Homework Help: Social Studies: World Issues: Wood Crisis

Countries around the world depend on wood for various uses. In many developing countries, however, wood is the only source of fuel because rural communities cannot afford other alternatives.

Wood can provide warmth, heat for water, and energy for cooking, among other things. Yet this once plentiful resource is being destroyed more quickly than it can regenerate. Soon there may be none left.

Already, many people from poorer countries, particularly in Africa, India, and Sri Lanka, have to walk long distances and steal wood from exporters to provide for their families. Others pay large amounts of money to wood merchants for small twigs and fallen branches. If the woodlands disappear completely it will leave the struggling communities without fuel and threatened with diseases and sickness from unsanitary water, uncooked food and little warmth at night.

There are possible ways to regain some of the woodland loss. Such options are reducing the wood demand or using substitute fuels. However, any idea that comes to mind will require money for funding.

One way for the communities to earn money is to sell a small amount of land to overseas exporters so the exporters don't take any more land illegally. With this money, the community can start up woodlots and plant nurseries so that the local people can eventually rebuild their wood supplies.

Along with rebuilding the supplies, some of the money could go towards educating the people on how to be more efficient with wood and how to use appliances correctly.

Homework Help: Social Studies: World Issues

For Further Reading

Download

###

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z