Deforestation in the United States
Encyclopedia
Deforestation
in the United States
is an ongoing environmental issue
that attracts protests from environmentalists. Prior to the arrival of European-Americans about one half of the United States land area was forest, about 4000000 square kilometres (988,420,652.1 acre) in 1600, yet today it is only about 3000000 square kilometres (741,315,489 acre). Nearly all of this deforestation took place prior to 1910, and the forest resources of the United States have remained relatively constant through the entire 20th century.
The 2005 Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) Global Forest Resources Assessment ranked the United States as seventh highest country losing its old growth forest
s, a vast majority of which were removed prior to the 20th century.
"This industry comprises the establishments primarily engaged in one or more of the following: (1) cutting timber; (2) cutting and transporting timber; (3) producing wood chips in the field,” the definition provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/forestry.html#Facts%20and%20Figures).
“The United States is the world’s leading producer and consumer of forest products and accounts for about one-fourth of the world’s production and consumption. The United States is also the world’s largest producer of softwood and hardwood lumber. In 1996, total annual sales for commercial (nonfederal) timber and nontimber forest products was approximately $3.8 billion (https://culearn.colorado.edu/webct/urw/lc658904392031.tp698530863041//RelativeResourceManager?contentID=712006928011).”
The biggest issue facing deforestation in the United States is illegal logging in forests. The U.S. Forest Service states that illegal logging is the biggest problem with deforestation because it is nearly impossible to monitor and stop. It goes on throughout the U.S. and other countries and often happens when companies disregard their permits and go beyond what they are allowed to harvest. The Forest Service and EPA work together to make sure that the permits for logging companies in the United States are granted in such a way that the forests are kept healthy and sustainable, and illegal logging reduces the chances that forests will be kept this way. (http://www.fs.fed.us/)
The United States Forest Service is in favor of logging to a certain extent but there are several groups that oppose logging in the United States. Groups such as NativeForest.org and EarthRoots.org state that logging in the United States and specifically in industrial areas has led to deforestation and near extinction of many animals.
, Carolina parakeet
, ivory-billed woodpecker
, and Bachman's Warbler
.
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is an ongoing environmental issue
Environmental issue
Environmental issues are negative aspects of human activity on the biophysical environment. Environmentalism, a social and environmental movement that started in the 1960s, addresses environmental issues through advocacy, education and activism.-Types:...
that attracts protests from environmentalists. Prior to the arrival of European-Americans about one half of the United States land area was forest, about 4000000 square kilometres (988,420,652.1 acre) in 1600, yet today it is only about 3000000 square kilometres (741,315,489 acre). Nearly all of this deforestation took place prior to 1910, and the forest resources of the United States have remained relatively constant through the entire 20th century.
The 2005 Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
(FAO) Global Forest Resources Assessment ranked the United States as seventh highest country losing its old growth forest
Old growth forest
An old-growth forest is a forest that has attained great age , and thereby exhibits unique ecological features. An old growth forest has also usually reached a climax community...
s, a vast majority of which were removed prior to the 20th century.
After European settlement
For the 300 years following the arrival of Europeans, land was cleared, mostly for agriculture, at a rate that matched the rate of population growth. For every person added to the population, one to two hectares of land was cultivated. This trend continued until the 1920s when the amount of crop land stabilized in spite of continued population growth. As abandoned farm land reverted to forest the amount of forest land increased from 1952 reaching a peak in 1963 of 3080000 square kilometres (761,083,902.1 acre). Since 1963 there has been a steady decrease of forest area with the exception of some gains from 1997. Gains in forest land have resulted from conversions from crop land and pastures at a higher rate than loss of forest to development. Because urban development is expected to continue, an estimated 93000 square kilometres (22,980,780.2 acre) of forest land is projected be lost by 2050, a 3% reduction from 1997. Other qualitative issues have been identified such as the continued loss of old-growth forest, the increased fragmentation of forest lands, and the increased urbanization of forest land.Current issues
The current environmental issue of deforestation in the United States is one that is affected by many different factors. One such factor is the effect, whether positive or negative, that the logging industry has on forests in the country. Logging in the United States is a hotly debated topic as groups who either support or oppose logging argue over its benefits and negative effects."This industry comprises the establishments primarily engaged in one or more of the following: (1) cutting timber; (2) cutting and transporting timber; (3) producing wood chips in the field,” the definition provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/forestry.html#Facts%20and%20Figures).
