The article that this post is based on is a fascinating look at the impacts of clearfelling in Tasmania. One of the areas the article talks about is the Styx Valley, where over 85% of Tasmanian Regnan's forests are gone. Most of these, the article says, will end up as paper in Japan. The plantations that are set up in place of the logged forests often used herbicides such as Atrazine (banned in Europe) that pollute the local water sources. We haven't talked too much about clearfelling yet in the class and especially the impact of plantations and their effects on the environment. It simply isn't enough to replace the trees, since the way in which they are replaced can have have many negative impacts both on humans and the proximate human population.
Rehan
http://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2007/may/1348543148/richard-flanagan/out-control
Sounds like the tragedy of the commons. There are too many forests and too many people who want to utilize this land that's technically open to everyone. Good thing, however, that Tasmania has been proactive in setting up reserves for these beautiful places.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to read the article lede about the supposed benefits of purchasing a rescued tree fern. It's good to see that these things are being exposed.
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