Deforestation in Malaysia and Indonesia

In dealing with this question we should look at a few things. What is causing the deforestation? What is causing the decline in endangered species, if there is a decline? And finally is there a climate change and what is it due to?

What is causing deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia? This is not a simple question, one would think to solve this issue one should just make those cutting trees stop cutting. The problem is that 70% of the logging is illegal, so no matter what bans or laws are passed there will still be lots of logging. This is also a significant issue because those who are logging illegally will not abide by other environmental standards. People who are already breaking the law think nothing of breaking another one. So, more regulations would only hurt those who are legally selling timber. In reading I did find a good point mentioned and that is trying to control the selling of this illegal timber. To control this there would probably have to be an international agreement to punish those who are caught purchasing such timber.
One other cause of deforestation that is not often mentioned is fires. Indonesia and Malaysia have lots of forest fires, and not adequate fire fighting equipment, and manpower to battle them. In February one fire alone burned 15,000 hectares. These countries need more income so they can have the means to get sufficient equipment and manpower. One way in which they currently get income is the selling of timber, so the legal selling of timber may actually be helping to reduce deforestation, and other environmental problems. Odd to think of that way, but it might work out that way if there are less hectares cut legally than are burned every year.

Secondly, What is causing the decline in endangered species? This problem is two fold, reduction in their habitat, and illegal animal trade are both to blame. For the first issue, I think that humans also have the right to live, and that it is their habitat also, and that they should be able to protect their family and livestock from the tigers (who are the most talked about endangered species in the area). On the other side the illegal animal traders should have to face stiffer penalties. If someone purchases the illegally captured animal, or products from them, they should also be held liable, and have to return the animal, or animal products.

Thirdly, is there a climate change and what is it due to? I am not sure that there is a significant climate change. There has been both increases and decreases in precipitation worldwide. However, in the world the precipitation has increased approx 1% in the last decade. There are cycles in climates that go year to year, and ten years to ten years. So, I do not think the deforestation has to do with the “drying up of local climates” if there is such a drying effect, assuming by drying effect we are speaking about precipitation levels. Cutting trees does not cause the local climate to get less precipitation. For example, in the Mt.St. Helens area in 1980 massive amounts of timberland was destroyed, but the climate did not change, and trees are growing back on their own.

What should be done about this issue? I think that the Malaysian and Indonesian governments need to have stiffer penalties for illegal actions, whether they be in the harvesting, buying or aiding of the illegal loggers, and poachers. Also, the international community should not give safe harbor for these people or purchase their wares. If there were not the illegal actions I feel that their timber harvesting would not be creating such controversy and those that were legally harvesting would be willing to replant, and harvest with the environment in mind.

Online References:
Deforestation, shifting cultivation, and tree crops in Indonesia:nationwide patterns of smallholder agriculture at the forest frontier-
http://www.worldbank.org/html/prddr/prdhome/peg/wps04/indexp2.htm
Malaysia hit by fires and haze, sees rain ahead- http://forests.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=7987
Indonesia: Hub for Endangered Species -http://forests.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=10212
Malaysia target illegal timber- http://forests.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=12040
Malaysian tigers under the gun as eco-summit nears-http://forests.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=14582
Indonesia struggles to curb rapid deforestation- http://forests.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=14818
Exploring the science of Climate change- http://www.rppi.org/environment/peg3.html

*Originally Written in 2002