FCL 10002 ACADEMIC AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS B

DEFORESTATION

Prepared for

: Ms Jocelyn Sim

Prepared by

: Mohd Irfan Ismail (100072630)

Samuel Petrus Langgi (100069755)

Date of submission : 20th June 2016

Acknowledgement

We are really grateful because we managed to complete our Academic

and Communication Skills B (FCL10002) assignment within the time given by our
lecturer Miss Jocelyn Sim. This assignment cannot be completed without the effort and
co-operation from our group members, Mohd Irfan (100072630) and Samuel Petrus
(100069755). We also sincerely thank our lecturer of Academic and Communication
Skills B (FCL10002) for the guidance and encouragement in finishing this assignment
and also for teaching us in this course. Last but not least, we would like to express our
gratitude to our friends and respondents for the support and willingness to spend some
times with us to fill in the questionnaires. For their continuous inspiration, we also
thankful to our parents for their moral support and giving inspiration to achieve this task.

Table of Contents
1

Introduction..................................................................................................................8
1.1

Purpose Statement.................................................................................................8

1.1.1

Research Questions........................................................................................8

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1.2

Scope of Study......................................................................................................8

1.3

Background Information.......................................................................................8

1.4

Methodology.........................................................................................................9

Literature Review.......................................................................................................10
2.1

2.1.1

Wood production..........................................................................................10

2.1.2

Agriculture...................................................................................................10

2.2

Advantages of deforestation................................................................................10

2.2.1

Job opportunities..........................................................................................11

2.2.2

Provides timber............................................................................................11

2.2.3

Create space for development......................................................................11

2.2.4

Boost a countrys economy..........................................................................12

2.3

Disadvantages of deforestation...........................................................................12

2.3.1

Habitat Destruction......................................................................................13

2.3.2

Climate change.............................................................................................13

2.3.3

Soil erosion..................................................................................................13

2.3.4

Water quality deceases.................................................................................14

2.4

Reasons why deforestation is carried out............................................................10

Methods to control deforestation.........................................................................14

2.4.1

Selective cutting...........................................................................................14

2.4.2

Tree plantation.............................................................................................15

2.4.3

Pressure corporations and markets...............................................................15

2.4.4

Changing politics.........................................................................................16

Findings......................................................................................................................16
3.1

Results.................................................................................................................16

3.1.1

Importance of deforestation based on respondents' country........................17

3.1.2

Responsibility to Preserve Forests...............................................................17

3.1.3

Deforestation is essential to a country's development.................................19

3.1.4

Deforestation will bring more harm than benefits to a country...................20

3.1.5

Causes of Deforestation...............................................................................21

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3.1.6

Disadvantages of deforestation....................................................................22

3.1.7

Methods to control deforestation.................................................................23

3.1.8
Respondents' opinion on whether enough is done to control deforestation in
their country................................................................................................................24
3.2

Discussion...........................................................................................................24

3.2.1

Reasons of deforestation..............................................................................25

3.2.2

Advantages of deforestation........................................................................25

3.2.3

Disadvantages of deforestation....................................................................25

3.2.4

Ways to achieve a more sustainable deforestation.......................................26

Conclusion..................................................................................................................26

Recommendations......................................................................................................27

List of figures

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Figure 1 Importance of deforestation based on respondents' country...........................................15

Figure 2 Respondents' view on which party has more responsibility to preserve forest................16
Figure 3 Deforestation is essential to a country's development.....................................................17
Figure 4 Deforestation will bring more harm than benefits to a country.......................................18
Figure 5 The Main Cause Cause of Deforestation........................................................................19
Figure 6 Disadvantages of deforestation.......................................................................................20
Figure 7 Methods to control deforestation....................................................................................21
Figure 8 Respondents' opinion on whether enough is done to control deforestation in their
country..........................................................................................................................................22

