causes and impacts of deforrestation Flashcards
changing rate of deforestation in the amazon rainforest
despite previously high levels of deforestation, from 2004 deforestation in the amazon declined from about 17,000 square miles to about 3500 square miles in 2012
the main reason for the decline was the action plan implemented by the Brazilian government in 2004
however, since the change in brazils government in 2019, there has been renewed deforestation in the Amazon, and rates are set to increase rapidly
causes of deforrestation- logging
Logging is the first step in the conversion of forest land to other uses. Timber companies are most interested in trees such as mahogany and teak and sell them to other countries to make furniture (selective logging). Smaller trees are often used as wood for fuel or made into pulp or charcoal.
causes of deforestation- mineral extraction
In the Amazon, mining is mainly about gold. In 1999 there were 10 000 hectares of land being used for gold mining. Today, the area is over 50 000 hectares. Bauxite is also extracted on a similar scale.
causes of deforestation- energy development
An unlimited supply of water and ideal river conditions have encouraged dams to be built to generate HEP. This involves flooding large areas of the rainforest. Often dams have a short life. The submerged forest gradually rots making the water very acidic. This then corrodes the HEP turbines. The dams also become blocked with soil washed down deforested slopes by the rain.
causes of deforestation- commercial farming cattle
Large areas of the Amazon rainforest have been cleared to make way for livestock rearing. The rearing of cattle is believed to account for 80% of the tropical rainforest destruction in Brazil. However, the land cannot be used for long and so the farmers have to move on and destroy more rainforest to create new cattle pastures.
causes of deforestation- commercial farming crops
The forest is being cleared to make way for vast plantations, where crops such as bananas, palm oil, pineapple, sugar cane, tea and coffee are grown. The soil will not sustain crops for long. After a few years the farmers have to cut down more rainforest for new plantations. Growing sugar cane for biofuel is beginning to become a major crop.
causes of deforestation- road building
Roads are needed to bring equipment and transport products to markets but road building means cutting great swathes through the rainforest.
Additionally, a road built for one particular commercial activity makes the forest more accessible to other exploiters of the tropical rainforest resources.
The Trans-Amazonian Highway began construction in 1972 and is 4000km long. Although only a small part is paved it has played an important part in opening up remote areas of the Amazon rainforest.
causes of deforestation- settlement and population growth
All the above activities need workers, workers and their families need homes and services. That in turn, means clearing the forest to build settlements where these people can live.
impacts of deforestation- economic development
mining and commercial farming generate employment and income for the government
taxes can be used to improve education and social conditions
oil palm, rubber, and other commercial farming products provide raw materials for processing industries, increasing the value of products sold abroad
hydroelectric provides cheap renewable power, boosting industrial development
improved infrastructure opens up new areas for economic development and settlement
long term economic losses might be felt as forest ecosystems are destroyed and land and rivers become polluted.
the loss of biodiversity may reduce tourism
impacts of deforestation- soil erosion
As soon as any part of the first is cleared the thin topsoil is quickly removed by heavy rainfall. Bare slopes are particularly prone to soil erosion. Once the topsoil has been removed there is little hope of anything growing again. Soil erosion also leads to the silting up of river courses.
negative impacts of deforestation (habitats)
the number of different species of living things in a place. if we get rid of the amazon rainforest we are getting rid of the habitats in there which disrupt many ecosystems. however, all of the plants in the amazon rainforest have already helped us with medicines and illnesses. if we are destroying plants that means we could be destroying potential cures used. the loss of biodiversity reduces the uses of the amazon rainforest.
negative impacts of deforestation (climate change)
Burning the forest releases greenhouse gasses like CO2. This contributes to the warming of our planet via climate change and global warming. In addition, the loss of trees prevents CO2 from being absorbed. The Amazon also helps to drive the global atmospheric system. There is a lot of rainfall there and changes to the Amazon could disrupt the global system.
economic impacts of deforestation
economic development, farming in particular, has brought wealth to many amazonian countries. e.g. in march 2018, brazil exported almost 600 million pounds of beef. brazil is also the worlds second larger exporter of soybeans
the mining industry creates jobs for lots of people e.g. the Buenaventura mining company in Peru employs over 8000 people
logging contributes a huge amount to brazils economy, but it can destroy resources that countries depend on e.g. timber, and reduce the attractiveness of the area to tourists
local Brazilian rubber tappers who extract natural rubber from rubber trees have lost their livelihoods as trees have been cutdown
