One of the greatest challenges that the contemporary world experiences is that of unprecedented climatic change. While most countries continue to ignore the visible impacts of these changes, some communities are already feeling the effects of their day to day activities. One of the greatest contributors to climatic change is the decreasing forest cover, which translates to greater accumulation of carbon in the atmosphere. The focus of this write-up is one the process of deforestation in Delaware as well as the subsequent impact it has on the environment and society at large. Deforestation refers to the process where the forest cover declines as the land are converted to other purposes (Clement, Chi, and Ho, 2015, p.56). The number one cause of a declining forest cover is that the population is increasing, and as such, there is a need to avail more land for settlement. However, the subsequent losses that accrue from this process call for an immediate reevaluation of policies regarding the protection of forests.
Besides being the hubs for watersheds, forests are also habitats as well as settings for aesthetic and recreational value. It is estimated that the United States has contributed to the loss of over 75% of the virgin forest cover since the 1600s (Karr, Interlandi and Houtman, 2015, p.81). Looking at data from the USDA Forest Service, it becomes evident that there has been a significant decline in forest cover in Delaware despite the huge contribution of forests to the greater quality of life for the people living in the region. Despite the huge efforts by the government conserve and protect forested land areas in Delaware, the region has realized as a staggering19,800 acre loss in forest cover as of 1999 (United States Department of Agriculture, n.d, p.3). The major causes of this decline can be found in population sizes and land utilization practices within the region. Ninety-three percent of the forest land in Delaware is owned by private individuals who are estimated to be individuals on the upwards of 17,300. This, therefore, means, that the forest cover is largely influenced by the management practices as well as motives of the forest landowners.
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The impact of the declining forest cover in Delaware id evident across various tenets of day-to-day activities within the region. First off it is clear that habitats are being destroyed resulting in widespread migration and extinction of species. A great deal of change is being experienced regarding ecosystem balance even as towns and cities begin to realize an increase in wild animals competing for food and resources. The long-term impact is to be found in a changing climate. Forests are essential in the process of carbon sequestering. The elimination of trees thus translates to release of greenhouses gases stored up in the trees as well as an increase in the number of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere (National Geographic, 2017, par. 3). These impacts towards the need for an immediate change in various policies. More crucially it is imperative for to focus on establishing alternative sources of cheap and efficient energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal energy.
It is also essential for to find alternative building material that can help curb the incessant need for wood. The recycling of plastics for building material can go a long way in eliminating the need for wood in construction. While huge costs are likely to be incurred in terms of shifting to efficient energy sources, the greatest impetus should be the fact that such costs are one-off, and once the systems are in place the American public, and to a greater extent, the global community will have access to affordable and clean energy for centuries. In the long-run, the protection and restoration of forest cover in Delaware and the rest of the united states will be vital in the mitigation of climate change effects as well as the protection of various species from extinction.
References
Clement, M. T., Chi, G., & Ho, H. C. (2015). Urbanization and Land ‐ Use Change: A Human Ecology of Deforestation Across the United States, 2001–2006. Sociological Inquiry , 85 (4), 628-653.
Karr, S., Interlandi, J., & Houtman, A. M. (2015). Environmental science for a changing world . New York, N.Y. W.H. Freeman and Company.
National Geographic. (2017, July 25). Deforestation and Its Effect on the Planet . Retrieved February 07, 2018, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation/#close
United States Department of Agriculture (n.d) Trends in Delaware's forests: Widmann, Richard H: Free Download & Streaming. Retrieved February 07, 2018, from https://www.fs.fed.us/ne/newtown_square/publications/.../state_forests/de_forest.pdf
