Madagascar case study Flashcards
When was Madagascar heavily forested until?
1970s then rapid population growth began.
What project was introduced in September 2013?
The government of Madagascar and the wildlife conservation society (WCS) announced Makira REDD+ (reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) Project to protect the rainforest.
What is the rate of population growth?
5 times increase in population from 5 million in 1960 to over 25 million today.
What causes deforestation?
Land conversion to agriculture particularly for cattle farming which releases methane, also caused by logging of valuable hardwoods like ebony and rosewood.
How much of the population live in rural areas and work on agriculture?
70%
How much carbon is saved from REDD+ project?
By conserving 400,000 hectares of Makira Forest through REDD+ project the equivalent absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide by this area of forest equates to 705588 international carbon credits.
Where is the tropical rainforest?
Found in a narrow belt of the island in the wetter north and extends for the entire eastern region.
What causes orographic rainfall?
Eastern winds from the southern Indian Ocean drop considerable orographic rainfall on the windward east-facing slopes of the highlands.
Where does the rainforest extend to?
Low altitude forest to lower montane slopes of the eastern ridge of highlands.
How big is Madagascar?
4th largest island in the world.
How many trees has it lost?
Lost 3/4s of its trees throughout human history.
How much forest covered the island in 2010?
Covered around 21.6% of the island.
How many lemurs on Madagascar?
Hosts 50 species of lemur, 15 of which have become extinct in recent decades.
How many plants are animals are threatened by extinction?
Over 3000
How water cycle is impacted from deforestation?
Less vegetation means less evapotransiration so less rainfall in the area, could lead to drought. Less interception from trees so more surface runoff, more soil erosion. Infilatration and percolation would occur meaning water table rises closer to surface. Rainforests soak up rainfall brought by tropical storms Both by intercepting rainfall and allowing slow infiltration into the soil via stemflow and through flow. This regulates floods and river levels. Without forest cover infiltration rates are affected and more overland flow occurs. This means more destructive flood and drought cycles can occur when forests are cleared.
