Deforestation refers to both the intentional and accidental or natural removal of trees and can occur in any area that is densely populated with trees and other plants. Source: Timberbiz
The loss of trees and other vegetation causes desertification, soil erosion, decreased crop yields, flooding and increased greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
It is also one of the factors that negatively affects climate change and leads to many problems for both people, especially indigenous peoples, and biodiversity.
Traditional agricultural practices have negative impacts on the environment, including deforestation.
The slash-and-burn farming approach plays a significant role in this environmental issue. It involves burning vast swathes of forest to make way for agriculture, with the ash as a natural fertilizer.
However, this practice leads to soil infertility in a short time, requiring the farmers to clear more land for cultivation.
Food production system in Australia faces enormous challenges due to extreme climate events, including recurring droughts, heat stress, floods, and temperature variations. At the same time, outdated or unsustainable agricultural practices lead the industry in Australia to problems such as ongoing erosion, loss and destruction of soil structure and salinity. These challenges threaten the viability of many rural communities and the country’s food security.
Deforestation Problems in Australia
Australia’s forests undergo irrevocable changes yearly due to fires, logging and clearings. The nature of this continent is unique. However, at the moment, about 1,900 species of plants and animals are under threat of extinction. As a result of logging, millions of native animals suffer and lose their habitat.
Over the past 200 years, about 50% of Australia’s forest cover has been destroyed. Between 2000 and 2017, over 7.7 million hectares of forests and bushes were destroyed due to land clearing. To put that into perspective, it’s an area as large as Ireland.
Australia is the only country on the list of developed countries that is also among the global deforestation hotspots. Restoration requires much effort and time, hundreds and even thousands of years. In connection with this fact, it is necessary to emphasize that forests are not such a quickly renewable resource that they can be wasted without regard to the consequences.
The main reasons for the crisis in the country are land development, agriculture and forestry. In Queensland alone, over a million hectares of forest and bushland were destroyed in five years as a result of the expansion of the meat industry. Much of the clearing of forest land in Queensland is aimed at creating pasture for grazing livestock, particularly cattle raised for beef. It is also worth noting that deforestation in Queensland is negatively impacting the Great Barrier Reef, leading to degradation and destruction of the ecosystem.
Satellite Technologies in Deforestation Problems
Satellite remote sensing provides forest ecological environment monitoring today, which is much more profitable than labor-intensive ground-based observations, which are also quite expensive.
Information received from orbit ensures transparency and accountability. Thanks to this, scientists, non-governmental organizations and the public can obtain comprehensive information about the events and state of the woodlands. Forest monitoring satellites are being used to slow down deforestation.
The availability of Earth observation and forest stands monitoring data enables effective deforestation control. This information includes identifying logging in wild and protected woodlands, changes in commercial logging, and legal violations. Thus, there are more opportunities to ensure safety and improve the management of economic activities in the logging area, as well as an in-depth analysis of the consequences.
Several satellite missions have been launched specifically for forest health monitoring and land use changes. Among them is the Landsat program, thanks to which it has been possible to continuously obtain consistent data on the surface of our planet since 1972. This mission is a joint initiative be-tween NASA and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). There is also a European Space Agency (ESA) program in which Sentinel satellites provide valuable information on land cover changes and forest degradation.
In addition to deforestation and forest vegetation monitoring, space data can help combat this problem. Real-time satellite data can detect illegal logging and alert law enforcement, so they can take timely action. Satellite early warning systems also help identify high deforestation risks in certain areas.
Case Study: Forico, Tasmania’s leader in forest management
In June 2020, Forico, Tasmania’s leading private forestry company, introduced monthly automated harvest progress reporting developed by EOSDA Forest Monitoring. The company pays great attention to preserving the environment and strives for the sustainable use of natural resources, relying on expertise and innovation.
The timber market, including Forico’s exports, has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. How-ever, this issue was temporal. Demand for wood is growing, and it is expected to quadruple in the next 30 years. Sustainability is crucial in business today. Customers demand 100% plantation-sourced wood, preferring recycled waste and timber from short-growing plantations. Certified producers like Forico are the preferred choice.
Thanks to the solution from EOS Data Analytics, Forico has increased the efficiency of logging monitoring. Automated reports provide reliable and accurate information collected in a short period of time. This solution also helps save time and improve crew planning.
EOS Data Analytics Forest Monitoring Features and Application
EOSDA Forest Monitoring is a solution for sustainable forest management created by EOS Data Analytics. A variety of users, including landowners, logging companies and research institutes, can re-motely gain valuable forest health information, monitor changes and manage forestry lands on a single platform.
This sustainable management solution allows you to determine forest cover and deforestation in specified areas and analyse progress in forest restoration. With the Tree Species feature, users can remotely identify and differentiate between different tree species for targeted management. Using the Burned Area solution, the user can assess fire damage and classify the extent of damage.
EOSDA Forest Monitoring provides businesses with accurate information on which to base decisions for sustainable forest management.
Sustainable Forestry and Practices
Poor forest management can lead to a significant reduction in the number of trees or the complete disappearance of forests. Sustainable forestry balances environmental, social, and economic goals by maintaining or improving forest ecosystems while generating resources and services for the community.
Responsibility and sustainability can be called interdependent. Sustainable forestry practices are those that ensure they’re protecting the environment, being also effective and resource-saving. These practices involve creating protected areas for vulnerable species, establishing boundaries around waterways, and carefully monitoring the use of chemicals in the forest.
The main goal of sustainable forest management is to achieve balance in the ecosystem while ensuring the continuity of the timber business and the preservation and enhancement of wildlife ecosystem biodiversity.
Proper management assumes that the ratio of plantings to harvesting will always be two to one. That is, if one tree was cut down, then two new ones need to be planted. This sustainable ratio will allow us to preserve the forest for future generations and preserve life on Earth as we know it.
For more information, go to eos.com
