When climate change is mentioned, usually it is followed by a quick reference to the coal mining industry or car pollution. This has been an environmental fight for decades with large amount of political and tax payer resources expended for very little reduction or effect on climate change. What if the reason that the efforts aren't working is because we are fighting the wrong good fight? This question has caused some researchers to look beyond the typical suspects and go a bit further. What they have found is located in the Amazon. Here are a few facts to consider about this new research, conducted by Thomas Lovejoy.

Deforestation is the Problem

Deforestation is the term Lovejoy, and other researchers, are giving to what is happening in the Amazon and how it affects climate control. Lumber companies have been going into the Amazon for years and destroying the areas. They remove tree crops by the acres leaving behind destroyed ecology and no more buffer zone. This buffer zone provided by the trees, there is nothing to take over the climate emissions naturally. With no replacement in place for what the trees naturally control, the climate emissions are running rampant and effecting the climate.

Fire and Air Pollution During Deforestation

Deforestation is causing enough of a global issue with climate control, but there are more factors related to this practice that are equally as harmful. When the lumber companies move through, they don't take the whole tree. Usually stumps and other parts of the trees are left behind. In order to remove these and clear the land, they tend to burn the area. This causes smoke to enter into the air system and pollutes the air which in turn, affects the climate. This is in addition to the large amount of fossil fuels used by the trucks and demolition vehicles used during the process, and the chemicals that may be used to start and keep the fires going until the land is cleared.

Alternatives and Answers

The big question is if the problem really is deforestation, what are the alternatives? The quick and easy solution is to put a halt on the deforestation and move to recycled timber options. There are also other wood options such as bamboo that grow faster and are just as sturdy as the options they are taking from the Amazon in the deforestation projects. In fact, Lovejoy states that these methods may be the only way to meet the standards agreed upon at the French at the Paris Agreement.

The current conclusion is still the same as it has always been. Something needs to be done. Lawmakers need to start taking more aggressive measures. Though there are alternatives being mentioned, it will take movement and acceptance to end the deforestation and move to better more climate friendly timber options. With these options in place, it is possible that climate control issues could see some changes in the next several decades, but any change will take a long time to see. This means steps should be taken immediately for the next generation to ensure their climate and their air quality.