Sustainable Development - Rainforests Flashcards
What are the effects of resource exploitation/extraction on tropical rain forests? (3 examples)
Logging in the Cameroon
Mining in Amazon, Brazil
Gas Project in Peru
Logging in the Cameroon is where lots of trees get cut down for commercial wood production. This has effected the area because the local people working in the sawmills are not given protective clothing so they breathe in the toxic fumes and end up with lung conditions. Roads built by the logging companies have also opened up the forest to illegal hunters and large scale hunting which leads to large scale slaughter of elephants and gorillas whose meat and parts are sold but this could lead to extinction.
Many ores are being extracted in the vast mining operations in the Amazon Rainforest, Brazil. The companies use wood to power their “pig iron” plants which results in 6100km2 of treat cut down so animals have nowhere to live and lots of carbon dioxide is released with less trees to absorb it. They also use mercury in their gold mining processes. This leaks into local streams and rivers which contaminates the water and the fish. Local people drink water and eat the fish from the river which leads to cancer as well as high rates of miscarriage. There has also been conflict with the local tribespeople which has resulted in them feeling threatened.
Gas projects in Peru are causing negative effects. Deforestation has caused drainage patterns in the area to alter which has destroyed habitats and hindered animal movements. Species may become extinct as they are unable to adapt as their habitat changes. The soil erosion and landslides within the area are also filling local rivers so the fish cannot swim to breeding areas and die out so the local population will be unable to eat. New roads have also been constructed so the companies can access the area but this has also led to colonists who destroy more of the forest by clearing spaces for homes and farms.
How are tropical rainforests managed? (4 examples)
A Swiss Company in Madagascar has set up a perfume development operation. They collect natural products from the forest to make new fragrances and share profits with the locals so nobody cuts down the trees.
The Malaysian Government have stopped development of a large coal fired power station which was going to be built near Silam due to the fact it was near an ecologically sensitive area. They have also decided they will not mine for gold and coal at the expense of the rainforest and will instead develop ecotourism to make money.
The Bolivian Government have decided that instead of developing the rainforest they will sell almost all of their carbon credits to HICs (a product of UN Earth Summits). Noel Kempff National Park alone is worth $25 million dollars a year to keep the forest in place and to just sell off the carbon credits. Some profits can go to local people so they do not have to cut down the trees and sell them to make a living.
The French Government have halted plans by Canadian company IAMGOLD to mine near to Kaw Mountain. This was done to protect 700 plant species and 100 animal species in the area.
