Blog 5: Organized crime trade in illegal timber responsible for up to 90% of tropical deforestation

     Reports have found the 50 to 90 percent of the logging in tropical countries is being done by organized crime groups. Logging habits of organized crime groups are unsustainable for the forest and is endangering indigenous wildlife. Violence between these organized crime groups has lead to murders and other associated crimes. It is estimated that 15 to 30 percent of global logging trade to taken up by illegal logging. Profits of the illegal logging groups are estimated to be between 30 to 100 billion USD annually. Unmonitored cutting of forest by these groups could wreak havoc on tropical ecosystems. The Amazon basin, Central Africa and South East Asia are some of the areas hardest hit by the illegal logging groups. Specifically in Brazil 1.7 million cubic meters of forest was stolen. The crime group in Brazil was suspected to involve 107 companies, 30 ringleaders and some 200 individuals. Crime groups obtain fraudulent permits for logging permits through computer hacking or bribery. Clear cutting of the tropical areas goes on to cause numerous problems for the area. Soil erosion causes the land to be unusable and uninhabitable. Logging emissions also have a large negative impact on the environment. It is estimated that a large percentage of all emissions is caused by logging companies. Humans and animals alike are suffering from the degradation of the land. Tree roots and canopies provide protect for the shallow soil on the forest floor, without tree protection the soil erodes very quickly. Tropical rain forest areas receive 66 to 390 inches of rainfall annually. Large amounts of rain wash away the rich soil into nearby river and streams. Clear Cutting of these tropical areas leads to leaching of the soil and eventually desertification. If crime groups continue to be uncontrolled the amount of forest area could quickly recede rapidly. Exploitation of the forest for profit could result in global problems.  
http://www.bikyamasr.com/78556/organized-crime-trade-in-illegal-timber-responsible-for-up-to-90-of-tropical-deforestation/#.UGSRagSFeZo.twitter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desertification#Poverty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_rainforest#Forest_floor