3.1.2.2 Tropical Rainforests - Tropical Rainforest in Malaysia Case Study Flashcards
Where is Malaysia found?
Malaysia is a country in south east Asia
What is Malaysia made up of?
It is made up of Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, which is part of the island of Borneo
Where is Sarawak?
Sarawak is an area in East Malaysia
What % of Malaysia is covered in RF?
67% of the land is covered in rainforest
Name all the causes of deforestation in the Borneo RF:
- Energy Development
- Logging
- Selective Logging
- Road Building
- Mineral Extraction
- Commercial Farming
- Subsistence Farming
- Population Pressure
How is energy development a cause of deforestation in Malaysia?
- An unlimited supply of water and ideal river conditions have encouraged dams to be built to generate Hydroelectric Power (HEP)
- This often involves flooding large areas of rainforests
- However, due to their location these dams often have a short life
Where is the Bakun Dam?
Sarawak in Malaysia
When did the Bakun Dam in Sarawak in the RF start to generate electricity?
in 2011, after 5 decades of delays, the Bakun dam in Sarawak in Malaysia started to generate electricity
What does the Bakun dam in Sarawak RF supply energy for?
dam supplies energy for industrialised Peninsular Malaysia
What area of land did the Bakun dam’s reservoir in Sarawak RF flood?
dam’s reservoir flooded over 700km2 of forests and farmland
What is planned to boost Malaysia electricity supplies?
several more dams are planned to boost Malaysia’s electricty supplies
How tall is the Bakun dam?
The Bakun Dam (205m) is Asia’s highest dam outside China
What is logging?
the business of cutting down trees and transporting the logs to saw mills
When did Malaysia become the largest exporter of hardwood?
1960s
What is clear felling?
clear felling (all trees cut down in an area) led to total destruction of habitat
What is selective logging?
- the cutting of trees based on age, height, species and position
- where only fully grown trees cut down
- trees with important ecological value left unharmed
- logging is still damaging to ecosystem
How is road building a cause of deforestation in TRF’s?
rainforest cleared for road construction
What is mineral extraction?
the removal of solid mineral resources from the Earth (ores e.g. iron, precious stones e.g. diamonds and solid fuels e.g. coal)
What sort of mineral extraction is common in Peninsular Malaysia?
mining (tin and smelting) common in Peninsula Malaysia
What sort of mineral extraction has recently started in Borneo?
drilling for oil and gas recently started in Borneo
What are the short-term impacts of mineral extraction on a TRF?
loss of habitat, C released from trees cut down
What are the long-term impacts of mineral extraction on a TRF?
- C released from burning fossil fuels increasing climate change
- Decrease in biodiversity
- Decrease in food supplies
- Felling trees for mining so less CO2 taken in by trees contributing to greenhouse gas effect and therefore contributing to global warming
- CO2 produced from mining oil
What is commercial farming?
When land is converted to palm oil plantations etc.
What is Malaysia the largest exporter of in the world?
Malaysia is the largest exporter of palm oil in the world - commercial farming = deforestation
What increases the amount of commercial farming through palm oil plantations in Malaysia?
plantation owners receive 10yr tax incentives so increasing amounts of land have been turned into palm oil plantations
What is the commercial battle between?
cattle vs crops
What % of deforestation is Brazil is rearing cattle responsible for?
rearing of cattle responsible for 80% of destruction in RF in Brazil
How does cattle rearing cause deforestation?
land cannot be used for long as quality of pastures quickly declines meaning farmers have to move on
How do crops cause areas of RF to be deforested?
vast areas of RF are cleared for bananas, palm oil, tend and coffee plantations are grown
What % of Malaysia is taken up by commercial tree crops, primarily rubber and palm oil?
13%
Why does more and more RF need to be cleared for crops?
as with cattle ranching, soil won’t sustain crops for long - therefore, more regions of the forest ill need to be cleared
What is a also becoming a major crop?
growing sugar cane for biofuel is also becoming a major crop
What are the short-term impacts of commercial farming?
Habitat destruction – loss of rainforest
What are the long-term impacts of commercial farming?
