Malaysian rainforest case study

Question 1

Rates of Deforestation in Malaysia

Answer 1

Tropical rainforests are the most endangered with 1500 hectares an hour being destroyed. Tropical rainforests once covered 15.2 million km^2 but now just over 6.2 million.

Question 2

Cause of Deforestation in Malaysia - Commercial farming

Answer 2

Malaysia makes the majority of its money from palm oil extraction. During 1970s large areas of land were converted to palm oil plantations.

Question 3

Cause of deforestation in Malaysia - Logging

Answer 3

worlds largest exporter of tropical wood in the 1980s. Clear feeling where all trees are chopped down in an area was common.

Question 4

Cause of deforestation in Malaysia - Mineral extraction

Answer 4

Mining is very common in the peninsular malaysia for tin and smelting. Rainforests have been cleared for mining and road construction. Drillings have recently started in Borneo.

Question 5

Impacts of deforestation in malaysia

Answer 5

Global - Climate change, loss of biodiversity
Local - Soil erosion, river pollution, climate change, conflict, economic development