Malaysia Case Study

Question 1

Comment on subsidence farming and commercial farming

Answer 1

Malaysia is the largest exporter of palm oil in the world. Tax incentives from plantation owners encourage further development

Question 2

Comment on logging in malaysia

Answer 2

Trees such as mahogany can be sold for furniture and are high values. Malaysia is one of the world’s largest exporters of tropical wood. Around 80% of deforestation in Malaysia is due to logging.

Question 3

Comment on road building in Malaysia

Answer 3

Roads bring supplies and provide access to new mining and settlement areas. They also provide access to energy projects. In malaysia, logging companies use roads for heavy machinery to transport wood

Question 4

Comment on mineral extraction in Malaysia

Answer 4

Borneo has rich reserves of tin, copper and gold. Coal is an important source of energy and these minerals can be sold for money.

Question 5

Comment on energy development in Malaysia

Answer 5

The Bakum Dam generates 2400 MW of clean energy, 700km^2 of rainforest had to be flooded. Drilling for oil and gas also occurs in Borneo

Question 6

Comment on settlement and population growth in Malaysia

Answer 6

15,000 hectares of rainforest was cleared for new urban areas during the 1950’s and the 1980’s

Question 7

Impacts of Deforestation

Answer 7

Climate change - less Co2
Loss of biodiversity - Orangutan numbers have decreased by 75%
Soil erosion - trees hold the soil together, when they are gone, soil can easily be moved by wind and rain

Question 8

Economic benefits of deforestation

Answer 8

Hydroelectric power provides cheap and plentiful energy
New roads for easier transport and tourism
Jobs are provided
INternational companies pay taxes to the government which can be used to improve public services + infrastructure