The Fall of the Mayans – a Lesson for Today

The Mayan civilization thrived for over six centuries before collapsing in the Tenth Century.  There were several factors in the collapse; however, most experts agreed that a drought was the key factor in their demise.  As it turns out, recent studies indicate that the actions of the Mayans themselves may have helped matters.  According to LiveScience, they believe the drought was aggravated by the fact that the Mayans cut down the surrounding forests in order to make room for growing crops and building their settlements.   [1]

This story is especially relevant given the rapid rate that we are deforesting our planet.    According to National Geographic, forest covers about 30% of the earth’s land area, yet annually, forestland the size of Panama is lost to clear-cutting.  At that rate, in 100 years all the rain forests will be gone.  The loss of forest land comes at a high price.  Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and their loss may have an impact on global warming.  Without the shade that trees provide, direct sunlight would quickly dry the moist forest soil and potentially turn it into desert land.  Trees moderate temperature swings by not only blocking sunlight but holding in the heat at night.  The temperature extremes resulting from deforestation would have a negative effect on the resident plants and animals.  Millions of plant and animal species depend on the forests for habitat and would be threatened by the loss of forestland.  [2]  Profound and catastrophic changes to the climate would occur, both locally and globally.

The logical solution to this problem is to stop deforestation entirely and attempt to replenish the lost trees wherever possible.  Where trees are harvested for wood and paper products, companies need to replace felled trees with new plantings.  Land development needs to take into account the loss of forestland.  Encouraging the recycling of paper and wood products will help reduce the need for cut trees.  [3,4]  Although this all sounds easy, the likelihood that a global forest management policy being implemented is slim given the fact that only the weak United Nations looks at global interests and the fact that each nation generally looks only at national interests.  Countries are pressured to fill the needs of their citizens for higher affluence, which requires more resources.  The world population continues to grow, requiring more food and habitat.  These factors increase the strain on forests as well as other resources.  Yet, acting according to “think globally, act locally” will make a measurable impact if enough people recycle wherever possible and plant new trees wherever they can.  Also, putting pressure on governments to act in the long-term interests of the planet and future generations by protecting forestland will make a difference.

900 years ago, the Mayans showed us what can happen as the result of deforestation, paying the ultimate price of their extinction.  Today we are following in their footsteps, except on a global rather than regional level.  Can we learn from the Mayans and prevent further deforestation before we risk the extinction of millions of species of life, including Homo sapiens?   

References:

 

1.      http://www.livescience.com/22581-mayan-empire-collapse-explained.html

2.      http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview/

3.      Ibid.

4.      http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/campaigns/forests/solutions-to-deforestation/

Photo credit: Morguefile.com (puravida)