‘Forests in the Anthropocene’ is a course project for Global
Environmental Processes (GEOGG131).
I take this opportunity with great enthusiasm to explore the relationship
between forests and this new epoch of the Anthropocene. Through my posts, I aim
to cover several aspects with regards to forests and their interaction with humans
through the concept of ecosystem services as well as their ability to mitigate
climate change.
First things first! I come from the island of Cyprus, where I have the benefit
to appreciate nature through land and water. My love for nature gave me the
drive to study BSc Environmental Science at the University of Nottingham and my
concern about the future of humanity as far as environmental change is
concerned, urged me to be currently studying for my Master’s degree in Climate
Change at University College London. I find forests fascinating due to their
complex interactions with air, water and life.
Enough about me! Forests are considered to be the ‘lungs’ in terms of
atmosphere and the ‘heart’ of biodiversity of the Earth. They are biomes dominated
by trees and woody undergrowth. There are three distinct types of forest. The Tropical
Forests are the most ‘popular’ consisting of high biodiversity on fauna and
flora located in the tropics, Temperate Forests are located in the Mid
Latitudes and the Boreal Forests are occurring mainly in the Northern
Hemisphere between 50 and 60 degrees (ucmp) . Overall, they account for 90% of life
that is based on land (WWF). They are a source of income to millions of people
around the world adding up to services such as food, fuel and shelter (ucmp; WWF). Forests
used to cover the majority of the land’s surface. Today, it is thought that it
has decreased by 80% and half of it was vanished over the last 30 years. It is
estimated that there is a loss of forest area equal to the size of England. Could
this be all natural? What are the consequences of the shrinking of forests (ucmp; WWF; theguardian)?
We live during the Anthropocene, the epoch whereby human activity has become
a geological force (Steffen W., Crutzen P.J and McNeill J.R.) . Could anthropogenic effects cause this rapid decrease
in forest area? Is there a negative relationship between the two?
These are questions that I hope to answer by exploring this topic, in
addition to highlight their importance and to discuss the different views of
scientists, reporters and politicians. This blue planet we are living in is a
wonderful world and it is important to conserve it so that future generations
can enjoy what we can.
I will leave you to a short video from WWF that
will remind you to the feelings that evoke through forests (WWF).
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