“The United States is the world’s leading producer and consumer of forest products and accounts for about one-fourth of the world’s production and consumption. The United States is also the world’s largest producer of softwood and hardwood lumber. In 1996, total annual sales for commercial (nonfederal) timber and nontimber forest products was approximately $3.8 billion (https://culearn.colorado.edu/webct/urw/lc658904392031.tp698530863041//RelativeResourceManager?contentID=712006928011).”
The biggest issue facing deforestation in the United States is illegal logging in forests. The U.S. Forest Service states that illegal logging is the biggest problem with deforestation because it is nearly impossible to monitor and stop. It goes on throughout the U.S. and other countries and often happens when companies disregard their permits and go beyond what they are allowed to harvest. The Forest Service and EPA work together to make sure that the permits for logging companies in the United States are granted in such a way that the forests are kept healthy and sustainable, and illegal logging reduces the chances that forests will be kept this way. (http://www.fs.fed.us/)
The United States Forest Service is in favor of logging to a certain extent but there are several groups that oppose logging in the United States. Groups such as NativeForest.org and EarthRoots.org state that logging in the United States and specifically in industrial areas has led to deforestation and near extinction of many animals.
- Logging in the Tongass National ForestTongass National ForestThe Tongass National Forest in southeastern Alaska is the largest national forest in the United States at 17 million acres . Most of its area is part of the temperate rain forest WWF ecoregion, itself part of the larger Pacific temperate rain forest WWF ecoregion, and is remote enough to be home...
in Alaska - Logging of old growth forests on the West Coast
Species extinctions in the Eastern forests
Forest cover in the Eastern United States reached its lowest point in roughly 1872 with about 48 percent compared to the amount of forest cover in 1620. Of the 28 forest bird species with habitat exclusively in that forest, Pimm claims four become extinct either wholly or mostly because of habitat loss, the passenger pigeonPassenger Pigeon
The Passenger Pigeon or Wild Pigeon was a bird, now extinct, that existed in North America and lived in enormous migratory flocks until the early 20th century...
, Carolina parakeet
Carolina Parakeet
The Carolina Parakeet was the only parrot species native to the eastern United States. It was found from the Ohio Valley to the Gulf of Mexico, and lived in old forests along rivers. It was the only species at the time classified in the genus Conuropsis...
, ivory-billed woodpecker
Ivory-billed Woodpecker
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is or was one of the largest woodpeckers in the world, at roughly 20 inches in length and 30 inches in wingspan. It was native to the virgin forests of the southeastern United States...
, and Bachman's Warbler
Bachman's Warbler
The Bachman's Warbler, Vermivora bachmanii, is a small passerine bird that inhabits the swamps and lowland forests of the southeast United States. This warbler is a migrant, wintering in Cuba. The Bachman’s Warbler is small for a warbler and is unique for its thin and decurved bill. It has strong...
.
Activism
See also
- Environment of the United StatesEnvironment of the United StatesThe environment of the United States comprises diverse biotas, climates, and geologies. Environmental regulations and the environmental movement have emerged to respond to the various threats to the environment.-Animals:...
- Environmental issues in the United StatesEnvironmental issues in the United StatesAs with many other countries there are a number of environmental issues in the United States.-Climate change:The United States is the second largest emitter, after China, of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels. The energy policy of the United States is widely debated; many call on the...
- United States Forest ServiceUnited States Forest ServiceThe United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
- Deforestation by regionDeforestation by regionDeforestation by region considers the rates and causes of deforestation vary from region to region around the world. In 2009 2/3 of the world forests were in 10 top countries: 1) Russia, 2) Brazil, 3) Canada, 4) USA, 5) China, 6) Australia, 7) Congo, 8) Indonesia, 9) Peru and 10) India.World...
External links
- United States Forest Service
- Save America's Forests - environmental lobby group