Deforestation in Madagascar and the UK Flashcards
Since when have Madagascar’s tropical forests have been cleared at a rapid rate?
1950’s
What has been common in Madagascar before the rapid clearance?
Small-scale clearance by farmers.
Why has the Madagascan government begin to encourage farmers to clear more land?
Growing international demand for tropical hardwood.
Expanding population
Debt repayments.
From 1950 to 1985, how much of tropical forest has Madagascar lost?
2/3`
What are the physical impacts of deforestation in Madagascar?
Major impact on the size of the terrestrial carbon store. Removing the forest has a colossal impact on both fluxes and stores.
After centuries of deforestation, forest cover of the UK reduced from an estimated figure of what to what by the end of the 19th century?
Original figure 80%
Figure at the end of the 19th century: 10%
What commission was set up and when to remedy the country’s shortage of timber in the UK?
The Forestry Commission in 1919
What exotic confers did The Forestry Commission start planting and where?
Sitka in the English Lake District.
Today, how much of the UK’s land surface is now forested?
13%
