Excessive Consumption: Underlying Cause of Deforestation
Environmental destruction processes usually lead to a series of causes, which can be classified as either direct or underlying causes. An example of a direct cause would be the destruction of forests to convert into monoculture plantations such as soybeans (Brazil, Paraguay) or oil palm trees (Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Colombia), among other types of plantations worldwide. Almost all environmental destruction processes share a common underlying cause and that is excessive consumption. For example, the paper industry in which worldwide consumption has already long surpassed the threshold of sustainability. Despite this fact, the industry plans to increase this consumption even further by creating and maintaining the false notion that there is a huge need and demand for disposable paper products such as paper cups, tablecloths, and napkins among others. This level of paper consumption requires a steady supply of vast quantities of abundant and cheap raw material. Thus, the industry turned to the establishment of huge monoculture plantations of fast-growing trees (eucalyptus, acacia, pine), which resulted in the destruction of forests and grasslands. These plantations, which continue to expand, are now becoming the main source of raw material for paper production. To save the environment and their way of life, numerous local communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America are fighting back against the spread of monoculture tree plantations and pulp mills.
Tags: Deforestation, environment, excessive consumption, monoculture plantations, paper industry
