Individual Report Outline

1) Research question approved by the teacher in class

How has deforestation accelerated ecosystem loss in the past 50 years?

2) Thesis statement approved by the teacher in class

Deforestation has been an ongoing problem for humanity for a long time. This
has accelerated climate change and ecosystem loss for the last 50 years.

3) Introductory Paragraph
Deforestation is the term used to describe the cutting down or removal of forests
for a variety of uses, including agriculture, logging, mining, and urbanization. It is
an international problem that seriously harms the economy, society, and
environment. Deforestation is a complicated issue with long-standing causes that
stretch back to the beginning of agriculture 10,000 years ago. Yet, due to
population growth, economic advancement, and increased demand for
commodities like paper, oils, and furniture on a worldwide scale in recent
decades, deforestation has greatly increased in scope and speed. Many
detrimental repercussions of deforestation include climate change, biodiversity
loss.

4) Background information
Deforestation is the loss of forest for land of use, due to the need for expansion
by human beings. Though this has been in constant increase since the birth of
the human species, it has exponentially increased in the last 50 years. The world
has seen a major increase in deforestation and land expansion, and a huge loss
in forest, and statistically, since the 1970s the total amount of land used up by
forest has decreased by 10%, with forest land already being previously removed
prior to this time period, which in total has decreased 20% over a 10,000 year
period, a loss of 2.12 billion hectares (Ritchie, H. 2021). As a result of this, the
world has suffered greatly, with problems ranging from ecosystem loss, habitat
loss, species extinction, and with it being one of the main reasons for climate
change increasingly getting worse over the years. Deforestation has also caused
a decrease in biosequestration, a process that traps CO2 naturally, which since
has aided in climate change becoming a serious problem and threat for the
human species.
5) Course and pathway of the essay
This essay will examine ecosystem loss as a result of deforestation and aims to
inform how this has affected the planet for the last 50 years, giving birth to a
plethora of problems, like species extinction and fauna loss. The objective is to
analyze the situation from a social, political, ethical, environmental point of view.

6) Supportive Arguments and connections to the thesis statement

Supportive Argument 1: Social

Deforestation has caused a plethora of social problems, amongst which a

significant issue is displacement of indigenous people. This is the forced moving
of indigenous communities as a result of the need to expand for infrastructure
construction, mining, logging. In the last 50 years, It is worth mentioning that the
removal of forest caused a displacement of indigenous people who primarily
adopt the forest as a spiritual tie due to a belief system or as a simple tradition.
This has cultural effects because of said connection due to tradition or culture,
and with the removal of forest, they not only lose their home, but they also lose
the very roots of their people, traditions which have lasted for generations upon
generations and culture which won’t be brought back. This can also lead to
human rights violations, and overall, this can have a long lasting effect on their
communities. Also, this destroys a country’s overall history and heritage by
cutting down pieces of history. Furthermore, deforestation also causes a loss of
livelihood, since this directly contributes to people losing their homes that are
directly located in a forest, and these people depend on the forest for hunting,
natural products and overall agriculture. Eliminating these individual’s homes
leads to economic problems and poverty surrounding these communities.

Connection to the thesis statement:

Deforestation over a 50 year period has caused a yearly loss of forest of about
14.8 million hectares and this number is still increasing(J.R, 2013), meaning the
amount of indigenous people being displaced also increases. A yearly estimation
of how many communities cease to exist due to deforestation is about 14 million
(UNDP, 2013). This issue continues to be of great concern for humanity.

