Deforestation

Deforestation has been opposed in many countries and on several continents, due to the rapid disappearance of rainforests. Yet, deforestation is likely to continue because, for some, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, One benefit is that deforestation provides specific regions with opportunities for economic growth, With the world population continuing to grow ever larger, more food is needed. Rainforests can be cut down and the cleared land can then be used to expand commercial farming, which not only helps feed the increasing population, but provides economic sustainability for both farmers and governments.

In addition, deforestation provides much-needed space for living. Many countries, in which rainforests are located, are over-crowded and their people are living in only a small section of the country. Deforestation provides the chance for smaller, local tribes to be moved to the newly cleared land. As a result of these tribes relocating, there is a better balance of population density and better living conditions for the greatest number of people.

Finally, although environmentalists will certainly disagree, deforestation actually helps the environment. As it stands now, the United States is proposing that 25 billion dollars be spent on protecting the world's rainforests. The proposal offers carbon credits. What this means is that for every dollar that a country invests in saving the rainforests, it is permitted to emit one ton of carbon dioxide. Therefore, banning deforestation may be counterproductive. Countries that do reduce deforestation will cause carbon prices to decrease. This would make global warming worse instead of better.