| INTRODUCTION: | | | | maintain and protect a very porous, humus-rich |
| The ecology has developed from the study of | | | | topsoil. |
| natural biological systems, emphasizes the | | | | As a result the loss biodiversity including animals |
| dynamic relationships between the various | | | | and plants leads to the decrease of output |
| components of a system. Economics, with its | | | | production, because most uses of biodiversity |
| nineteenth century origins in mechanistic concepts | | | | have been discovered such as uses of chemical, |
| influenced by the industrial revolution, takes a | | | | especially drugs which is very important for |
| more static view of the balance of accounts at | | | | human life. An estimated 24% all world |
| the end of each accounting cycle. It can therefore | | | | prescription drugs contain compounds derived |
| be instructive to apply an ecological systems view | | | | from plants. With so many un described plants, |
| to various economic concepts, if only to raise | | | | many potential useful medicines will be lost if we |
| some provocative questions about the basic | | | | take proper measures to control |
| premises underlying modern economic thinking | | | | it.                            |
| which have too often been taken for granted. | | | | Flash flooding: |
| Both economy and ecology must become | | | | Forests are important as they provide watershed |
| functional systems respect certain basic principles | | | | management, and hosting important species, as a |
| to ensure their stability and survival. In nature, | | | | result of deforestation there has been an increase |
| systems follow cycles of growth, reproduction or | | | | in the flow of ground water and as a result there |
| renewal, and death, which assure both the | | | | have been increased occurrences of flash flooding |
| perpetuation of the systems and allow evolution | | | | in dams and electric power dams. |
| to adapt to changing circumstances. In this | | | | Global climatic changes: |
| process, the system may change form and | | | | Forests are important in the carbon cycle balance |
| composition, but it preserves its most essential | | | | and the cutting down of trees will result into |
| characteristics in its information content. This | | | | unbalanced carbon cycle in the world, as a result |
| determines its structure, organization and forms | | | | there will be an increased percentage of carbon |
| of communication with the outside environment | | | | dioxide in the atmosphere which leads  into global |
| and other systems. In biological systems, this | | | | warming and other impacts. |
| information is stored in the genetic code; in human | | | | Climatic changes are experienced due to the |
| systems, this information is perpetuated and | | | | unforgiving nature of the environment, Global |
| transmitted in our social values, institutions, culture, | | | | warming has been an issue that has been of |
| science, knowledge and wisdom. | | | | recent concern and deforestation has contributed |
| Â | | | | to the issue of global warming, for this reason |
| Ecology is the natural science that deals with | | | | therefore there should be improved forest |
| relationships among all organisms and their | | | | management to extend the adverse effect of |
| environments. Ecological studies have traditionally | | | | global warming. |
| focused on interpreting the non-human world and | | | | Trees act as water shed whereby areas covered |
| have provided little explicit application to human | | | | by forest will hold more underground water, when |
| society | | | | logging takes place in an area the ground may not |
| Â | | | | hold water and for this reason the area may |
| Deforestation is the destruction or clearing of | | | | experience drier climates due to deforestation. |
| forested lands, usually for the purposes of | | | | Increased erosion and land slides: |
| expanding agricultural land or for timber harvesting. | | | | Due to the increased loss of vegetation cover |
| When the process is conducted by clear cutting | | | | land has become more susceptible to erosion |
| (removal of most or all of the canopy tree | | | | through rain and also wind, the loss of vegetation |
| growth, leaving few or no live or dead trees | | | | cover and forests have also resulted into |
| standing) or when mass forest burning occurs, | | | | increased occurrences of land slides. Erosion also |
| significant losses of habitat and biodiversity may | | | | causes sedimentation of streams and lakes which |
| result, including the erosion of biological community | | | | has effect to aquatic life due to suffocation |
| structure and the extinction of species. | | | | resulting from suspended materials in water. An |
| Ecological deforestation is where by destruction or | | | | example of erosion caused by logging is the |
| clearing of forested land that leads to destruction | | | | yellow river of China that turned yellow due to |
| of organisms' habitat. Ecological deforestation | | | | the increased sediment load of the river as a |
| begun as early as industrial revolution started | | | | result of erosion. |
