

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wildsingapore/message/7

I have added a video on deforestation below. Enjoy:)