FOREST CONSERVATION
Forests are one of the most important natural resources that have been gifted to mankind
for their sustained existence on earth. Without question, they provide us with huge
amounts of tangible and intangible benefits, without which indeed, all life, less to say
human life, would fall under the risk of extinction. Hence, it is vital for us to realize this
importance of forest cover, conserve them, and ultimately work towards a sustainable way
to maintain our forests and meet our needs at the same time.
In this paper, I have focused initially on the barbaric behavior of us human beings towards
forests, and how they have been and are still being massacred around the globe to meet our
ever increasing and limitless wants and needs. I have also focused on why some of our
conservation strategies and efforts are not working out the way they were supposed to be.
In doing so, I have tried to prove that countries like Bangladesh, who are still striving to
develop should focus on forest conservation. My hypothesis is that Bangladesh has the
capability to both conserve its forest resources and grow economically at the same time,
and create means for poverty elevation by conserving.
In the second portion I have focused on a more comprehensive way to sustainable forest
conservation, backing up my statements by expert opinions and case studies, and at the end
a bit of focus was put on biodiversity importance and its conservation practices and
strategies. I have also mentioned some economic, social and policy instruments that can be
implemented in order to conserve forests better.
I have used some primary data, from specific experts on forests, but my main data sources
are secondary sources, mainly the Internet and books. The full list of references is given in
the work-cited portion at the end of the paper.
From the very beginning of civilization, human beings have depended heavily on forests
for their survival. Cradles of civilization, places of beauty, sources of spiritual inspiration,
and treasure houses of natural riches, forests are closely linked with the physical,
economic, and spiritual well being of people. Man has depended on forests for lumber and
furniture, medicine and cosmetics, firewood and food, drinking water and fresh air, respite
and recreation. Despite their central role in the well being of people, forests are threatened
by human actions on a scale and pace far beyond natures capacity to adapt.
Forests are being destroyed around the globe at a scale, which has already passed the
alarming stage. Reasons such as land shortage, urbanization, agriculture, excessive and
unsustainable timber extraction have led to cutting down of miles upon miles of pristine
forest land. In 2002 alone, 10,000 square miles in Brazils Amazon region were deforested
due to logging, ranching, farming, and infrastructure development. In Africas Congo
Basin, roads built into legally protected areas like national parks by illegal loggers
provided access for bush meat poachers and contributed to an increase in forest fires.
(Overview).
Although recently, the importance of forests has been realized to a degree, enough
importance has not yet been put into the conservation sector so as to actually retain the
remaining percentage of forest cover the world has left. In this paper I have discussed just
how much importance needs to be put on conservation of forests, why this needs to be
done, how it can be done in a systematic, sustainable way, and what the aftermaths of not
doing so may be.
DEFINITIONS:
For clarification purposes, a full list of definitions are given below so that the terms
discussed in this paper are clear and not confused with other related terms.
FOREST:
The word forests originated from the Greek word foris, which means out of doors.
Generally a large uncultivated area of land bearing trees and undergrowth is termed as a
forest. Wild animals are also associated with this term, which includes their interaction
with the trees and undergrowth and their abiotic surroundings (air, soil etc.). L.S Davis
defined forests as a set of land parcels, which has or could have tree vegetation. (Davis).
CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION:
These two terms are often confused with one another, but they refer to two slightly
different concepts. Preservation of anything is basically keeping it in such manner that it
cannot or should not be touched or used. For instance, if a forest is being preserved it
means that it is to be kept untouched and nothing is to be extracted from it. It is to be left
to its own accord.
On the other hand, conservation implies more towards a sustained use, or use in a
sustainable fashion. As in the example given above, if a forest is declared as conserved, it
means that resources may be extracted in a systematic and accounted way, so as not to
compromise the forests ability to replenish itself in terms of resources, and so that it may
continue its intangible functions properly.
SUSTAINABILITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:
The term refers to the existence and maintenance of a system, on its own accord, over a
period of time, or that a system is able to stand and function by itself for a certain duration.
This term then leads on to sustainable development, which the latest of concepts in
development of a nation and its entities. Sustainable development means the development
targeted at making resources available both useful yet sustained, so as no to compromise it
for future generations.
FOREST MANAGEMENT:
The society of American Foresters (1958) defined forest management as the application of
