Indonesia Surpasses Brazil in Tropical Forest Cover Loss

Indonesia Surpasses Brazil in Tropical Forest Cover Loss

Scientists have found that Indonesia has overtaken Brazil for the clearance of tropical forests and losses accelerating even with a 2011 moratorium to protect wildlife and climate change. Indonesia's loss of virgin forests has equalled 60,000 square kms which is about 23,000 square miles. This is an area which is almost as large as Ireland. The loss has occurred from the years 2000 to 2012 to make way for palm oil plantations and other farms. The pace of losses has increased.

By the year 2012, annual primary forest loss in Indonesia has become higher than Brazil. The latter had suffered forest loss on account of the clearance of the Amazon basin due to big losses. The scientists have discussed this finding in the journal entitled Nature Climate Change.

Deforestation in Indonesia in the year 2012 alone was 8,400 square kms or around 3,200 sq miles. This is much more than 1,800 sq miles or 4,600 sq kms. This has led to the reduction of losses in recent years.

There is an urgent need to increase law enforcement and the control in the area itself, according to Belinda Margono who is the lead author of this investigation at University of Maryland. She is currently working as an official in the Indonesian forest ministry as well.

Matthew Hansen who is the co-author of the report at the University of Maryland has discussed how the “rainforests are the lungs of the planet”. Without forest cover, the earth will soon lose its capacity to breathe and survive.

Indonesia had imposed a block on forest clearance in the year 2011 due to losses that are damaging the natural habitat of the orangutans, as well as Sumatran tigers and other wildlife. Norway has also promised around $1 billion to Jakarta if forest cover loss is slowed down.

But with deforestation on the rise, large forest losses have been noted of late. Other studies have also found a rapidly diminishing forest cover. According to
Gunhild Oland Santos-Nedrelid, a Norwegian environment ministry spokeswoman, conservation needs to be made economically attractive to landowners. Norway has pumped in $50 million to set up institutions for reducing deforestation.

What happens in one corner of the world impacts another. With increase in global warming, weather is changing and impacting human health and wellbeing in an adverse manner. Global warming has cut down on Antarctica's 600,000 strong emperor penguin population which will be reduced to a fifth of what it is now by the year 2100.

NGOs and activists are working in the field to spread more awareness. Governments are trying to become more proactive for positive change. A most compelling contribution is the work of the scientists who are providing solid facts and figures so that numbers taken on a meaning and serve as a context for making crucial policies and decisions which will impact the future of mankind and the planet. With action from all 3 sides, a disaster could be averted. But, studies like these point to the need for a more proactive and involved approach across nations. Motivation and commitment to reversing climate change can yield positive results if the right steps are taken in time.