Supportive Argument 2: Political

Deforestation is a major environmental issue that has far-reaching impacts on
our planet. The loss of forests not only affects the environment, but it also has
social and economic implications. Deforestation leads to the loss of habitats for
many species, leading to a significant decline in biodiversity. It also impacts the
climate by releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, contributing to
global warming. In addition, deforestation can lead to soil erosion and a loss of
fertility, making it difficult to grow crops and sustain local communities.
Governments around the world have been slow to take action against
deforestation. However, since the 2000s, there has been a growing recognition of
the importance of preserving forests. The REDD+ initiative, for example, has
been implemented to reduce deforestation rates, with some success. This
program provides financial incentives for developing countries to reduce their
deforestation rates and promote sustainable land use practices. Other initiatives,
such as forest certification and sustainable forestry management, are also
helping to combat deforestation. The impact of deforestation on biodiversity is a
cause for concern. The loss of forests has led to the extinction of many species,
with up to 50,000 species estimated to go extinct each year as a result of
deforestation. The loss of habitats has also impacted indigenous communities
who rely on forests for their livelihoods. Deforestation has also contributed to
climate change, as trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and when
they are cut down, this carbon is released back into the atmosphere. This has
contributed to the increase in global temperatures, leading to more extreme
weather events and rising sea levels.

Connection to the thesis statement:

Deforestation for the past 50 years has since been addressed as a serious
concern for a variety of reasons, and the government has taken the necessary
steps to decrease the amount of forest lost over the decades. Since then, many
organizations have been formed to protect forests all around the world, however,
many countries have varied in what they do to protect the environment as a
whole, but international efforts are in place to decrease overall deforestation and
climate change as a whole.

Supportive Argument 3: Ethical

Deforestation has significant ethical implications, as it affects not only the
environment but also the people and animals that depend on it. The loss of
forests has led to the displacement of indigenous communities and the
destruction of cultural heritage sites. It has also resulted in the loss of habitat for
many species, leading to their decline or extinction. This raises ethical questions
about the responsibility we have to protect the environment and the rights of
other beings that share the planet with us. Furthermore, deforestation has been
driven by economic interests, often at the expense of the wellbeing of people and
the environment. This raises ethical concerns about the balance between
economic development and environmental protection, as well as the need for
accountability and transparency in decision-making. The exploitation of natural
resources for profit without regard for the long-term consequences has been a
recurring issue in many parts of the world. Ultimately, deforestation is an issue
that requires ethical considerations and responsible action. We must recognize
the rights of indigenous communities and protect their cultural heritage, as well
as the rights of animals and other beings that share the planet with us. We must
also ensure that economic development is balanced with environmental
protection and that decisions are made with the long-term consequences in mind.
By doing so, we can work towards a more sustainable future that benefits all
beings on Earth.

Connection to the thesis statement:

Deforestation has caused many problems for society over the last 50 years, and
since then humanity has realized the unethicality of destroying habitats that
animals depend on, something that has been the primary cause of species
extinction. People have realized that we depend on forests to keep our planet
stable and so do animals, and efforts have been made to keep them by building
organizations, budgets, or just generally making it a priority internationally so we
don’t kill the ground we live in.

Supportive Argument 4: Environmental

Deforestation is one of the leading environmental issues of our time. Trees are
essential to the environment as they absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen,
and help regulate the water cycle. However, deforestation has resulted in the
loss of vast areas of forests, leading to soil erosion, reduced water quality, and
loss of wildlife habitat. Additionally, the logging industry has contributed to air
pollution, releasing pollutants such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and
nitrogen oxides into the air. These pollutants not only harm the environment but
also have a detrimental effect on human health, leading to respiratory problems,
heart disease, and other health issues. Moreover, deforestation has led to the
loss of biodiversity, with many species on the brink of extinction due to habitat
loss. The destruction of forests has also led to climate change, with the release
of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses contributing to global warming.
This, in turn, has led to rising sea levels, changes in weather patterns, and more
frequent natural disasters.

Connection to the thesis statement:

Deforestation over the last 50 years has caused problems which are but are not
limited to: being the primary reason for climate change, species extinction,
habitat loss, biodiversity loss, and various other health, social and political
issues. And, while this has boosted the world wide economy due to the
exploitation of natural resources for income generation, this has greatly affected
the environment in general and has since killed off all kinds of species thanks to
humanity’s need for expansion.