Extinction of species due to loss of habitat
Who practises subsistence farming?
- tribal people living in the rainforest practise subsistence farming
- traditionally local communities would hunt and gather food from the forest and grow crops in cleared pockets of forest – sustainable and small scale
How does subsistence farming cause deforestation?
- a method of clearing land ‘slash and burn’ involving fire to clear land
- burning creates valuable nutrients helping plants grow
- but fires can grow out of control destroying large areas of forest
What are the short-term impacts of subsistence farming?
- habitat destruction
- producer (trees) destroyed meaning no biomass
What are the long-term impacts of subsistence farming?
- extinction of species due to destruction of habitat
- no food and lack of nutrients as biomass destroyed
How does population pressure cause deforestation?
- trees are cut down to make space for urban settlers forced to work in the countryside
What is a reason people moved from urban areas to the countryside?
in the past, many poor urban people encouraged to move to countryside from the rapidly growing cities - transmigration
From 1965 to the 1980s how many hectares of rainforest was cleared for settlers and what did many of those settlers do?
between 1965 and 1980s approx, 15,000 hectares of RF felled for settlers, many set up plantations
What are the short-term impacts of population pressure on TRF’s?
destruction of habitat
What are the long-term impacts of population pressure on TRF’s?
- extinction of species due to loss of habitat
- decrease in number of trees less CO2 absorbed increasing climate change
How do indigenous people clear small areas of the RF?
Clear small areas usingslash and burn techniques- a form ofnomadic subsistence farming aka shifting cultivation
What is the Main Range?
- The Main Range is an upland region stretching 500km along the backbone of Peninsular, Malaysia
- Largest area of continuous forest in Malaysia
Describe the biodiversity of forests in the Main Range in Malaysia:
rich in biodiversity
How many species do forests in the Main Range in Malaysia have?
600+ species
What % of species found in Malaysia are the highland forests (Main Range) home to?
25%
What may there still be in TRF’s?
Still many undiscovered plants that have medicinal qualities that could provide cures for diseases
How does deforestation of Borneo RF contribute to global warming?
- Borneo rainforest plays a vital role in maintaining a balanced climate
- Trees absorb CO2 from atmosphere using it for photosynthesis which releases O2
- If trees are being deforested, more CO2 remains in the atmosphere
- C is also released into atmosphere when trees are burnt
- This enhances the greenhouse effect – impacts felt by entire planet not just rainforest e.g. increase in melting ice caps
How does deforestation prevent new plants from growing?
- More rain reaches the ground as less is intercepted by trees due to deforestation leaching away the nutrients on the humus layer stopping new plants from growing
How does deforestation create a much river climate?
trees give off moisture by transpiration, deforestation reduces moisture in air = much drier climate
How does deforestation contribute to rising temps?
evaporation uses up heat and cools the air, deforestation = cooling ceasing and temps rising
How does deforestation cause soil erosion?
If there is no interception from trees soil leaching could happen (as more rain reaches the ground), this is where nutrients are washed away leaving the soil barren, soil erosion could also happen
How could deforestation cause plants to die out?
- if there are no trees, then the soil is not protected from the intense sunlight associated with equatorial climate
- the soils could dry out, meaning plants and animals are at further risk and may die out unless adaptation takes place
How could deforestation cause soil to blow away as dust?
if the soil is exposed to the sunlight it will dry out, hardening and cracking it meaning water can’t infiltrate the soil and since there is a decrease in precipitation it will blow away as dust
Soil erosion:
Removal of topsoil (top layer of soil that is most fertile as it is nutrient rich) faster than it can be replaced, due to natural (water amd wind action), anima, and human activity
How does deforestation cause soil erosion?
roots of trees and plants bind soil together, deforestation = soil easily becoming loose and eroding away
How does deforestation affect the water cycle?
Deforestation = decrease in precipitation intercepted = decrease in transpiration = decrease in evaporation = decrease in precipitation = endangering species due to change in environment and lack of water
Interception:
where trees/vegetation collect falling precipitation
Transpiration:
where water help on the leaves of vegetation is evaporated off because of the intense sunlight
Why do members of the Penan tribe want to remain in the Borneo rainforest?
