Malaysia Rainforest

Question 1

Environmental impacts on deforestation in Malaysia
15%
140

Answer 1

• 140000 ha/yr deforested
• less than 15% of Tigers remain
• in Sarawak, deforestation is 3.5 times greater than anywhere else in Asia.
• Javan Rhinos are extinct
• soil erosion: roots bind soil together, no trees = leaching and washing away of soil.
• contribution to climate changes:
- trees absorb C02, less trees = more C02 which is a greenhouse gas leading to global warming.
- trees give off moisture, less trees = drier climate. process of evaporation uses up heat and cools air, less trees = no cooling and temperatures rise.

Question 2

Economic impacts on deforestation in Malaysia
27
4%
2030

Answer 2

• Malaysia gets $27 billion dollars for the export of palm oil.
• percentage of poverty declined from 6% to 2% in the last decade due to palm oil.
• Palm oil demand is due to double by 2030

Question 3

Reducing the impacts of deforestation in Malaysia

50%

Answer 3

• Malaysia is signing up to the EU forest law enforcement, governance and trade voluntary partnership. (Environmental impacts)
• 50% of forest area has full protection in return for Malaysia receiving higher prices for forest products. (Eco-environmental impact)
• green peace developing legal rights for locals. (Social impact)
• genetically modified palm oil to increase yield. (Economic impact)

Question 4

causes of deforestation in Malaysia

205

Answer 4

• subsistence farming: residence cut down tree to give them space to farm.
• commercial farming: farming for money, making more crop than you need.
• logging: cutting down trees for wood.
• road building: to provide access to mining/settlements.
• mineral extraction
• energy development: in Malaysia the Bakun Dam was built, 205m high.
• settlements: population growth means land needs to be cleared for houses.
• dept repayments

Question 5

sustainability of rainforests

Answer 5

• selective logging and replanting: extract valuable tree with helicopter and replant it, expensive.
• conservation and education: educate locals on sustainability, prevent logging in nature reserves, dispersed population.
• ecotourism: maximum income from an area with minimal impacts.
• dept reduction: less pressure to cut down trees to pay off dept.
• international agreement about use of tropical hardwoods: forest products protected so can’t be sold form uncontrolled means, expensive, creates black market.

Question 6

Social impacts on deforestation in Malaysia

Answer 6

• creates jobs

* local people are losing their homes and livelihoods as companies buy land to deforest it. (Penan tribe) ~ green peace