Indonesian Rainforest Case Study Flashcards
What are the main causes of deforestation in Indonesia?
Commercial Farming, Logging, Mineral Extraction, Subsistence farming and fuel wood, Population growth and settlement, Roads
What is Commercial Farming?
Farming to sell products for a profit.
What is Indonesia the biggest exporter of?
Palm Oil
What are the main ways to mitigate the impacts of changes to the water and carbon cycle?
-Modifying deforestation, Modifying grasslands use, Modifying Croplands and Political Efforts
How can modifying deforestation help mitigate impacts?
- Consumers encouraged to buy wood grown sustainably.
- Organisations make carbon offset payments, which might involve paying for trees to be protected or planted
How can modifying grasslands use help mitigate impacts?
- Avoidance of overstocking glazing animals
- Revegetation - Improving pasture species and legumes increases plant productivity.
How can political efforts help mitigate impacts?
- Indonesia has launched major campaigns against illegal logging and deforestation
- Attempted to enforce law against plantations on deep peat and preventing fires on peatland
How does modifying Croplands help mitigate impacts?
- Rotations of cash crops with pasture have the potential to increase biomass returned to soil
- Trees in croplands can store carbon above and below ground. CO2 emissions can be reduced if grown as a renewable energy source
What are some key rainforest characteristics?
- 2000mm average rainfall yearly
- average 27 degrees temperature throughout year
What is an example of a negative feedback loop between carbon and water cycles?
Increased surface temperatures due to carbon - Increased growth of plants - Carbon absorbed during photosynthesis - Carbon locked up in woody tissues and leaves - Reduced amounts of carbon in atmosphere - Slightly reduced surface temperatures
What are some local impacts to the water/carbon cycle?
- Local removal of vegetation increases surface runoff and soil compaction
- Less interception because of less tree cover
What is the impact on vegetation as areas become drier?
Plants will slow their rates of photosynthesis and plants & animal reproduction drops