- Have a sense of community and culture
- Have set up their livelihoods their and have lived off the rainforest for generations
- Source of medicine and food
What are some reasons for local tribes being displaced in the Borneo RF?
- Creations of roads
- Can only find food in primary rainforest
- Don’t know how to survive in logged area
- 70% of forest licensed for logging
- Selective logging
- Palm oil plantations
What % of the Borneo RF is licensed for logging?
70%
What are some reasons for food and medicine decreasing in the Borneo RF?
- Deforestation for economic profit – destroying products used for medicine and preventing food from growing
- Traditional hunting methods have become more difficult
What does the Penan Tribe use for medicine in the Borneo RF? And how does this help them?
- Rely on Shaman to cure illness by removing illness-causing spirits
- Traditional medicines created and administered by healers from plant species helps them to relax and dulls pain
- Are becoming more reliant on Western medicine
What do local people (the Penan Tribe) fear will happen if they’re forced to adapt to life in urban areas and leave Borneo RF?
- Low immunity (not immunised) to common infectious illnesses which they can pick up from people in urban areas
- Lose their cultural identity and low-impact (sustainable way of life)
What was the village of Makroman until 2007?
The village of Makroman was a thriving agrarian district until 2007
What did coal companies do to the village of Makroman?
Coal companies e.g. CV Arjuna began mining in the village polluting the air and water with toxins
How have coal companies in the village of Makroman been negligent?
The coal companies have been negligent in many ways, including refusing to fill unreclaimed mining pits, a danger to passers-by
What % of the village of Makroman does mining employ and what do they provide?
mining only employs 6.8% of the population – providing little economic benefit to Makroman’s communities
What did citizens in the village of Makroman do about the negligence of coal companies?
Citizens filed a lawsuit demanding that local gov take immediate action to save the city from ecological catastrophe
What are the long-term economic losses of deforestation in Borneo RF?
- Pollution of water sources and an increasingly dry climate may result in water shortages
- Fires cause harmful pollution – cars burn out of control, destroying vast areas of valuable rainforest
- Increasing temps could devastate some forms of farming e.g. growing tea, fruits and flowers
- Plants that could bring huge medical benefits and high profits may become extinct
- Climate change could have economical costs as people have to adapt to living in a warmer world
- Number of tourists attracted to TRF could decrease
What are the short-term economic gains of deforestation in the Borneo RF?
- Development of land for mining, farming and energy will lead to jobs both directly (construction, farming) and indirectly (supply and support industries)
- Companies pay taxes to the gov – used to improve public services e.g. education and water supply
- Improved transport infrastructure opens up new areas for industrial development and tourism
- Products such as palm oil and rubber provide raw materials for processing and industries
- Hydro-electric power will provide cheap and plentiful energy
- Minerals such as gold are very valuable
Sustainability:
meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of future generations
What are all the methods of sustainable RF management?
- Selective logging
- Aforestation
- Conservation of TRF’s
- Education of TRF’s
- International agreements
- Debt relief
- Ecotourism
Selective logging:
where you selectively choose which trees to log based on age, species and location
A-forestation:
re-planting trees in areas where they have been cut down
How does selective logging sustainably manage the RF?
- choosing which species to log - maintains biodiversity
- if you cut down the bigger older trees it allows the smaller trees to get more sunlight and grow
- logging trees around the edge of the TRF helps stop them from knocking down other trees
How does afforestation sustainably manage the RF?
replanting trees prevents soil erosion, restores wildlife habitats and reduces fire risks; it engages local communities in conservations; it contributes to the global fight to stop climate change
What has Borneo nature foundation set up in Sabangau Forest?
set up two nurseries in Sabangau Forest
How many trees does the first nursery that the Borneo Nature Foundation set up in the Sabangau forest contain and how long are the trees kept there?
- 3000+ trees from small seedling to young saplings
- these are nurtured until they are ready for planting where they are transported to the second nursery at the reforestation site
How many trees does the second nursery that the Borneo Nature Foundation set up in the Sabangau forest contain and how long are the trees kept there?
the second nursery is the reforestation site and can accommodate up to 35,00 trees
How many trees did Regio plant in 2018?
planted 33,000 trees in 2018
What are some limitations of selective logging?
