Introduction

What do you know about Deforestation?

10 The Amazon Rainforest Deforestation Impact

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are about 10 million species living on planet Earth. Each one is unique and different, and most of them share a common home: The Forest.

 

 

Today, deforestation is a global issue. An estimated 18 million acres of forest are lost every year. That is roughly 105 times the size of Singapore.

In this blog, I want to focus on deforestation in Singapore. Singapore is a place that I call home, and a country that I believe can be one of the world-leaders in environmental activism. But sad to say, it is also a country that has also lost nearly 90% of it’s original forest to date.

So why should you even bother? How does this even affect you?

Because forests cover 30% of the entire land of our planet, they provide vital oxygen for us to survive, food, and shelter for both people and wildlife. It is estimated that over 1.6 billion people on this planet rely on the forests for food, fresh water, medicine and more importantly, shelter. But forests around the world are under threat from deforestation. Large swaths of forests are used commercially, turning them into profitable farmlands and urban cities.

John Muir once said, ‘The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.” John Muir was an American naturalist, an early advocate for the preservation of wildlife, and also a champion for his activism in the Yosemite National Parks. Well, I think he is right. The pristine quality and beauty of nature cannot be monetized due largely to human greed and progress. And I believe we are, in a sense, losing a part of our natural world everyday due to environmental problems such as deforestation.


SINGAPORE

Singapore_Panorama_v2

Singapore. The young, vibrant, heart & soul of Southeast Asia. I can proudly say that we are one of the leading nations in innovations, technology, and finance in Southeast Asia. And we have paved the way for our neighboring countries to follow in our footsteps. But at what price have we paid for this urban jungle?

Singapore is the second smallest country in Asia yet one of the most populated, along with the highest GDP. A complex organism indeed. More importantly, Singapore happens to be one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world and is considered home to a vast variety of plants and animals. But, the central issue is it’s land area. With a land area of only 716.1km² (slightly more then half the size of New York City), Singapore is coming up with measures to prevent deforestation and preserve the wildlife here.

x`

Recorded to date: 80 species of mammals, 395 species of birds, 110 species of reptiles, 30 species of amphibians, and over 1,400 species of vascular plants.

Globally, deforestation is considered to be mainly due to agricultural purposes. But given our centralised and advantageous location among ASEAN, we cater as a global industrial hub. Thus, the main purpose of deforestation is to clear the land for economic uses and also to cater to a rapidly growing population.

This map represents to solid truth about our vegetation. Only about 3% of tropical rain-forests and 1% of mangroves remains in Singapore according to Singapore Nature Society. It is only a matter of time before biodiversity eventually depletes as it is a very critical condition.