THE ECONOMICAL

REASONS BEHIND
DEFORESTATION

Outline :
Introduction : Defining the Environmental
Problem
Reasons of Deforestation

Population Growth
Climate
Agriculture
Logging
Fuel
Burning and Grazing

Policy Implications and Forest Management

Turkey Case

Conclusion

World Forest Region Map

Ormanlk Alanlar
Odunsu Bitki Alanlar
Dier Alanlar
Su Alanlar

Source : www.cevreorman.gov.tr

The paper aims to

Emphasize deforestation as a
global environmental problem.
Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to
non-forest land for use such as arable land,
pasture, urban use, logged area, or wasteland.
Generally, the removal or destruction of
significant areas of forest cover has resulted in a
degraded environment with reduced biodiversity.

Deforestation
Results from removal
of trees without
sufficient
reforestation, and
results in declines in
habitat and
biodiversity, wood for
fuel and industrial use,
and quality of life.

Causes of Deforestation
Population Growth
It is clear now that the role of population factors in
deforestation varies considerably from one setting to
another depending on the local patterns of human
occupancy and economic activity.
Population (especially rapidly increasing or dense
population) can increase demands for land and wood,
eventually exceeding the carrying capacity of forests
that are expected to supply wood fuels , food, and
environmental protection for local people.

Causes of Deforestation
Climate
Forest disappear naturally as a result of broad climate
changes or catastrophes such as fire and landslides.

Agriculture
Growing populations need expanding food supplies, so
forests are cleared by shifting cultivators for annual or
permanent crops. Rates of clearing are likely to be
higher in countries where little or no progress has been
made in agricultural productivity or where land
productivity falls rapidly after the natural forest cover
is removed.

Causes of Deforestation
Logging
Commercial logging operations deplete forest stocks. Regulated timber
extraction should not permanently damage the forest, but when it is not
controlled, mechanized logging or even selective timber harvesting may
severely alter the character of the forest

Fuel
Forests in developing countries provide wood fuels for local populations.
Fuelwood and charcoal are widely used for domestic cooking and heating.

Burning and Grazing

Deforestation may occur in ways other than outright clearing or wood
removal. The practice of annual burning in many areas prevents forest
regrowth , and grazing by sheep, goats and cattle has much the same
effect.

Reasons of Deforestation

Forest Management
Forestry departments in developing countries in many cases are not
equipped to deal with deforestation and its consequences. The
principles of forest management, especially extensive forest
management for sustained yields, are unfamiliar to many developing
countries where the policy emphasis has been on protection rather than
production. Even where forest management practices are well known,
institutions for forest management are poorly supported or
nonexistent.
The problem is compounded when local people for various reasons do
not cooperate with forest management schemes. Lack of local
cooperation may be a symptom of poorly designed policy or an
indication that rural people have other development priorities.

Conclusion
Deforestation is one of
the major
environmental
problems that the
world is facing.