malaysian rainforest

Question 1

how much land is covered by rainforest

Answer 1

67%

Question 2

deforestation

Answer 2

has been occuring on large scales for commercial purposes. malaysia has the highest rate of deforstation in the world.
between 2000-2013 malaysia lost 14% of its total forest coverage.
huge threat to ecosystems

Question 3

causes of tropical deforestation

Answer 3

logging
road building
commercial farming

Question 4

road building

Answer 4

roads are built in raindforests to transport goodsand to allow heavy machinery for construction such as logging and mining. chemicals from roads can be washed into the rainforest ecosysytems casuing envronmental damage.

Question 5

commercial farming

Answer 5

agriculture to make profit. malaysia is the largest exporter of palm oil and lareg areas have been deforsted to become palm oil plantations. this is unsustainable and has destroyed habitats, eg orangutans

Question 6

logging

Answer 6

cutting down trees for timber - malaysia was the top exporter of tropical hardwoods in the 1980’s. high demand for these hardwoods meant that clear felling took place - this is where all trees in an area are cut down. this is more profitable but has major negative effects on the environment such as reducing biodiversity.

Question 7

what has encouraged the growth of the palm oil industry

Answer 7

10 year tax incentives

Question 8

deforestation can lead to economic development

Answer 8

provides jobs, increasing incomes
companies that work in rainforests pay tax, therefore support public services and develop the country

Question 9

in the long term deforestation can have vast economic costs

Answer 9

environmental degredation such as soil erosion can cost a lot to fix which can cause future costs also. polution of water souces can be costly

Question 10

impacts of deforestation (CO2)

Answer 10

contribution to climate change - malaysian rainforests are estimated to absorb over 30% of the countrys carbon dioxide produced, when trees are felled more CO2 is left in the atmosphere contributing to the enhanced greenhouse gas effect.

Question 11

impacts of deforestation (soil ersosion)

Answer 11

tropical rainforests soil is very infertile and hold most of the nutrients in the top layer, when trees are removed the heavy persistant rain quickly washes the nutrients away, leaving the infertile soil exposed, without the tree roots binding the soil together the soils becomes loose and erodes away.