Forest resources are considered inexhaustible renewable, but they will only be so if used properly. The problem of deforestation is one of the most acute environmental problems on the planet, and its impact on the environment can hardly be overrated. They generally constitute a single ecosystem that affects the lives of various species of flora, fauna, soil, atmosphere, and water. Many people do not even realize what disaster deforestation will lead to if it is not stopped.
In 2019, colossal forest fires hit the country. More than 1,800,000 hectares of Amazonian forests burned down from January to August alone (Tisold, 2019). 2020 was no better, with an 81% increase in fires compared to the previous year (Amazon fires 2019). Many experts suspect that in addition to natural factors, the spread of the fire was also influenced by the conscious activity of people, with the connivance of the highest echelons of power. On the one hand, Kantian says that deforestation is contradictory (Elburz, Çubukçu, & Nijkamp, 2018). The Amazon rainforests are called the ‘lungs’ of the planet, and their eradication as a whole is impossible; otherwise, they would have been long gone (Elburz, Çubukçu, & Nijkamp, 2018). However, the theory can be challenged by the fact that deforestation undoubtedly worsens the state of the planet. Information about the increased number of fires in recent years only confirms this. The more forests are cut down, the more often they are exposed to other external influences, like fires or diseases. It leads to a decrease in the population of various animal species, not to mention the general vegetation cover.
The oxygen produced by forests and other components of the Earth’s vegetation cover is important in itself and in connection with the need to preserve the ozone screen in the Earth’s stratosphere. Ozone is formed from oxygen under the influence of solar radiation (Hua et al., 2019). Its concentration in the stratosphere is steadily decreasing under the influence of chlorofluorinated hydrocarbons (refrigerants, plastic components) (Hua et al., 2019). In addition, another important global problem associated with deforestation is the rapid increase in temperature on Earth, which is supported by widespread fires.
Industry emits significant amounts of this gas, which threatens global warming, the shift of the planet’s agricultural zones to the poles, the swamping of land areas with permafrost, the melting of glaciers, the flooding of coastal cities, and more and more frequent cataclysms (hurricanes, tornadoes and more). There is illegal logging, fueling conflict and becoming a new ‘safe’ criminal niche for drug cartels and migrant groups looking for alternative sources of income.
The problem of caring for the health and rights of future generations is more related to the position of anthropocentrism. The problem of ecocide and the need to preserve the environment can be analyzed both from the standpoint of anthropocentrism and from the standpoint of biocentrism. Anthropocentrism, as a profound principle of the European worldview and culture, lies in the understanding of man as the cause of the existence of nature and the world as a whole, as a measure of all things and values (Ezedike, 2020). This approach is based on the idea of the need to rethink and expand traditional ethical principles, mainly associated with the ethical theory of utilitarianism. Establishing an effective deforestation policy can lead to risk reduction and the reckless use of a large amount of a natural resource.
The real change comes from local people in business and politicians realizing the economic value of protecting the environment. However, according to utilitarianism, the value of deforestation is determined by the usefulness of the resources needed (Ezedike, 2020). Thus, the theory of utilitarianism does not give a clear idea of environmental problems since it can both support the fight against them and contribute to their development. However, it should be remembered that further destruction of the Amazon rainforest can lead to significant changes in the ecosystem, so the problem is global and must be dealt with.
References
Amazon fires increase by 84% in one year. (2019). Web.
Elburz, Z., Çubukçu, K. M., &Amp; Nijkamp, P. (2018). The mutual relationship between regional income and deforestation: A study on Turkey. Metu Journal of The Faculty of Architecture.
Ezedike, E. U. (2020). Anthropocentric-utilitarian tradition and the quest for environmental justice in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Britain International of Humanities and Social Sciences (BIoHS) Journal, 2(1), 247-255.
Hua, Z., Guo, K., Kong, X., Lin, S., Wu, Z., Wang, L.,… Fang, J. (2019). PPCP degradation and DBP formation in the Solar/free chlorine system: Effects of ph and dissolved oxygen. Water Research, 150, 77-85.
Tisold, V. (2019). The Amazonian forest price tag: Trade benefits VS environment and human rights. Web.