Deforestation - the scar of man

[nomadguy]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/DeforestationinBrazil2.jpg/300px-DeforestationinBrazil2.jpg
http://adamhadem.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/amazon-deforestation.jpg?w=459&h=295

Erosion from deforestation makes it's way into the ocean.
http://mythix.com/images/projects/amazon-deforestation.jpg

FOR SOY
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/planet-2/image/2006/4/illegal-deforestation-for-soy-2.jpg


How many places on this Earth have we humans deforested?

"The statistics paint a grim picture. According to the World Resources Institute, more than 80 percent of the Earth’s natural forests already have been destroyed."
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/deforestation/effect.html

"they know not what they do"
Looking at is this way, that phrase is very true.
Forests are the lungs of the Earth.
Beyond that aspect, almost all life on this planet has in some way or another originated from or has directly benefited from forest environments.
---

Solution - Permaculture
For the sake of Reforestation I focus on one Tool from the permaculture toolbox - The Pole Tree
~ The top of the canopy ~
Teak: "One teak tree can reach heights of up to 200 feet, producing a massive amount of timber in one specimen"

This tree is a good example how one can quickly establish a healthy ecosystem to then move into this,
sustainable farming - the coppice orchard
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Under the tall canopy of the indigenous type in whatever region you are in, you can do this type of farming.


a few more references:
photos
- http://brinkmanforestrestoration.com/projects.php

11301
http://dustygedge.co.uk/roadblog/wp-content/gallery/cache/1049__320x240_teak-tree-climb-2.jpg
- yes this man IS climbing the INSIDE of a teak

Hmm I wonder if this area was at one time forested.
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---

For more info >
google info for names like Bill Mollison, Geoff Lawton, Sepp Holzer to name a few
and then go here
Permaculture Australia -> http://permaculture.org.au/
These guys get information out fast, So if you are into permaculture, or basically as I like to put it, earning a place on the planet. Then I feel it is a good idea to go and have a look at the articles that the permy-AU folks have published over the last two years or so. I am still trying to catch up.
:llama:

[meeradas]

This has hurt me from the exact moment i found out about it [4 yrs old]

[nomadguy]

yea same here, though I am no longer going to agonize. I am going to make the attempt to effect this.

[Cjay]

Thanks, nomadguy, for starting this thread.

I agree that permaculture is - or should be - a very big part of the solution. Unfortunately, the vast majority of forest re-planting projects are funded under the usual investment for fast profit (aka greed) model.

One of the most important factors to consider when designing projects like this is BIODIVERSITY. We should be trying to maximise the number of species in new plantations, NOT plant single species forests (or crops).

Everyone who cares about the environment should watch this video. In my mind, it is the greatest environmental repair story of our time (that I am aware of). I would like to see thousands of projects like this one, all over the world.


Willie Smits: How we re-grew a rainforest


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vfuCPFb8wk
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vfuCPFb8wk

[The One]

Greed Greed and more greed

I despise these people who destroy our planet

Satellite imagery of Deforestation

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=aerial%20views%20of%20deforestation%20in%20the%20amazon&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CEEQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mongabay.com%2Fnasa_deforestation_imagery.html&ei=HbbDTrKIKorV8gPrmr2qCw&usg=AFQjCNECBB4c1M9Hord1-n39djwfXdp7-w

Some stats

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=aerial%20views%20of%20deforestation%20in%20the%20amazon&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mongabay.com%2Fbrazil.html&ei=HbbDTrKIKorV8gPrmr2qCw&usg=AFQjCNEV3WoUhiTtdxS-cSkSvLJfVl2eCg

[Karma Ninja]

While the impact that humans have on our planet is obvious and ugly, there is no need to be overly concerned. This planet is going to bounce back. Deforestation is like a bad haircut. It will grow back over time.

[nomadguy]

This is why we must begin to do it ourselves. With no funding.
If we humans do not stop cutting ~ no it will not grow back over time. That is the illusion.
What WILL happen is we will be forced to use DNA modification and geo-engineering to replace all species and elemental balance on the planet. That is what the ruling elite is designing, don't you see it? total domination.
This is the failure of man, I feel that we are here to avoid this or we are souls in challenge to change this outcome.
Start where you are ~ using creativity over finance.

[Cjay]

One of the many projects I am planning to initiate is a nationwide program of schools creating and maintaining food and medicine forests in their local communities. Kids are far more interested in learning and are far more energetic than most adults. Let us teach the next generation practical skills for environmentally responsible, sustainable, self-sufficiency. Let us not teach them destructive practices and laziness.

Worth reading:

The Permaculture Research Institute of Australia - Outdoor Classrooms, A Handbook for School Gardens (http://permaculture.org.au/2009/03/10/outdoor-classrooms-a-handbook-for-school-gardens/)

Gardening Australia - Creating A School Garden (http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2169794.htm)

Worth watching:

The first segment in this video from a popular TV program, Gardening Australia, is about creating a school garden. In this video, they create a vegie garden rather than a food and medicine forest but it illustrates the point of how much kids enjoy gardening - and the whole video series contains a lot of useful tips for us adults.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Bw8Bzwr4wM
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Bw8Bzwr4wM

[nomadguy]

y069UFbk11s
7 Billion People...
One Tree Per planted per Person per Year ~ lets get started

[Bo Atkinson]

Apparently the "SOY" factor is actually due to rampant, industrilized production of meats. Or to flip subsidized burgers for the masses. With the primary emphasis on feeding soy-protien to meat-production animals. Diversified plant projects are lovely. The difficulty here is to devise lifestyles to enjoy the work efforts and devise easier, yet pleasurable diets. I was pruning a neglected apple tree yesterday, but need to devise access to prune almost 10 meters high. (Cut an upward growing branch, from a bad approach.) An effective way to vent energy and enjoy some excitement, working with meager tools. Let us produce harmony and not just talk about it, alone.

Silva culture is another helpful demand to make of merchants, when buying anything wooden or anything derived from trees.

[nomadguy]

restoring one lost post,

Holistic Land Management has real promise.
sNDCMUgNQtg

[Daozen]

I think deforestation has nothing to do with overpopulation. Its caused by Soy, suppressed industrial hemp, slash and burn agriculture, and intensive meat farming.

Plenty of small scale projects on Kickstarter and Indiegogo right now.

[Carmen]

Thank you for restoring the Alan Savory talk. It is truly inspirational. Only wish I could get everyone to watch it!

[Nothingness]

This is why we must begin to do it ourselves. With no funding.
If we humans do not stop cutting ~ no it will not grow back over time. That is the illusion.
What WILL happen is we will be forced to use DNA modification and geo-engineering to replace all species and elemental balance on the planet. That is what the ruling elite is designing, don't you see it? total domination.
This is the failure of man, I feel that we are here to avoid this or we are souls in challenge to change this outcome.
Start where you are ~ using creativity over finance.

Thank you for this Nomadguy. I agree. Ask ourselves inwardly: What little thing can we do persistently to help? I think: always clean up litter/pollution locally and give back to nature--feed the birds, fertilize (with compost) or water trees that need it. Put something out to help the creatures. Don't pollute the waters and ruin the landscape. Buy an older home if you feel you need a home--don't build; reuse, share, don't buy new, etc.

[nomadguy]

I just realized I had forgotten a well spoken wisdom.
"Live within your means"
:yo:

There are so many creative ways we can do that. Especially since we have so much "stuff"!
I think we humans have become over-abundant in stuff we have created. If we let our creations go to waste it pollutes. So lets put all this stuff to work. With a little extra thought almost anything is useful.