| when the consumption patterns of society has | | | | Â Measures to control deforestation |
| changed followed by sharp increase of human | | | | Afforestation and re-aforestation: |
| rates thus leading to high burden on the | | | | Government have initiated policy measures aimed |
| ecosystem. The advents of variety of industrial | | | | at supervising the companies project in specific |
| system especially motor engines that speed up | | | | area making analysis that if this project harming |
| the rate of exploitations and consequently leads | | | | the ecological system it must be postponed and |
| to the extinctions of some keystones species of | | | | also judging the cost-benefit analyses for purpose |
| ecosystem. | | | | of environmental benefits. Other measures are |
| Â | | | | Â planting trees (afforestation) Â in both areas that |
| Ecological economics is a policy-oriented | | | | were covered by trees and those that were not |
| perspective that addresses the interdependence | | | | earlier covered by trees, afforestation involves |
| and co-evolution between human economies and | | | | the planting of trees in area where forests did not |
| their natural ecosystems. Interest in this area has | | | | exist while reforestation involves planting trees |
| been prompted by concerns for the adverse | | | | where forests have been destroyed. An example |
| impacts of human economic growth processes on | | | | is where since 1990 the European union has paid |
| natural systems. Ecological economics is positive, in | | | | farmers in form of grants for them to turn their |
| its development of understanding of the physical, | | | | farming land into forests, by 1997 over half a |
| biological and social structural and functional | | | | million hectares of land have been afforested and |
| relations between economies and natural | | | | reforested. Also In the 1998 to 2000 period china |
| ecosystems. Ecological economics is also | | | | completed reforestation and afforestation of over |
| normative in addressing appropriate roles of | | | | 1.1million hectares. Therefore the afforestation and |
| human economies within natural ecosystems. | | | | reforestation policy measures by various |
| Â | | | | authorities have resulted into a reduction in the |
| Economic and ecological processes | | | | effects of deforestation. |
| Today, when we think of ecology, the household | | | | Ban on logging: |
| in question is the biosphere, primarily the natural | | | | Bans on logging are also policy measures to |
| environment. When we think of the economy, we | | | | reduce deforestation, this however acts as a way |
| think of the human production, exchange, and | | | | to stop further deforestation but does not solve |
| consumption of goods and services. The two | | | | the problem of deforestation because the world |
| topics are treated in such a way that they hardly | | | | has already been faced with the problem, an |
| touch each other. And there is the problem. We | | | | example of such a ban is the 1998 china ban |
| need a healthy natural environment as a context | | | | against commercial logging, this ban was lifted on |
| for our lives. We need to produce, exchange, and | | | | more than 13 provinces that are along the yellow |
| consume goods and services in sustainable way. | | | | river. |
| But precisely because we need both, | | | | Cost of reducing this problem: |
| preoccupation with either one, when the other is | | | | Because timber harvesting is a major economic |
| not in view, can be disastrous. | | | | activity in many countries if a piece of and is used |
| Realistically, in the past half century at least, | | | | for production of timber and not for any other |
| attention has been overwhelmingly focused on | | | | use, trees are planted and then cut for timber |
| economy. The arguments have been about how | | | | production and trees are replanted or allowed to |
| to increase production, exchange, and | | | | grow from natural seeding then we would be in |
| consumption of goods and services. Some | | | | apposition to find out the economic cost of |
| economists argued that a centralized bureaucracy | | | | resolving the problem. If trees and forests are |
| could plan economic growth most effectively. | | | | used for timber production then there must the |
| Others asserted that a market free from | | | | determination of optima rotation which will be |
| government interference would grow more | | | | determined by the cost of planting, price of |
| rapidly. Most economies have in fact had elements | | | | cutting timber, discounting rate and the pattern of |
| of both, but on the whole giving more freedom | | | | growth of these trees. |
| to entrepreneurs has proved more effective. | | | | The stumpage value of the trees will be equal to |
| This View among economists has in general | | | | revenue got from the sale of timber minus the |
| presupposed that natural resources are not | | | | cost of harvest and transport to the place of |
| limited. Some believes that technological advance | | | | sale. In this case therefore it would be important |
| will handle any problems that arise from natural | | | | to maximize the stumpage value. |
