There are an unfortunate number of issues that exist concerning our environment in today’s society, but to begin the discussion of these issues I am choosing to focus on one particular topic: deforestation.

Deforestation is the widespread clearing of trees, typically to create room for something man made. There is a great deal of controversy surrounding it because it is deliberately taking natural resources away as well as removing the habitat for many species. There are a number of reasons that this might occur, involving politics, agriculture, big businesses, or another factor. Although the sheer concept of (and even the connotation of the word) deforestation is haunting and raises some moral red flags, there must be some reason as to why it continues to occur. After all, it wouldn’t be considered a debate if there weren’t people taking both sides.

Those who consider themselves to be environmental activists are greatly opposed to this intentional tampering with the natural world. One article (which can be viewed here) talks about a man who, rather than telling people what deforestation is like, decides instead to show them. He uses Google Earth to show the insane amount of deforestation that has occurred in recent years. Matthew Hansen, the man who uses Google Earth to show the scale of this, did this so he could actually track the process. He uses the data he gathers from it to alert resource managers and climate scientists with accurate information, rather than estimates or outdated numbers. While Hansen’s main goal is to alert these researchers, Tim McDonnell, the author of the article, seems to have a different goal. McDonnell includes the video of Google Maps showing all of the deforestation in the world, not for some scientist, but for the reader. He uses this to not just tell, but show the public what the consequences of this really are.

Looking at the Google Maps video and just hearing the perspectives of those who are against deforestation is enough for many people to turn against the idea of killing the rain forests. However, there must be a reason that we have not yet put an end to this.

Taking a look at another perspective on deforestation, this article tells of a scientist who does not necessarily argue on behalf of deforestation, but instead claims that nature is more resilient than we think. He says that species are actually able to adapt to deforestation, and that the strong efforts to protect the forests and the wildlife inside them are not really needed. He also claims that many slash-and-burn farmers are beginning to move to more urban areas in order to have greater economic opportunities. This allows for the forests to have some time to recuperate, meaning that the affects are not necessarily as bad as once thought.

This kind of perspective is one that many people are eager to take. It is an easier way out because accepting that the consequences are not all that bad feels better than accepting that the Earth is doomed. People like to hear a more optimistic approach to issues because it makes them feel less like they need to be doing something about them. And maybe this optimistic approach has some truth to it. We do not really know at this point, but for many it is the best frame of mind to live with.

While the previously mentioned article still admitted that deforestation was bad (just not THAT bad), there are people out there who argue for its usefulness rather than its harmful effects. In an article with a perspective I have never personally seen before, Kate Sheppard writes on whether cutting down trees is actually helpful for the planet. She writes of some researchers that found that while cutting trees down releases carbon which is inherently bad for the environment, in colder areas (specifically ones with snow) the cutting of trees contributes more good than bad. By leaving more open space not covered by trees, she writes, the reflection of sunlight and its energy off of the snow benefits the landscape more than the emissions of carbon harm it. I can honestly say I have never heard of a perspective in favor of deforestation until now.

For people such as us who are not truly part of the environmental debate, it is easy to assume that everyone either has the stance of wanting to save the planet by stopping deforestation or having a selfish attitude and not caring whether the planet is destroyed. However, there are more layers than what it seems like on the surface. Deforestation is an issue of the environment, but more goes into this debate than just the good guys and the bad guys. As I explore various other topics within the great debate of the environment, I aim to find the widest range of perspectives in order to gain a complete understanding of these issues.