CASE STUDY Malaysia Paper 1 Flashcards
What type of rainforest is found in Malaysia?
Tropical rainforest.
What are the main cause of deforestation in Malaysia?
Logging, agriculture, road building, and urban expansion.
Why does agriculture cause deforestation?
Large areas of forest are cleared for palm oil plantations and subsistence farming (slash-and-burn)
How does population pressure affect deforestation?
Land is cleared for settlements due to population growth and rural-to-urban migration.
What is the role of road building in deforestation?
Roads are built to access mining, logging, and settlements, cutting through rainforests.
How does mineral extraction impact forests?
Tin and oil drilling lead to forest destruction, particularly in Borneo.
Where is Malaysia located?
Malaysia is in Southeast Asia, partly on the Malay Peninsula and partly on the island of Borneo.
How much land is used for palm oil plantations in Malaysia?
Give a number
Over 5.87 million hectares (as of 2020).
What are some sustainable management strategies in Malaysia?
Selective logging: Only cutting down mature trees to minimize damage.
Ecotourism: Encouraging tourism that promotes conservation.
Debt-for-nature swaps: Malaysia receives financial aid in exchange for protecting forests.
National Parks and Reserves: Areas protected from logging and development.
Agroforestry: Growing trees and crops together to maintain soil quality.
What are the economic benefits of deforestation?
Creates jobs in logging, mining, and farming
Increases tax revenue for government spending
Boosts palm oil and timber exports
What are the environmental impacts of deforestation?
Loss of biodiversity
Increased soil erosion
Disruption of the water cycle
More carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change
How has commercial logging contributed to deforestation?
Malaysia was the world’s largest exporter of tropical wood in the 1980s, leading to widespread clear-cutting.
How does deforestation affect indigenous people?
Loss of traditional land and livelihoods for native communities.
How much of Malaysia is covered by tropical rainforest?
Around 67% of Malaysia’s land area is rainforest.
What is Malaysia’s target for forest cover under its National Forestry Policy?
The policy aims to maintain at least 50% of land as forest cover.
How fast is Malaysia’s deforestation rate?
Malaysia has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world, losing about 13.2% of its primary rainforest between 2002 and 2020.
How much forest was lost in Malaysia between 2000 and 2012?
14.4% of Malaysia’s forest cover was lost in this period.
What was Malaysia’s global rank for tropical wood exports in the 1980s?
It was the world’s largest exporter of tropical wood.
How many people are employed in logging and agriculture in Malaysia?
The palm oil industry alone supports over 600,000 jobs.
How much does palm oil contribute to Malaysia’s economy?
In 2020, palm oil exports generated $10.5 billion for Malaysia.
What percentage of Malaysia’s GDP comes from forestry and agriculture?
Around 7% of Malaysia’s GDP comes from these sectors.
How many palm oil plantations exist in Malaysia?
More than 400,000 hectares are used for palm oil farming annually.
How many species are at risk due to deforestation in Malaysia?
Malaysia is home to over 20% of the world’s animal species, and deforestation threatens many, including the Bornean orangutan, whose population has declined by
How does deforestation contribute to carbon emissions?
Malaysia’s deforestation releases approximately 140 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.