| shortages. There are no limits to growth. The | | | | In our case we are determining growth of trees |
| more rapidly we increase production, exchange, | | | | not for the purpose of cutting down but to |
| and consumption the better. But if you take look | | | | secure and maintain the eco balance and |
| ecologically, things quite differently. It seems that | | | | therefore the cost of keeping trees will be |
| human beings are consuming more and more of | | | | determined by the management costs such as |
| the total natural product of the world. Wilderness | | | | spraying, pruning and thinning, other cost include |
| is growing scarce or, by some definitions, has | | | | the opportunity cost of land tied up by the trees |
| already disappeared. species could exceed its own | | | | and finally the opportunity costs which the |
| natural ecosystem's carrying capacity or diminish | | | | proceeds from cutting the trees. However for |
| that capacity to the point of self-extinction, only | | | | public forests we do not have to consider the |
| the human species has both the will and capacity | | | | opportunity cost of land held up by the trees. |
| to jeopardize itself, as well as the will and capacity | | | | How can we develop sustainable economics. |
| to avoid it. Many species can survive only as | | | | Most of today's advanced industrialized countries |
| managed by human beings. Fresh water is already | | | | high-throughput economies that attempted to |
| scarce in many parts of the world. Fisheries are | | | | sustain ever-increasing economic growth by |
| declining. Agricultural production will not be able to | | | | increasing the flow of matter and energy |
| keep up with demand. Air, water, and soil are | | | | resources through their economic systems. These |
| being poisoned. The heating of the atmosphere | | | | resources flow through the economics of such as |
| leads to increased storms and more erratic | | | | societies to planetary sinks (air, water, soil, |
| weather. | | | | organisms), where pollutants and wastes end up |
| The linkage between ecological deforestation and | | | | and can accumulate to harmful levels. |
| economical system in modern world is quite | | | | What happens if more and more people continue |
| opposed, the economical system in modern world | | | | to use and waste more and more energy and |
| emphasizes the cost-benefit analysis, that means | | | | matter resources at an increasing rate? The law |
| the project is valued its benefit and demand from | | | | of conservation of matter and the two laws of |
| market denying with its impact to the | | | | thermodynamics tell us that eventually thus will |
| environment. | | | | exceed the capacity of the environment to dilute |
| When logging (timber) operations takes place in | | | | and degrade waste matter and absorb waste |
| the forests land in order to get economical | | | | heat. Fore example the first law of |
| purpose without considering ecological system, it | | | | thermodynamics in closed environment system, |
| will lead us to misery condition. This process is | | | | the amount of waste in any period must be equal |
| conducted by clear cutting of significant trees. | | | | to the amount of natural resources used up. |
| When this mass forests cutting occurs, significant | | | | Resources may be transformed but they cannot |
| losses of habitat and biodiversity may result, | | | | be destroyed and must end up somewhere in the |
| including the erosion of biological community | | | | environmental system. However, they do not tell |
| structure and the extinction of species. | | | | us how close we are to reaching such limits but |
| Deforestation is proceeding at a rapid pace in | | | | they are giving us indicators that the ability of |
| may areas of the world, especially in the tropical | | | | environment to absorb waste has been reached. |
| and borea-forest regions of the earth, with annual | | | | A stopgap solution to this problem is to convert a |
| net loss of forests during the 1990s estimated in | | | | high-throughput economy to a matter-recycling |
| the range of nine to sixteen million hectares per | | | | economy. The goal of such conversion is to allow |
| annum (9 to 16 million hctr). Large scale | | | | economic growth to continue without depleting |
| deforestation may have adverse impacts on | | | | matter resources or producing excessive pollution |
| bio-sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, | | | | and environmental degradation. |
| exacerbating greenhouse gas buildup, through the | | | | In recognition of the many environmental services |
| release of stored carbon in tree biomass and | | | | performed by forests, a new method of forest |
| reduced CO2 fixation rates due to loss of trees. | | | | management, known as ecologically sustainable |
| Deforested regions are often subject to | | | | forest management, is evolving. This broader |
| accelerated rates of soil erosion, increased | | | | approach seeks not only to conserve forest for |
| surface runoff and sedimentation of streams and | | | | the commercial harvest of timber and non-timber |