Executive Summary
The report investigates the advantages and disadvantages of deforestation on a
country and to suggest recommendations that will lead towards a more sustainable
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deforestation. The report was carried out by 2 researchers inside Swinburne University of
Technology Sarawak Campus and they were given 9 weeks to complete the assignment.
The scope of the report is worldwide and it highlights the reasons on why deforestation is
carried out, the advantages and disadvantages of deforestation on a country, and some
recommendations on how to carry out sustainable deforestation. The findings in the
report are based on information obtained via questionnaires distributed to students of
Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, books, journals, articles and web
resources. The results collected shows that most of the respondents do not support
deforestation as they think that it brings more harm than good. But at the same time, they
also think that deforestation is essential to a countrys development with creating space
for development being their major reason. It is also found that the respondents think that
the government has the biggest responsibility in preserving forests and reforestation is the
most effective way to reduce the negative effects of deforestation. The conclusion of the
report is deforestation cannot be stopped completely, but with extra effort and suitable
methods like reforestation, the negative impacts can be reduced. This report recommends
that methods such as selective cutting, setting up more tree plantation, pressuring
corporations and markets and enforcing laws.

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1 Introduction
1.1 Purpose Statement
The purpose of this research is to investigate advantages and disadvantages of
deforestation on a country and to suggest recommendations that will lead towards a more
sustainable deforestation.
1.1.1 Research Questions
1. Why is deforestation carried out?
2. What are the advantages of deforestation?
3. What are the disadvantages of deforestation?
4. What are some of the ways to achieve a more sustainable deforestation?

1.2 Scope of Study

The report was carried out by 2 researchers inside Swinburne University of Technology
Sarawak Campus and they were given 9 weeks to complete the assignment. The scope of
the report is worldwide and the findings in the report are based on information obtained
via questionnaires distributed to students of Swinburne University of Technology
Sarawak Campus. The first limitation faced is money; as there is limited money to fund
the printing of the questionnaires. Apart from that, due to limited amount of time is given
to complete the assignment, only 30 questionnaires will be distributed to minimize the
time taken to carry out the survey. Finally, due to the presence of geographical
boundaries, the questionnaires are only allowed to be distributed within Swinburne
Sarawak campus.

1.3 Background Information

According to Miller and Spoolman (2014), deforestation means when a forest undergoes
temporary or permanent removal in a large scale for agricultural, settlements or other
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uses. Human activities such as clear- cutting, open burning and logging are some of the
methods of forest clearance in which contribute to climate change and loss of animals
natural habitat. Over one third of the forests in the world are called primary forests but
approximately 15 million acres of these forests are cleared or heavily damaged yearly
(Cunningham & Cunningham 2010). If the rate deforestation continues as it were, forests,
which covers 30% of the worlds land surface are likely to be gone within a humans
lifespan if strong protective measures are not taken.

1.4 Methodology
The two researches gathered the all the information for the research through primary and
secondary sources. For primary source, a survey through questionnaires was conducted.
30 questionnaires were distributed within Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak
Campus to the students studying there without concerning their age, gender or level of
study. For the secondary source, 8 sources were obtained through books, journals, articles
and web resources.

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2 Literature Review
2.1 Reasons why deforestation is carried out

2.1.1 Wood production

Nowadays, it is almost impossible to find industries that does not use wood or wood
products somewhere in its marketing and manufacturing processes. Every year the
amount of international trade in wood and wood products whoops more than $100 billion.
The demand for paper, which is the product of wood, is increasing rapidly across
wealthier countries of North America, Europe and Asia (Cunningham & Cunningham
2010).

2.1.2 Agriculture
Tropical forests in Southeast Asia such as Indonesia and Malaysia, are being replaced
with palm oil plantation, to produce a type oil used in cooking, cosmetics and bio-diesel
fuel for automobiles (Miller & Spoolman 2014). While the tropical forests in South
American countries and Amazon, undergo clearance and burning to give way for cattle
grazing and soy bean plantations.

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2.2 Advantages of deforestation

2.2.1 Job opportunities

According to Lombardo (2015), a lot of people who are cutting trees in forests have no
other job opportunities available for them. Deforestation provides them with a job and to
be able to feed their family through their income. Through deforestation, job
opportunities that are centered around logging will increase.. Thus, this will increase the
employment rate of a country. Besides that, small farmers will clear a few acres to
provide more room for planting crops or for their livestock to graze upon. They will cut
down the trees and burn them, this process is known as slash and burn agriculture.

