Semester 1; Forests Flashcards
What are the GLOBAL consequences of tropical deforestation (TDF)?
- reduction in carbon store
- increase in atmospheric CO2
‘Deforestation causes change in absorbed shortwave radiation at land surface due to increase in surface albedo’
(Zhang, 2001)
‘Deforestation causes large reductions in surface evapotranspiration and precipitation over Amazon Basin’
(Zhang, 2001)
‘Tropical environments are important locations of global land use with a crucial role in biological diversity and in regulating biogeochemical and hydrological cycles’
(Chowdhury,2006)
How much do CO2 emission from tropical deforestation account for of annual anthropogenic emissions?
10-20%
‘A deforestation event which occurs will not have immediate impacts but instead lead to a time delayed future release of carbon and loss of species and communities’
(Smith R, 2016)
‘GCMs show that complete deforestation of the tropics leads to an increase in global mean temperatures’
(Lawrence, 2015)
‘South East Asia had the highest observed rate of forest loss 1990 - 2000’
(Chowdhury, 2006)
How does tropical deforestation lead to a reduction in the global carbon store? (5)
- makes 1/3 of earth’s carbon sinks
- TDF causes them to become a net source
- OPP in Kalimantan makes up for 18-21% of Indonesia’s 2020 CO2 emissions
- clearing land by firesaffect carbon balance
- large haze borneo 2006
‘Malaysia and Indonesia hold 80% of South East Asia’s remaining primary forests where many endemic species are threatened with deforestation’
(Fitzherbert, 2009)
‘30% of all deforestation from 2000-2012 was in SE Asia’
(MItchard, 2018)
How much do tropical forests represent of net primary productivity of the world?
40%
What is teh canopy of a rainforest very efficient at? (3)
converting solar radiation to plant biomass
- protect underlying soil
- provides varied and structured habitat
Why are topical forests so important to the world’s biodiversity?
contain among the largest number of plant and animal species of any known ecosystem
define deforestation
temporary or permanent clearance of forest for agriculture or other purposes
