Deforestation and its Impact on Environmental Health

This article discusses the causes and effects of deforestation, the role of pressure groups and legislation in reducing deforestation, and the impact of organizations on human health. It also highlights the effectiveness of organizational approaches vis-à-vis national/international environmental health issues. The article is relevant to students studying BTEC LEVEL 3 Extended DIPLOMA IN HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (QCF) and anyone interested in environmental health.

University
Student Name
Course
BTEC LEVEL 3 Extended DIPLOMA IN
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (QCF)
Assignment
Unit 38: Environmental Health ( T/600/8996)
Task 4 (LO3) P4, P5, M3, D1, D2
Tutor

2
Task 4 (LO3) P4, P5, M3, D1, D2
Deforestation
Deforestation is an important contributor to global climate change. It is the greatest challenge
facing the world today with huge tracts of forest land being cut down for timber and arable
land availability purposes. Forests play a crucial role in the overall ecosystem as it the home
of several species, preventing soil erosion, absorption of greenhouse gases, keeping soil,
production of oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. The forest covers globally are estimated
to be 30% of the total land area. Large tracts of forest cover are lost every year due to
deforestation. If the current trends of deforestation continue, forests cove will be depleted in
100 years. Effects of burning and cutting of forests lead to a release of an estimated 1.5
billion tons of carbon dioxide being released to the atmosphere space.1
Main causes of deforestation include farmland expansion, wood and timber harvesting,
urbanization, mining, and paper. The rise in the construction industry has been the leading
factor for the increasing needs of timber and for furniture purposes. An estimate of over
500,000 hectares of forest cover are cut weekly by industries for the purposes of timber
making, among this, many trees are not replaced. Farmland expansion has led to an
increasing depletion of forests. The biggest threat of forest cover around the globe is
agricultural use. A large percentage of arable land in the current century was carved out of
forest cover. Increase in population has led to the clearance of forests for the purpose of
building houses for accommodating the huge population.2 Mining and paper industries have
been major contributing factors of forests depletion in various countries. Effects of
deforestation are huge. They include global warming, changes in weather patterns, water
cycles variations, decreased quality of life and increased acidification.3
Role of pressure groups and non-state actors in reducing deforestation
The role played by pressure groups and nongovernmental lobby groups are tremendous in
addressing deforestation challenges. Pressure groups serve as an alert and remotes sensors
which activate the systems through raising awareness on infringement of rights of other
1 Y Malhi Roberts JT, Betts RA, Killeen TJ, Li W, Nobre CA. Climate change, deforestation, and the fate of the
Amazon. science. 2008 Jan 11;319(5860):169-72.
2 Burns TJ, Kick EL, Davis BL. Theorizing and rethinking linkages between the natural
environment and the modern world-system: Deforestation in the late 20th century. Journal of
World-Systems Research. 2015 Aug 1;9(2):357-90.
3 Lawrence D, Vandecar K. Effects of tropical deforestation on climate and agriculture.
Nature Climate Change. 2015 Jan;5(1):27.

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people through forest destruction. Pressure groups form a key part of conservation efforts by
countering both public and private activities which lead to deforestation.
In other cases, NGOs have played a key role in between state and other agencies in forming
collaboration effects towards conservation of forests. A case study organization referred to as
Green Peace International, a non-governmental organization in Canada has formed
collaborations with other key state agencies in protecting forests covers. It has worked with
First nation’s governments, unions, forests companies and healthy community networks in
adopting sustainable environmental practices.4 This is the case we must establish and
formulate in enhancing environmental conservation as a whole.
Role of legislation and regulations on reducing the impact of environmental
Deforestation in developing nations has been attributed to high emission rates. In curbing
deforestation policies have been formulated aimed at countering the effects. However, in
implementing these rules, challenges have been noted in this regard, despite, this, their
countries which have implemented successful policies on deforestation. China,5 Thailand6,
and the Philippines, have gone huge steps in reducing response rates on environmental and
public health consequences. In India, joint forest programs have been implemented as
effective ways of reducing forest clearing. These few illustrations show a strong commitment
to enforcing fundamental policies which are geared at protecting the forest cover.7
Monitoring of forests coves plays a crucial role in regulating usage of land and regulating
permits issuance on forest harvest. There are various approaches which have been used to
monitor deforestation patterns and establish characteristics of forests. Standard protocols can
be formed which utilizes remote sensing data tools which monitors forest cover patterns.
4 Tacconi L. The Role of Firms in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Deforestation.
in protecting the Environment, Privately 2016 (pp. 295-312).
5 Christmann P, Taylor G. Globalization and the environment: Determinants of firm self-
regulation in China. Journal of international business studies. 2001 Sep 1;32(3):439-58.
6 Lebel L, Tri NH, Saengnoree A, Pasong S, Buatama U, Thoa LK. Industrial transformation
and shrimp aquaculture in Thailand and Vietnam: pathways to ecological, social, and
economic sustainability?. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment. 2002
Jun;31(4):311-23.
7 Greenstone M. The impacts of environmental regulations on industrial activity: Evidence
from the 1970 and 1977 clean air act amendments and the census of manufactures. Journal of
political economy. 2002 Dec;110(6):1175-219.

