How Successful Can the Management of Fragile Environments Be, Given the Constant and Increasing Demand for Their Exploitation?

How successful can the management of fragile environments be, given the constant and increasing demand for their exploitation? (40)

A fragile environment is one that is both easily disturbed, due to constant exploitation of their resources, and difficult to restore once disturbed. Tropical rainforests are fragile environments as they are not only easy disturbed but also difficult to restore once damaged. Many tropical rainforests are exploited due to the constant and increasing demand for their resources, especially from TNCs. Management strategies, such as conservation plans and national parks, have been put in place in many areas to mitigate the problems of exploitation, conserving living organisms and biodiversity and allowing sustainable development.

The tropical rainforest in Papua New Guinea is home to around 5-7% of the worlds known species; also rare plants and animals eg the largest orchid. It is also home to the Maisin tribe who use the forest for food, shelter and materials for tools. The living organisms and local people/tribes are at threat due to the exploitation of the rainforest by transnational companies. Exploitation is evident with large scale logging of timber, as well as oil palm plantations, of which almost of the production is export-orientated. The increasing demand for timber extraction has caused large scale deforestation which has lead to a loss in habitats and therefore biodiversity. The Maisin tribe (and other local people)are also affected from the exploitation, becoming at threat from diseases that are brought about by the timber cutters. Also they are a risk from the loss of clean water supply as it either dries up or becomes dirty/muddy. Indigenous tribes are also at threatened by police with guns who protect the company’s operation. The land is also exploited by the oil palm plantations as there is an increasing demand for this production for exportation. This exploitation has caused the prawn and sea fishing industry to be destroyed, through the use of fertilisers and pesticides. The local people lose their livelihoods as they are no longer to fish and make an income. Overall, in Papua New Guinea, exploitation is ruining the environment, leaving barren land and local people without livelihoods. Many local people feel forgotten by the government, as no funding is provided to them, instead the transnational companies get the attention as they are going to make more money for the country, but not benefit the indigenous tribes/local people.

In order to limit exploitation in Papua New Guinea’s rainforest, sustainable development techniques were put in place to conserve the environment. Managed conserved areas allowed for some areas to be protected from exploitation to conserve the biodiversity and resources. Greenpeace have been working with the local communities in different projects, eco-forestry and small scale enterprises eg. paper-making. The eco-forestry doesn’t ruin the land, sea, rivers and water catchment, unlike the projects run by the transnational companies. Another small project is the sawmill project, this brings in revenue for the local community which they spend improving schools, housing, and health services, etc. The paper-making project allows women, children and elderly community members to work together. The profit made is divided between the families for basic needs eg soap and school books. Small logging operations are encouraged, owned by many different companies, who all have certified sustainable management certificates.