Examples Of Once Ler In The Lorax

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Across the world, examples of the tragedy of the commons are abundant. The tragedy of the commons, demonstrated by George Hardin, is when a public resource is depleted or destroyed due to many individual users acting out of their own self-interest. The Lorax, a book written by Dr. Seuss, demonstrates the tragedy of the commons, as the greedy once-ler destroys the wildlife of an entire civilization in order to produce more thneeds. A current example of the tragedy of the commons is illegal logging. Illegal logging depletes natural resources, destroys habitats, and damages the air quality, as does the once-ler in the Lorax. Over time, Illegal logging leads to the depletion of natural resources. Not being regulated by any form of government, …show more content…

As this happens, more trees are cut down, and forests begin to shrink in size. Between August 2003 and2004, an area of 26,130 square kilometers (approximately the size of Belgium) in the AmazonRainforest, was destroyed. This is very similar to the Lorax, as the once-ler cut down the town’s Truffula trees in order to produce more thneeds. Over time, the once-ler realized he had logged all of the town’s Truffula trees. Also, it is a perfect parallel to George Hardin’s the Tragedy of the Commons, in which he gives an example of a pasture that is overgrazed, as no one is held accountable.Additionally, illegal logging destroys habitats. Most of the Earth’s wildlife depends on trees as a home or haven. When these trees are cut down, the wildlife is left without a home.Because of unhealthy conditions and lack of natural resources, wildlife is forced to relocate. Due to illegal logging, the lives of some of the world’s most endangered primates, such as the orangutans in Indonesia and the Siberian tiger, have been threatened. In the Lorax, the once-ler destroys or pollutes all of the land’s