The Day the Forests Disappear and the Water Dries Up - February 2003

The Day the Forests Disappear and the Water Dries Up - February 2003

Water shortages are becoming more serious on a global scale. Factors cited include population growth, increased water consumption, global warming, and shrinking forest areas. In developing countries in particular, deforestation for plantation development is progressing, and the ability to recharge water sources is declining. As a result, water retention capacity is decreasing and the amount of topsoil runoff is decreasing, resulting in the loss of 9.04 million hectares of forest each year.

The expansion of agriculture is also accelerating the pressure on water resources. Large-scale farming of export crops and the mass production of commodity crops by multinational corporations are taking away land and water that would otherwise be used for food production, and consuming water resources in the processing stage. This situation is particularly acute in regions such as Africa and the Middle East, where approximately 500 million people currently lack access to safe drinking water. The United Nations Environment Program estimates that nearly half of the world's population will face water shortages by 2025.

The effects of deforestation are not limited to water resources. In Japan, the number of terraced rice paddies is decreasing and paddy fields are being devastated, leading to a decrease in water retention capacity and an increase in flood damage. Agricultural policies over the past 50 years have led to the degradation of rice paddies, resulting in a decline in food self-sufficiency and an increased indirect dependence on water imports. In order to improve this situation, there is a need to introduce a forest environment tax and to shift to a sustainable agricultural policy that restores paddy fields.

The destruction of ecosystems is causing even more serious problems. The cultivation of non-native species of crops is disturbing the ecosystem, causing overpopulation of certain plants and changes in the nutrient balance of the soil. Especially in areas where chemical fertilizers and pesticides are being used, soil contamination is progressively increasing, adversely affecting the entire ecosystem. In response, some regions have begun to ban the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers and shift to agriculture that makes the most of the natural ecosystem.

The problems of water scarcity, deforestation, and ecosystem destruction are not issues that should be addressed separately, but are interrelated. In order to realize a sustainable society, it is necessary to promote policies that consider forest protection, water resource management, and ecosystem maintenance in an integrated manner.

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Related Information
- Kochi Prefecture Official Website: Explains the structure of Kochi Prefecture's forest environment tax and provides examples of its use.
- Ministry of the Environment's Forest Conservation Resources: Provides a detailed report on deforestation in Japan and its impact on water resources.
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Official Report: Forecast data on global water scarcity and deforestation, and countermeasures.
- Forestry Economic Research Institute paper: In-depth analysis of the current status and challenges of forestry environmental policy in Japan.