2.2.2 Provides timber

According to Fiset (2007), one of the top advantage of deforestation to spot are the
monetary ones. Lumber items are a standout amongst the most staple helpful materials in
human culture. Whether it's crude timber utilized for making tables and houses, or paper
and other wood by-items, we basically can't live without the utilization of timber. Like
steel and stone, wood is a standout amongst the most fundamental common assets, on the
other hand, unlike steel and stone, it is renewable just by developing more trees.

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2.2.3 Create space for development

According to Lombardo (2015), forests are cleared to make way for infrastructure such as
buildings, schools, roads and houses. As time goes by, Earths population will continue to
rise, which means more space and food supply is needed in order to feed and make
human lives more comfortable. Besides that, deforestation is inevitable to a country in
todays modern era where new technology is constantly being developed everyday, and
those technology cannot be developed without proper facilities.

2.2.4 Boost a countrys economy

Deforestation may help in enhancing the economy of a nation (Foley 2013).
Deforestation can help the economy by producing timber and other assets like medicine,
and if lucky, to discover new materials found in forests. For example, timber is a very
important natural resource as it can be made into paper, furnitures, houses and many more
other things humans need in this civilized era. For countries rich in timber, they can
export their timber to other countries and earn profit.

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2.3 Disadvantages of deforestation

2.3.1 Habitat Destruction

The forest provides home for more than 80% of the unique plant and animal species that
live there and without unstable place for biodiversity to survive, flora and fauna are
forced to find a new place to live because they would not be able to survive on a small
part of forests land left behind. Their population will begin to face a drop and eventually
become an endangered species or worse face early extinction when they become
vulnerable to hunters and poachers (Miller & Spoolman 2014).

2.3.2 Climate change

Forests help to stabilize average atmospheric temperature which slows down climate
change (Miller & Spoolman 2014). Trees absorb carbon dioxide to produce oxygen for
humans and clearing forests releases back the carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The
rise in concentration of this gas contributes to the warming of the atmosphere and causes
climate changes in various places in this planet that could last a lifetime.

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2.3.3 Soil erosion

Clearance of forests means the trees, which is the sole supporter in holding the soil
together in a forest area greatly increases water runoff and loss of soil nutrients.
Deforestation- induced erosion can cause damage to infrastructure, fisheries, properties as
well as the roads and highways that were built along the forest. According to Butler
(2012), soil erosion costs tens of billions of dollars worldwide yearly and is costly for
developing countries.

2.3.4 Water quality deceases

Forests hold more water than farms or grasslands and trees prevent sediment runoff and
when a river can no longer hold more than the usual amount it can carry, flood will occur
(The Star 2014). The eroded sediment in the soil nutrients will not only fill up the rivers
but also cause unusual mud flow that is much more dangerous than ordinary flood.
Drinking water, aquatic habitats, waterways and dams and the water source for crops will
be affected in a negative way (Chakravarty et al. 2012).

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2.4 Methods to control deforestation

2.4.1 Selective cutting

Selective cutting is defined as the cutting down of selected trees in a forest so that
growth of other trees is not affected. This is done according to criteria regarding
minimum tree size for harvesting, specifications of the number, spacing and size classes
of residual trees per area, and allowable cut (OECD 2001). Instead of carrying out the
clear-cutting process on forests, selective cutting should be use to harvest timber from
trees to reduce the inevitable effects of deforestation. In addition, precautions such as
removing canopy vines before cutting down an individual tree and taking the route with
least trees when moving the timber should be taken to avoid harming other trees
(Cunningham & Cunningham 2010).

2.4.2 Tree plantation

Miller and Spoolman (2014) states that A tree plantation, also called a tree farm or
commercial forest, is a managed forest containing only one or two species of trees that
are all of the same age. After the grown trees are harvested by means of clear-cutting,
trees are once again planted in the plantation, and harvested when they become
commercially valuable. This method will take the remaining old-growth and secondary
forests out of harms way if overseen wisely. This is because by opening up more tree
plantations, there is no need to obtain wood from old-growth and secondary forests for
industrial purposes as these plantations can produce wood at a fast rate. Chakravarty et al.
(2012) suggest that by transforming empty lands into tree plantations, the need for
obtaining natural resources from old-growth and secondary forests will reduce.

