Climate by Deforestation

Climate change: it is a hot-button issue, and many people still believe that "there is no such thing as global warming."  What cannot be denied is that, in certain regions, deforestation has drastically affected climate.  Forests hold and release moisture much more efficiently than bare soil, pasture or farm land.  That fact is not debated.  When forests are cleared, local climates become drier.  This is beyond dispute, regardless of the larger-picture discussion about CO2 levels in the earth's atmosphere.  Please show this article to everyone, especially those who may be skeptical about the connections between forests and climate.

To demonstrate this fact, let us look at several examples: Brazil's São Paulo State, Madagascar, Ethiopia, and Haiti.  Each of these regions has been almost entirely deforested within the past 50 years.  And each has, separately, experienced the environmental, economic and human devastation of drastic climate change.

#1. São Paulo State, Brazil's Drought Crisis: Brazil is a relatively wealthy country -- the 7th richest country in the world by GDP in 2014.  This is a country that needs to invest that wealth back into replacing its disappearing rain forests, and they need to do it now.

This Google Earth aerial image shows that the coastline of the State of São Paulo, Brazil is now 1000 miles from the massive rainforests that, only fifty years ago, blanketed the entire country.  For perspective, that's the distance between Rhode Island and Florida. What is left is only small pockets of forest -- you have to zoom further in to see them -- not enough to create the conditions necessary for a "rainy season".  As a consequence, São Paulo State is now using up the last of its water reserves -- with no hope in sight.  The situation is dire and, unfortunately, might have been prevented with a sensible, national forestry policy.

Sadly, Brazil is still on a "spend now, pay later" binge, spending its resources rapidly without bothering to replenish them.  But for Sao Paulo (and surrounding states) "later" has become now, and the price is being paid in water or, rather, severe lack thereof.  (There is a reason they call them rain forests, you know.) 

So how do they solve this crisis?  The solution will take years, and the answer is massive reforestation.  Given the country's relative wealth, it is difficult to argue that charities should lead this effort.  Time to get to work, Brazil -- it's not just about global warming anymore, it's about your own water supply.  There is no excuse for high unemployment in a country with so much wealth and with so much planting to be done.  Reforestation must be a national project, and should be led by those who have made the most money selling Brazil's vast natural resources.  Click here to read more about this tragedy.

#2. Madagascar, Beating Back the Ocean: Madagascar is decidedly not a wealthy country.  Much of the deforestation that has occurred since 1950 has been due to the outside world's hunger for tropical hardwoods.  Like Haiti, slash and burn farming and charcoal production have also taken a huge toll on the country's once plentiful forests.  The result has been stronger storms, devastating erosion, and oppressive poverty.  Only recently have reforestation efforts begun to take hold in Madagascar.  Click here for more on the problems in Madagascar. 

Madagascar is also one of the countries where our partners are most active.  Click here for articles and videos showing our partners at work.

#3. Ethiopia, Embracing Reforestation: Ethiopia is a country in environmental crisis.  In the last four decades, Ethiopia has gone from 40% forest to only 2.7%.  The implied loss of wildlife diversity and economic resiliency is staggering, as are the human consequences.  Between 1983 and 1985, Ethiopia was synonymous with the word "famine" brought about, either directly or indirectly, by environmental changes from deforestation. 

Today, the government of Ethiopia, with the help of non-governmental organizations, is making strides to repair the damage.  This must be a long-term project but initial work is already beginning to pay off, in the form of jobs for reforestation workers and newly planted regions.  Click here to read about the government's stated commitment to a solution.  Click here to learn what our partners are doing to help.

#4. Haiti, A World-Famous Environmental Disaster: Haiti is renowned for its deforestation.  During the 20th century this country went from 60% forest to less than 2%.  As we all know, this island nation has paid dearly for these changes.  It has even been postulated that Haiti's 2010 earthquake may have been caused by deforestation (read more here).  There are so many lessons to be learned from this tragedy that one struggles to begin.  However, due to all of the attention received in recent years, programs are now being initiated to turn back the clock on the environmental damage.  Again, this solution will take years to implement but, with the help of donations and education, the Haitians are now beginning to learn how to replant their lost forests.

As a planet, we have huge challenges before us, and I am not naïve enough to believe that selling a few hats and stickers is going to repair it all.  Rather, Plant22 is part of a much larger movement.  What we represent is the understanding that things have to change now.  As UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recently stated in his speech at the 2014 Climate Summit,  "Climate change is the defining issue of our age." 

We have a very limited window of time in which to reverse this terrible trend: perhaps 30 years at outside.  Therefore, it is crucial that we convince everyone that there is a direct link between forests and climate, at least regionally -- a fact that cannot be disputed.  And in order to make meaningful change, we must each commit some portion of our income, and time, to the effort.  I am pledging 50% of net profits from Plant22.com to the cause of reforestation in several very promising, deforested countries.  I am also committing many hours to publicizing these issues. 

Can you help, too?

Absolutely!  We must show everyone that, at the very least, regional climate stability is directly linked to healthy forests.  Please share this article with everyone you know, especially those who doubt the affects of deforestation on climate. 

Thank you!
-Karl
V.P. of Just About Everything at
Plant22.com