Sustainable management of tropical rainforests and mangroves strategies
Protection of forested areas
How is it done?
Forested areas would be set aside for conservation of the forest’s biodiversity
for research, education, recreation and it will be against the law to log or engage
in activities which damage the rainforest in the area. As such, laws and
regulations help to ensure that these areas are not being developed for other
uses, thereby managing the onset of deforestation.
Challenges
For many land-scarce countries, there is a need to balance development and
biodiversity conservation in a small urban setting. As such, the success of the
protection of forested areas is dependent upon the other needs of the country
which may oftentimes supersede the importance of rainforest protection.
Reforestation
How is it done?
Reforestation refers to the replanting of trees and plants onto cleared forest
land. Reforestation is carried out by machine planting or hand planting. This
helps to ensure the sustainability of our tropical rainforests as when trees grow,
animals will start to return to reforested land, helping to re-establish the
ecosystem which further supports the tropical rainforest, such than even
species that are almost extinct can be rediscovered.
Challenges
Reforestation projects that are not well planned and communicated to the
community may backfire. These projects that are driven by profits without
educating the rationale behind it will cause more harm to the degraded forests.
Example of success
For example, the Central Amazon Conservation Complex is the largest
protected area in the Amazon Basin covering 60,000 square kilometres and with
the highest biodiversity in the world, protected by law enforcement under the
Forest Police. It ensures that one of the richest areas of the planet in terms of
biodiversity is not disturbed.
Example of limited success
After Singapore gained independence in 1965, pressure for other land use has
remained the biggest driver of deforestation on the remaining secondary forests.
The 10 out of the 14 forest reserves established in 1884 were released for
development in 1965. This shows that even protected areas could be
compromised if they are slated for other developments.
Example of success
Tanzania suffers from widespread deforestation. Since 2009, efforts have been
made to reforest cleared land, with over 6.4 million trees planted in 9 years.
With the replanting of these trees, there is hope for the forest to regenerate
itself.
Example of limited success
In Mexico, a $3.4 billion tree-planting campaign launched by the government in
2018 caused deforestation instead. The program known as Sowing Life, pays
farmers to plant trees on their land, but in some cases, they would clear a chunk
of forest before putting seedlings in the ground. An environmental group,
suggests that it caused almost 73,000 hectares of forest loss in 2019.
Controlled Logging
How is it done?
Controlled logging refers to the careful management of forests that are being
logged. Controlled logging allows logging only in certain areas and in a
sustainable manner. Penalties such as fines and imprisonment are enforced on
irresponsible timber companies that carry out illegal logging.
Challenges
Areas designated for controlled logging may still face threats from illegal loggers
as the rainforest covers a large area and it is difficult to track illegal loggers.
Public education
How is it done?
Public education is a way to educate people on the importance of rainforests
and ways to conserve them by increasing appreciation, awareness, and
understanding of nature. Public education can be carried out by public
seminars, roadshows, and campaigns by various organizations and
incorporating elements of biodiversity conservation in the school curriculum.
Public education helps safeguard tropical rainforests as they make people
aware of the importance of tropical rainforests and understand why they are
under threat. This will most likely influence people to start recycling wastepaper,
wooden products, etc., after knowing the importance of tropical rainforests.
Challenges
Turning environmental awareness into personal behaviour and action is difficult
as society still heavily relies on rainforest products such as paper products and
rubber in their daily life. Thus, as much as society may be educated on the
harmful effects of deforestation, majority may still revert to the more convenient
practices that can generate more unnecessary trash and demand of unstainable
products.
Example of success
In the 1980s and 1990s, Costa Rica faced significant deforestation, but through
the implementation of a policy of controlled logging, the country has been able
to reverse the trend. According to data from the United Nations' Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO), Costa Rica’s Forest cover increased from
around 26% in the 1980s to over 50% by the early 2000s.
Example of limited success
It was found that the deforestation in Amazon in 2020 was carried out in large
parts by the Augustinho Alba organization who was fined approximately $4
million for logging without authorization. The organization did not stop even after
being fined by the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural
Resources. This show that abuse of the forest can continue if punishments are
not severe enough or not properly enforced.
Example of success
For example, National Board Parks (NParks) regularly organises exhibitions,
festivals, talks and workshops where people can learn more about tropical
rainforests. Moreover, it also publishes information along walking and cycling
trails across Singapore, like the TreeTop Walk in the Central Catchment Nature
Reserve, for people to enjoy and appreciate Singapore’s tropical rainforests in
their own time. The greater awareness through these programs helps
Singaporeans to appreciate our nature reserves and be more mindful in
practising the 3Rs and buying products from sustainably-managed forests.
Example of limited success
In Singapore, despite the attention that the Government is giving to tackling
excessive waste production and raising awareness of proper recycling habits,
paper is one of the most common types of waste and about 1.14 million tonnes
of paper waste was generated in 2020, a 13% increase from 2019 levels.