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2.4.3 Pressure corporations and markets

According to Gunther (2015) and Tabacek (2010), Greenpeace, a non-governmental
environmental organization has been campaigning against companies that are
contributing to deforestation. The first company is Kimberly Clark, which produces
mostly paper-based consumer products. According to Morden (cited in Gunther 2015),
Kimberly Clark was becoming more and more eco-friendly and Greenpeaces campaign
has sped up the process. The second company is Nestle, a food and beverage company.
Nestle was claimed by Greenpeace to be sourcing palm oil from Sinar Mas, an
Indonesian company rumored to be carrying out illegal deforestation. When Greenpeace
came out with a report claiming that Sinar Mas has been carrying out illegal
deforestation, Nestle decided to use only certified sustainable palm oil and found a new
supplier. The third company is Best Buy, an electronics corporation, which was claimed
by Greenpeace Canada for doing business with Resolute Forest Products, a large
company famous for excessive logging. After a few days, Best Buy reduced its business
worth millions of dollars with Resolute Forest Products.
2.4.4 Changing politics
The government plays an important role in controlling deforestation. According to Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (cited in Chakravarty et al. 2012), the government
has the power to stop half of the current tropical deforestation if they are willing to do so.
Laws, policy and legislations that encourages citizens and institutions to help stop
deforestation should be executed, alongside punishments such cancelling work orders,
notices of violation, fines, arrests and court action. Another strong player that can help the
environment are the NGOs. Due to their advantage of not having any control from
government and large international organizations, they are more likely to resist corruption
and to be successful in helping the environment.

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3 Findings
3.1 Results

3.1.1 Importance of deforestation based on respondents' country

Importance of deforestation based on respondents' country

Percentage (%)

30
25
20
15
10
5
0

24

21

21

17
7

2
0

0 0

Figure 1 Importance of deforestation based on respondents' country

Figure 1 shows the respondents views on the importance(s) of deforestation based on
their country. Based on the graph above, most of the respondents (33%), think that create
space for development is the most significant importance of deforestation. The second
highest importance is provide timber for industries, which consist of 28% of the
respondents, followed by boost a countrys economy which has 21% of the respondents
vote. Finally, with only 19% of the respondents vote, job opportunities is the seen as
the least significant importance of deforestation.

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3.1.2

Responsibility to Preserve Forests

Responsibility to Preserve Forests

Others; 1%

NGO's; 22%

Government; 52%

Public; 25%

Government

Public

NGO's

Others

Figure 2 Respondents' view on which party has more responsibility to

preserve forest
This pie chart illustrates the respondents opinion on who should be the most responsible
to preserve forests. The with 56%, majority of them chose the government to play an
important role to take action against deforestation. Next, 25% of the respondents vote on
the public, followed by the Non-Government Organization (NGOs) with 22%. The
remaining 1% is under others.

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3.1.3

Deforestation is essential to a country's development

Deforestation is essential to a country's development

Strongly disagree; 7%
Strongly agree; 7%
Agree

Disagree
Disagree; 30%

Strongly agree

Strongly disagree

Agree; 56%

Figure 3 Deforestation is essential to a country's development

Figure 3 shows the respondents view on whether deforestation is essential to a countrys
development by ranking it with Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, or Strongly
Disagree. In accordance to the graph above, more than half of the respondents, which is
56%, agrees that deforestation is essential to a countrys development. On the other hand,
a fair number of respondents (30%) disagree that deforestation is essential to a countrys
development. Finally, the remaining percentage of respondents are divided equally with
7% of the respondents strongly agree and the other 7% strongly disagree that
deforestation is essential to a countrys development.

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3.1.4

Deforestation will bring more harm than benefits to a country

Deforestation will bring more harm than benefits to a country
Strongly Agree; 13%
Strongly Disagree; 7%
Disagree; 30%

Agree; 50%

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly Agree

Figure 4 Deforestation will bring more harm than benefits to a country

Figure 4 shows the respondents view on whether deforestation will bring more harm than
benefits to a country by ranking it with Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, or
Strongly Disagree. Based on the graph above, half of the respondents agrees to the
statement. On the other hand, a fair number of respondents (30%) disagree that
deforestation will bring more harm than benefits to a country. Finally, the remaining
percentage of respondents are divided with 13% chose Strongly Agree and 7%
Strongly Disagree.