| rivers, reduced infiltration and ground water | | | | forest products, but also to sustain biological |
| recharge, with adverse water quality impacts on | | | | diversity. Prevent soil erosion and soil, and |
| surface water and ground water resources. | | | | preserve watersheds that produce clean water. |
| An agricultural activity also is one of major things | | | | The actual methods of ecological sustainable |
| that lead to the ecological deforestation. Expanding | | | | forest management that distinguish it from |
| of agricultural for addressing the demand from | | | | traditional forest management are gradually being |
| market will causes to cut more trees and hence | | | | developed and vary from one forest ecosystem |
| destruction of critical habitat of organism. | | | | to another. Because trees have such long lifespan, |
| Typically, the most productive natural ecosystems | | | | scientists and forest managers of the future will |
| (forests and grassland) are the first to be | | | | judge the results of today's efforts. |
| modified by human use and most intensely | | | | We also recognize efficiency in nature, and it |
| managed. Since nearly all agricultural practices | | | | acknowledges the importance of ecosystem |
| involve the removal of the original vegetation and | | | | functions for the continuation of human |
| substitution of exotic domesticated crops and | | | | economies and cultures. In nature, one species' |
| animals, the loss of biodiversity is significant. As | | | | waste is another's food, so that nothing is wasted. |
| human population grows, it needs more space to | | | | We need an economy that recycles materials and |
| grow food. The pressures to modify the | | | | uses energy efficiently, much as biological |
| environment are greatest in areas that have high | | | | community does. |
| population density. Often the changes brought by | | | | Â |
| intense agricultural use can degrade the | | | | Conclusion: |
| ecosystem and permanently alter the biotic | | | | The economy is one of the pillars of sustainability. |
| nature of the area. Today, agricultural land is being | | | | It must function to prevent pollution by providing |
| pushed to feed more people, and its wise use is | | | | incentives that promote efficient resource use |
| essential to the health and welfare of the people | | | | and eliminate waste. The economy must also |
| of the world. | | | | support healthy ecosystems, the source of our |
| Ironically, the oil, which has made possible so | | | | natural resources. Preventing pollution and |
| much of the economic growth, will become | | | | protecting ecosystems. |
| scarce and expensive within a few decades, | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| because over exploitation the natural resources in | | | | Â |
| order to address the sharp increase of human | | | | Â |
| demand. Oil companies under take huge project | | | |  |
| to overexploit the natural resources without | | | | Â |
| considering the effects these projects on | | | | Â |
| ecosystem. Their main aim is to accomplish | | | | Â |
| economical benefits rather then future impact on | | | | Â |
| the environment. For instance oil spill which has | | | | Â |
| taken place in USA 5 months ago has caused | | | | Â |
| 20500 species to die and some keystones | | | | Â |
| species of this region may already extinct. | | | | Â |
| Although the company (British Petroliam, BP) | | | | Â |
| which was responsible for this spill has announced | | | | Â |
| to compensate the destruction of ecosystem but | | | | Â |
| still far to remediate the loss of many species | | | | Â |
| that may take over million years to remain its | | | | Â |
| impact. At a maximum, we should focus on | | | | REFERENCES |
| conservation of scarce resources, reduction of | | | | Â |
| pollution, and technological innovations that will | | | | Michel L. Mckinney, (1998), System and Solution |
| enable us to adjust to a post-petroleum economy. | | | | 3rd edition, Published by |
| Impact of ecological deforestation | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bantana Company USA, |
| Due to the continuous deforestation of ecological | | | | Page 341. |
| system from economic activities, we have been | | | | Enger & Smith,(2006), Environmental science |
| experienced huge impact on environment as | | | | 10th edition, Published by |
| whole and ecosystem as special. The effects as | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â McGraw-Hill, Page 256. |
| follows; | | | | G. Tyler Miller, (2004), Environmental Sciences |
| Loss of biodiversity: | | | | 10th edition, Published by |
| Forests destruction have resulted into the loss of | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jack carey USA. |
| biodiversity, some tree and plant species are | | | | Raven, Berg, & Johnson, (1998), |
| currently endangered and some are already | | | | Environmental Science, 2nd edition, Published by |
| extinct an Forest ecosystems are extremely | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| efficient both for holding and recycling nutrients | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â saunder college. |
| and for absorbing and holding water, because they | | | | William P. |