Causes of deforestation in the world

Forests are threatened by both biotic and a-biotic factors such as climatic hazards, diseases prompted by insects or pathogens, threats of a purely anthropogenic nature, fires, atmospheric pollution, deforestation, and the increase in social pressures.

But this classic division is a bit artificial, since man is partly responsible for all these threats.Source: Coyte, (1990), cited by Gauthier (J.) in AFOCEL. - The emergence of new forestry potentials in the world - Colloque AFOCEL, tenth world forestry congress. - Grenoble, 1991.

The countries where the phenomena of deforestation is most evident are those undergoing rapid population growth. This population development implies two types of harmful needs to the durability of forests in the absence of specific developments.

A growing need for wood, especially firewood for developing countries, then wood for construction

A growing need for agricultural land, in able to assure the subsistence of populations.

The immediate satisfaction of these needs leads to the clearing and pillage of those resources that are closest to settlements. The fragility of these ecosystems does not permit them to withstand such pressure, and failure of the forest to re-establish itself can lead populations to carryout the same type of agression to forest areas that are further away, therefore participating in the extension of destroyed areas. Their reuse for agricultural purposes is oftten impossible (contrary to the old evolution of temperate zones) due to the extreme fragility of their soils.

The search for a harmonious coexistence

The indispensable association of populations

The restoration of a balance will only be possible if those responsible for development of these regions privilege small projects, using known techniques local populations and develop with them. In absence of the dangers of the dispersion of forests cover, and in the absence of a solution for the needs of agricultural development, no large-scale project can succeed, whatever the financial means put into place.

To maintain the soils of certain regions, forestry projects must be seen as factor of improvement in the long term necessary ecological conditions to agriculture and life in general, and not as a competitor for the use of the soil.

In the dense tropical forest zones, shifting agriculture actually results in the clearing of forests by burning. But the need is such that the time for the forest to redevelop is too short. The drop in the impact of this burning can only take place by the growth (which seems paradoxical) of reserves where the clearing of ground is accepted, permitting the sufficient reconstruction of ecosystems.

In zones such as the Sahel, the need for fuel wood is one of the most pressing concerns.

The preservation of forests will only take place when combustion techniques are improved, the mass planting of fast growing tree species takes place and a more vigorous management of resources permiting the reconstitution of reserves is put into place.

Each different population has its own habits, specific needs, and determined environmental conditions which must be taken into account.

Satisfying the needs of local populations is an indispensable perequisite to the putting in place of projects which take into account the needs of the populations, sometimes very far away from these zones.

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