- takes E to log trees - use of equipment releases fossil fuels
- illegal logging
- other trees could still fall down
What are some limitations of afforestation?
- replanting doesn’t make up for the trees cut down
- trees take 100y of yrs to grow
- younger, newly planted trees won’t take in nearly as much CO2 as the older, bigger trees that we logged so this doesn’t make a significant impact against climate change
Conservation of TRF’s:
- RF’s can be preserved in conservation areas, such as National Parks or Nature Reserves
- These areas can be used for education, scientific research, and tourism
How does the Borneo Nature Foundation provide education on TRF’s?
provides series of 6 classes teaching children, aged 9-11 years, about the different aspects of RF’s e.g different species and the threats they face
How does conservation of TRF’s sustainably manage RF’s?
- trees can’t be cut down - preserving habitats
- land can’t be developed into theme parks etc.
How does education of TRF’s by Borneo Nature Foundation sustainably manage the RF’s?
- gives children knowledge to initiate conservation measures themselves
- children can visit TRF
What are the limitations of the conservation of TRF’s?
- illegal loggers can still cut down trees
- large businesses support conservation in exchange for resources meaning you still have to cut down trees
What are the limitations of education of TRF’s by Borneo Nature Foundation?
may not affect kids enough or be engaging enough to get children invested in helping the TRF
What are two major international agreements that were set up to sustainably manage TRF’s?
ITTA & CITES
What does the International agreement ITTA do in sustainably managing the RF?
promotes expansion + diversification of International Trade from sustainably managed and legally harboured Forests
How many countries have signed onto the International agreement ITTA?
71 countries signed the agreement and is sponsored by the UN
How many species does the International agreement CITES protect and give examples:
protects 3000+ species e.g. hippopotamus’s hammerhead sharks, cacti, orchids, palms etc.
How have the species listed under the International agreement CITES been protected?
any species listed under category not lost in last 30 years
What are some limitations of the international agreement CITES?
- only around 3000 species protected
- lack of enforcement + implementation difficulties
- other endangered species which no action will be taken on as they’re not listed under CITES
- doesn’t stop trade of animals
- many only prevent trade of animals - doesn’t do anything about habitat loss, ecosystem approaches to conservation, or poverty which could all lead to extinction of species
Debt relief:
Often countries with TRF’s are poor and have debt to other nations. Instead of giving some foreign aid, some gov’s may agree to wipe debt in return for the country using the money to conserve and protect the RF
How does debt relief sustainably manage RF’s?
- countries are often looking for ways to make money and so will destroy RF to make ends meet but debt relief prevents this from happening
- countries are not crippled with debt and therefore not forced to destroy their resources
- RF remain intact and the biodiversity remains unthreatened
- donor country maintains good relations with the recipient for the future
What are some limitations of debt relief?
- impossible for debt wiping country to police TRF country to make sure zero deforestation takes place
- may be some resentment from donor country
- TRF countries could still deforest after debt is wiped - going against deal
- illegal logging
Ecotourism:
aim to introduce people to the natural world without causing any environmental damage
How does ecotourism sustainably manage RF’s?
- in recent years Malaysia has promoted its forest as destinations for ecotourism
- enables undisturbed natural environment to create a source of income for local people without it being destroyed or damaged
- educates people on how to conserve RF
- may change mindsets towards conservation of RF’s
- incomes in local village has more than doubled due to eco lodges- Borneo RF
- sustainable because indigenous people have a say in how Ecotourism businesses are run
- local people made careers working in catering, hospitality etc.
What are some limitations of ecotourism?
- tourists may not treat the RF with respect e.g. littering
- some negative human impact will inevitable be made on the RF
- increase in human activity in RF’s
- emissions from transport, green house gases e.g. emissions from the flight to and from Brazil = 3.69 tonnes of CO2
- some deforestation has to take place to make room for eco lodges
- less people have disposable income to get to RF
- not reliable industry, fluctuating number of tourists which means people may turn to deforestation to make a profit
