Today, more than ever before, contemporary land use pressures coupled with haphazard cutting of trees have had a noteworthy impact on the extent and condition of forests in the United States, igniting a country-wide decline in forest cover. In consequence, the potential for forest regeneration in our country has slowed, with experts suggesting that forest loss is now more common in the U.S. than forest gain due to indiscriminate tree cutting to satisfy the huge demand for timber.
Indeed, it is disturbing to note that the national forest cover has for the last five years declined by more than 4 percent despite the fact that our forest region, particularly in the southern United States, is one of the most spectacular and productive in the world (Drummond & Loveland, 2010). Forest experts have singled out forest tree cutting as the foremost contributing factor to this worrying trend.
As the governor of this state, it is my duty and responsibility to lead in conserving our environment and, indeed, our trees. Nature and experience have demonstrated to us how wanton destruction of forest cover and environmental degradation can be unforgiving to the human race, and we all know of the profound negative effects that forest tree cutting may bring to this nation.
It is within our knowledge that forest tree cutting, otherwise known as deforestation, will cause extinction to some wonderful species that depend on the forest cover, not mentioning that it will enhance changes to climatic conditions, propel desertification, and ultimately displace human populations (Drummond & Loveland, 2010). This must never be allowed to happen. Global warming is an issue that world leaders are currently contending with, and its genesis can be traced to the wanton destruction of our forest cover.
A fundamental array of ecological services, including water sources, wildlife habitats, biodiversity, and magnificent recreational sites, ultimately depend on how well the forest cover, specifically trees, will be conserved by the current generation for future generations. Yet, the aggressive invasions of trees by the human race for slight economic gains poses a looming threat to the country’s critical forest resources.
It is within my knowledge that some individuals and companies, driven by their inordinate desire to enrich themselves, have either disregarded or totally ignored the intrinsic value brought by forest trees. In the same vein, lax forest management and a number of deficient environmental laws within our system are perpetuating the culture of forest tree cutting (Drummond & Loveland, 2010).
To correct the anomaly, it is imperative that we develop new and dynamic approaches concerning land-use. Effective strategies and programs need to be formulated and implemented on the basis of our best understanding of the importance of forest cover and the consequences that we’ll have to live with when we destroy our trees. Consequently, it is important to arrange public forums and meetings where awareness creation and education about the importance of maintaining our trees, and even planting more trees, will be commenced
Reference List
Drummond, M.A., & Loveland, T.R. (2010). Land-use pressure and a transition to forest-cover loss in the eastern United States. Bioscience, 60(4), 286-298. Retrieved from MasterFILE Premier Database