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3.1.5

Causes of Deforestation

Causes of Deforestation
50
45
40

45

42

39

35

34

35

32
28

30
Percentage (%)

25

22

20

22

16

15

10

10

20
18
15

23

Logging

15

10
5

5
0

22

20

Agriculture

Forest fire

0 Mining

Development

Causes
1

Column1

Figure 5 The Main Cause Cause of Deforestation

Figure 5 illustrate the main cause of deforestation based on the rank chosen by the
respondents from 1 to 5. Rank 1 indicates the main cause. The respondents pick
agriculture for the main causes with the percentage of 42%. The second main cause is
logging with approximate 34%. The third in rank is the development of a country with
32%. The fourth main cause chosen by the respondents is forest fires with the percentage
of 35% and lastly mining with 45%.

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3.1.6

Disadvantages of deforestation

Disadvantages of deforestation
Most Significant

Significant

Neutral

Less Significant

Least Significant

50

47
40

39

40
33

30

31

23

8
3

30
21

20
14
11

Water pollution
0 due to soil erosion

11

19

9 11
3

Soil erosion

0 Flood and drought

Disadvantages

Figure 6 Disadvantages of deforestation

Figure 6 illustrates the respondents opinion on the degree of significance from Most
Significant to Least Significant, of the disadvantages of deforestation. Judging by the
graph, climate change was voted the most significant disadvantage of deforestation with
47%. Followed by destruction of wildlife habitat with 40%, soil erosion with 33%, flood
and drought with 40%, and finally water pollution was voted to be the least significant
disadvantages of deforestation with 50%.

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3.1.7

Methods to control deforestation

Methods to control deforestation

60
50
40
Percentage (%)

30

53
43

20
10

43

40

33
23

27

23

17

7
0
Implementing the 3R's

13

17

16

20

24

0
Reforestation
Methods

Most Effective

Effective

Less effective

Least effective

Figure 7 Methods to control deforestation

Figure 7 illustrates the respondents view on the level of effectiveness from Most
Effective to Least Effective, of different methods to control deforestation. By looking
at the graph above, majority of the respondents which is made up of 43% chose
reforestation as the most effective way to control deforestation. Next, enforcement of
laws was chosen as effective to control deforestation with 43%. After that, with 40% of
the respondents, pressuring corporations and markets was voted as less effective to
control deforestation. Finally, as voted by more than half of the respondents (53%),
implementing the 3Rs was chosen to be the least effective way to tackle the issue.

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3.1.8

Respondents' opinion on whether enough is done to control deforestation in their

country

Respondents' opinion on whether enough is done to control deforestation in their country

27%

Yes

No

73%

Figure 8 Respondents' opinion on whether enough is done to control

deforestation in their country
Figure 8 indicates the respondents' opinion on whether their government is doing enough
to control deforestation in their country. As shown on the graph above, it is clearly seen
that majority of the respondents which is 73%, thinks that not enough is done to control
deforestation in their country. On the contrary, 27% the respondents think that
deforestation is still under control in their country.

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3.2 Discussion

3.2.1 Reasons of deforestation

There are a few reasons on why deforestation is carried out around the world. From the
survey, Figure 1 (pg 15.), shows that deforestation is carried out mainly to create space
for development and acts as the source of timber. In Figure 5 (pg 19.), agriculture is
chosen as the main cause of deforestation. Whereas from the secondary resources, Miller
and Spoolman (2014) also states that deforestation is carried out for agricultural purposes
such as clearing forests to set up soy bean or palm oil plantations. Next, Cunningham and
Cunningham (2010) mentioned that deforestation is carried out to obtain timber. These
findings show that agriculture and source of timber plays a big role on why deforestation
is carried out.

