Russia and Brazil have, respectively, the two highest percentages of forest land in the world.  Russia’s forests comprise about 22% of the world’s forests in an area that is equivalent in size to the United States, while Brazil’s forests make about 16% of the world’s forests in its famous Amazon rainforests.  These forests, however, are also afflicted with some of the highest rates of deforestation, a process that destroys valuable habitats for hundreds of species of plants and animals, as well as causing erosion and poor soil quality, which causes problems for people who live in the areas.  Despite this persistent threat and government interventions, deforestation continue to remain high in both countries, threatening lives and livelihoods of man and nature alike.

In July of this year, Brazil announced that it had achieved the lowest rate of deforestation in 21 years following a 45% drop in monthly deforested acres.  This, of course, is an auspicious number, though it comes two years after a 350% upward spike in deforestation punctured otherwise hopeful plans for the effectiveness of governmental regulations.  Brazil has traditionally had the highest rate of deforestation of any country in the world, and as recently as 2005 had the highest number of acres deforested annually.  Furthermore, this deofrestation often entails forest burning to clear space for agriculture, which not only destroys Amazon areas as a carbon dioxide sink, but actively relases new pollutants into the air.  The main problem Brazil currently suffers with combating deforestation is in the amount of money it would require to compensate loggers so as to encourage them out of logging.  Despite drops in deforestation, it is estimated that the Amazon will be about 40% of its original size by 2030.

In Russia, information is much harder to obtain.  Though the government attempts to regulate deforestation, its impact assessments are often years out of date and give factually incorrect information.  Furthermore, illegal logging is rampant, and far exceeds the legal logging quotas set by the out of touch government agencies.  Most estimates suggest that Russia loses anywhere from 2 to 4 million hectares of land annualy to logging, though studies suggest that number could be increasing.  China has traditionally had high deforestation rates, but due to new government regulations, Chinese manufacturers have begun to search for wood from international sources with fewer regulations, such as Russia, most especially in the Chinese-Russian border areas.  This is particularly damaging to Russia where the harsh temperatures force longer recovery periods for the forests.

All in all, this deforestation is clearly damaging.  Estimates suggest that the lost rainforest in Brazil could account for as much as 10% of global warming due to the loss of Amazon acres as a heat sink.  If information was as readily available in Russia, it is probable that similar disastrous effects could be seen there as well.  This is clearly an issue that needs to be accounted for, and soon, as it affects not only the ecosystems of the two countries, but the quality of life worldwide.