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Impact of legislation and policies on deforestation
Several nations such as India and Brazil have implemented policies and legislation, installed
policies and effective legislative approaches which have enhanced deforestation monitoring.
Legal and regulatory frameworks implemented in Cameroon have yielded to wider
convention efforts and has resulted in improved recognition and protection of forests covers
in West Africa. In DC Congo, legal reviews and implementation have led to a significant
reduction on areas under deforestation. Further, in Tanzania, World Bank group has aided in
surveillance measures in strengthening enforcement f regulations and surveillance units on
forests covers.8
Impact of organizations on human health
Illegal forests activity often is an as result of poor management of natural resources.
Enhancing security of tenure to forest covers is an important accountability measure control
for forestry operations. Recognition of people having significant input on tenure lights
enhances local people management stake in the management of the forests.
Green place, an NGO organization has influenced the role of indigenous people on defending
the rights of forests. It has formed collaborations with the first nation’s states and other forest
product companies and trade unions to foster sustainable forests products and building
healthy communities.
An organization such as Global Environmental Change and Human health have studied on
impacts and health risks posed by deforestation, with this studies they have developed using
adaptable strategies. Further, The Cooperation on Human Health and Biodiversity have
responded to gaps in raising awareness and campaigning for policies which links biodiversity
and human health.9
8 Kolstad, C., 2011. Intermediate Environmental Economics: International Edition. OUP
Catalogue.
9 McMichael AJ, Friel S, Nyong A, Corvalan C. Global environmental change and health:
impacts, inequalities, and the health sector. BMJ: British Medical Journal. 2008 Jan
26;336(7637):191.

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The effectiveness of organizational approaches vis-à-vis national /international
environmental health issues
Governments across the world have the ultimate responsibility of regulating the environment.
The government are the sources and verify various projects which affect the environment,
such as dams, roads, railways among others. Thus the government has to apply various
checks and balances to verify controls and ensuring that the environment is managed well.
The government has keys roles of direct regulation, determination of effluent fees,
certification of emission permits and ensuring compliance.10
On the other hand, organizational strategies align themselves on the policy frameworks and
guidelines stipulated and formulated by governments. Organizations follow the strategic
policy direction on matters environment. However, in terms of implementing approaches,
organizations have proven to be effective and cost-effective in conserving the environment.
Most of the strategies employed by organizations often take longer to be initiated in
governments due to bureaucracy and political goodwill among the actors, especially when
there are vested interests on the environmental supply chain11.
Hence environmental protection especially deforestation is a multi-sectarian approach.
Efforts from the government, nonstate actors and the local communities have a big role to
play. The huge effects on human health bear the huge environmental burden of disease. Thus
various organizational and governments have come at the forefront of implementing these
strategies.
10 Neu D, Warsame H, Pedwell K. Managing public impressions: Environmental disclosures
in annual reports. Accounting, organizations, and society. 1998 Apr 1;23(3):265-82.
11 Buse K, Walt G. Global public-private partnerships: part I-a new development in health?.
Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2000;78:549-61.

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References
Burns TJ, Kick EL, Davis BL. Theorizing and rethinking linkages between the natural
environment and the modern world-system: Deforestation in the late 20th century. Journal of
World-Systems Research. 2015.
Buse K, Walt G. Global public-private partnerships: part I-a new development in health?.
Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2000.
Christmann P, Taylor G. Globalization and the environment: Determinants of firm self-
regulation in China. Journal of international business studies. 2001.
Greenstone M. The impacts of environmental regulations on industrial activity: Evidence
from the 1970 and 1977 clean air act amendments and the census of manufactures. Journal of
political economy. 2002.
Kolstad, C., 2011. Intermediate Environmental Economics: International Edition. OUP
Catalogue.
Lawrence D, Vandecar K. Effects of tropical deforestation on climate and agriculture. Nature
Climate Change. 2015.
Lebel L, Tri NH, Saengnoree A, Pasong S, Buatama U, Thoa LK. Industrial transformation
and shrimp aquaculture in Thailand and Vietnam: pathways to ecological, social, and
economic sustainability?. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment. 2002
Malhi Y, Roberts JT, Betts RA, Killeen TJ, Li W, Nobre CA. Climate change, deforestation, and the fate of the
Amazon. science. 2008.
McMichael AJ, Friel S, Nyong A, Corvalan C. Global environmental change and health:
impacts, inequalities, and the health sector. BMJ: British Medical Journal. 2008.
Neu D, Warsame H, Pedwell K. Managing public impressions: Environmental disclosures in
annual reports. Accounting, organizations, and society. 1998.
Tacconi L. The Role of Firms in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Deforestation. in
protecting the Environment, Privately 2016.