3.2.2 Advantages of deforestation

Based on Figure 1 (pg 15.), the advantages of deforestation are creating space for
development, provide timber for industries, boost a countrys economy and provide job
opportunties. From the secondary resources, Lombardo (2015), mentioned that
deforestation is important as it provides job opprtunities and create space for
development. Fiset ( 2007) states that deforestation acts as the source of timber for a
country and Foley (2013) states that it can help boost a countrys economy. These
findings shows that these four advantages are significant.

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3.2.3 Disadvantages of deforestation

Based on Figure 6 (pg 20), climate change is the most significant disadvantage of
deforestation, followed by destroying wildlifes habitat. According to Miller and
Spoolman (2014) deforestation can cause climate change significantly besides destroying
wildlifes habitat. These findings imply that deforestation will cause climate change to
occur and countless wildlifes habitat will be destroyed.

3.2.4 Ways to achieve a more sustainable deforestation

Based on Figure 7 (pg 21.), the most effective way to reduce the negative impact of
deforestation is reforestation. Followed by enforcement of laws, pressuring companies
and markets and lastly implementing the 3Rs. According to Cunningham and
Cunningham (2010), selective cutting is good way to ensure that a forest is not cleared
completely. According to Gunther (2015) and Tabacek (2010), pressuring corporations
and markets can help control deforestation very effectively. Therefore, reforestation and
selective cutting must be carried out when clearing a forest and consumers must play
their part in reducing the negative impacts of deforestation.

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4 Conclusion
As a conclusion, deforestation has its advantages and disadvantages. Whether or not the
advantages outweigh the disadvantages or the other way around in a country, it depends
on whether the citizens of that country are determine to carry out a sustainable
deforestation process. Based on the survey, the main cause of deforestation is agriculture,
followed by illegal logging, clearing forests for development, forest fire and lastly
mining. The interesting part is that majority of the respondents (63%) think that
deforestation brings more harm than benefits to a country. But at the same time, they also
think that it is essential for the growth of a country as deforestation creates space for
development, acts as the source of timber, boost a countrys economy and also provide
job opportunities. To overcome the disadvantages of deforestation such as water
pollution, destruction of wildlife habitat, soil erosion, climate change, flood and drought,
there a few methods that can be carried out. The methods are reforestation, enforcing
laws, pressuring corporations and markets and lastly implementing the 3Rs. Finally, the
respondents think that the government has the biggest responsibility in preserving forests.

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Recommendations
After a thorough process of analysing the findings, the researchers had come up with

a few recommendations to achieve a more sustainable deforestation in countries around

the world. Firstly, government or private logging companies around the world should
practice reforestation. Basically, after a tree is cut down, another tree has to be planted in
its place. Through deforestation, a sustainable deforestation is guaranteed as long as the
rate of reforestation is equal to the rate of deforestation.
Another thing government should do is to set up more tree plantations around the
country. Instead of leaving a piece of land vacant, the government should transform it
into a tree plantation with specific trees planted on it depending on what type of wood a
company needs. With more tree plantations set up, the need for timber taken from natural
forests will decrease and therefore, preserved.
Another way to ensure that deforestation can be carried out sustainably is to pressure
corporations and markets. This method is most suitable for NGOs and individuals as both
parties represent if not all, majority of the consumers. When cases such as companies
doing illegal logging occur, NGOs should voice out by exposing those irresponsible
companies online or on the papers. As for individuals, they should stop buying products
from those companies. Besides that, individuals are encouraged, if possible to stop
buying products that contribute to deforestation such wood furniture. Instead, consumers
should buy more products made out of recycled materials. With these methods applied,
the demand for raw wood will decrease.
Finally, the government should start enforcing and make new laws to stop
irresponsible deforestation such as illegal logging. The government should only give
logging license to companies that are trustworthy and set limits as to where deforestation
can be carried out. Apart from that, the government should place officers in each logging
companies to keep an eye on them to make sure they do not break the law.
MOHD IRFAN ISMAIL
100072630
SAMUEL PETRUS LANGGI
100069755
FCL10002 SEMESTER 2 , 2016

27

MOHD IRFAN ISMAIL

100072630
SAMUEL PETRUS LANGGI
100069755
FCL10002 SEMESTER 2 , 2016

28