Deforestation

1) You are going to research deforestation in your country. Give me some information on it. (5 marks)

- From Gezi Park to the Black Sea coast, whether with the push of municipalities or Turkey's central government, trees are being cut down to accelerate urban transformation plans, mines, hydro-electric and coal plants, etc. The Turkey government continues to make plans for more projects such as the building of a third airport and bridge in Istanbul which will destroy 2.7 million trees despite the fact that northern Istanbul's forests are important for Istanbul's ecosystem and can have huge consequences. The government continues to pursue these projects for economic gains despite the fact that there have been many protests. 

2) You will explain the Social, Environmental, and Economic Impacts that deforestation has had on your country. (6 marks) 

Social:

- With the cutting down of trees, source of oxygen for humans decreases.

Environmental:

- Destroying habitats and ecosystems.

- Biodiversity is lost.

- Vegetation is affected.

Economic:

- Renewable resources - a renewable resource is a resource which is replaced naturally and can be used again. Examples are: oxygen, fresh water, solar energy, timber, and biomass. Renewable resources may also include goods commodities such as wood, paper and leather - cannot be gained again.

3) Look at the information in the Environment and Resources folder that talks about Deforestation in Canada. Based on the information provided do you think that deforestation is a greater threat in your country or Canada? Explain your reasoning using specific examples. (10 marks)

- Deforestation is a greater threat in Turkey than in Canada because unlike Turkey, Canada has a deforestation rate of 0.02% and is among the world's lowest. Canada uses sustainability for forest management and the Canadian government monitors and regularly publish reports on deforestation. In Turkey, they do not use any sustainability methods and there have not been any regular reports to let people know of the changes that deforestation will have, for example, the building of the third airport and bridge in Istanbul will destroy 2.7 million trees but the protests have not stopped the project and so the project will continue on. There are other projects such as the building of a coal plant right by olive fields in Soma, which will affect the agriculture there and food for the people. There has been no consideration of the affects of deforestation.