Sustainable management of tropical rainforests and mangroves Flashcards
Functions performed by tropical rainforests
Generate oxygen
Contribute to carbon storage
Provide habitats for diverse animal life
Provide protection from soil erosion
Provide protection from coastal erosion
How do tropical forests generate oxygen
Support survival of many organism
Through photosynthesis
Capable of producing oxygen throughout the year as they are evergreen
How do tropical forests contribute to carbon storage
Absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis
Balance amount of carbon dioxide added into the atmosphere through natural processes like respiration and decomposition
Absorbed carbon dioxide stored in solid form in leaves, branches, stems and roots
Dead leaves and branches fall to the fround, add carbon to soil
How do mangroves contribute to carbon storage
Mangrove most effective in storing carbon:
As soil is waterlogged and poor in oxygen, few bacteria available to break down carbon stored
How do tropical forests provide habitats for diverse animal life
Rich in biodiversity. Warm climate and abundance of water and food sources all year round make them suitable habitats for a wide variety of animals
How do mangroves provide habitats for diverse animal life
Fish, crab and shrimp feed on tiny particles which are broken down by bacteria, originally dead leaves and branches
Smaller animals are in turn eaten by larger animals like tigers and crocodiles, found in mangrove forest in Bangledore, India
Serve as breeding ground for young fish, as dense roots networks provide shelter from larger predators
Branches of mangroves provide nesting sites for many species of birds
How do tropical forests provide protection from soil erosion
Experience heavy rainfall regularly, causing soil erosion. Rainforest plants provide protective cover over the ground surface
Falling raindrops hit soil, cauing soil aprticles to become detached –> little infiltration and percolation of rainwater into soil, leading to surface runoff–>Loose soil particles easily washed by water, severe soil erosion
Prevent soil erosion:
Leaves, branches and stems of plants slow down the flow of falling raindrops befor ethey reach the ground–»More rainwater infiltrate and percolate soil, reducing surface runoff–»hit surface with less force–»Roots of rainfoest bind soil together, harder to erode–»Overall soil erosion by flowing water is minimised
How do mangroves help prevent coastal erosion
Loose sediments are easily washed away by waves, current and tides–>strong waves do not lose much energy as they travle towards the coast–>significant coastal erosion hits when waves hit coast with force
Prevent coastal erosion:
Dense root system of mangroves help trap and stabilise sediments on coast
Less sediment less likely to wahs away by waves, currents and tides
Roots, trunks and branches of mangrove plants cause friction with waves hitting coast
Waves lose a significant amount of energy, reducing coastal erosion
How are tropical forest useful to people
Place of habitaion
Place for recreation
Source of food
Source of raw materials
How are tropical forest used for habitation
People depend on physical environment to meet basic needs like food, water, shelter and clothing
How are tropical forests used for recreation
For people who live in towns and cities to get close to nature (trekking, camping and bird watching)
Positive effect on health: Natural sights, smells and sounds of forest have calming effect on people: sense of well-being
Exercise and lead active lifestyle
How do tropical forests provide a source of food
Fruits: banana and mangoes
Vegetables: cucumber and eggplant
Nuts: Brazil and cashew nuts
Indigenous people (live in tropical forests) hunt wild animals like fish and deer for food: hunting and gathering
Mangroves in some coastal areas have been converted into farms that rear fish: aquaculture
How do tropical forests proivde a source of raw materials
Valuable sources of wood for building of carpentry.
Wood of certain type of rainforst trees like teak, mahogany and rosewood valued for strength, durability and colour–>products made from them
Wood obtained from mangrove trees used to build houses, jetties and boats
Used directly as fuelwood or turned into charcoal for cooking and heating
Produce paper: Indonesia and Malaysia
Tropical rainforest is first cleared completely by burning or bulldozing. Heavy machinery is then used to dig up ground to extract raw materials
What are the consequences of extracting resources from tropical forests
Deforestation and greenhouse effect
What is deforestation
Permanent removal of tropical forests.
Occurs due to cutting down trees for wood
Mining, agriculture and aquaculture also contribute to deforestation as require large areas of tropical forests to be carried out
Deforestated land cannot be regenerated as it is converted to mines, plantations, ranches and fish farms
Even if tropcial forest vegetation managed to re-establish itself on a piece of deforestated land, it still lacks biodiversity of torpical forests untouched by humnas. Estimated 1000 years for biodiversity of re-establish tropical forest like the untouched one
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect
Carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane –>greenhouse gas can trap heat, like glass roof and walls of greenhouse
Greenhouse gas help to keep the Earth’s surface warm at average temperature of 15 degree celsius. Without them, Earth’s temperature could be at -18 degree celsius
How does greenhouse effect occur
Greenhouse is a glass structure that is used to grow plants in regular climatic conditions
Sunlight the greenhouse through transparent roof and walls, thus warming the inside of the greenhouse. Heat inside the greenhouse as the greenhouse traps it.
Greenhoue effect causes interior of greenhouse to be warmer than outside
How does greenhouse effect occur in the atmosphere
Carbon dioxide is released into atmosphere when luving things respire and decompose
Tropical forest plants help prevent build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as they absorb this gas during photosynthesis
Deforestation cause of 20% of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to human activities. Burning or cutting down of tropical forest plants cause carbon stored in plants and soil to be release as carbon dioxide
Lesser plants to absorb increased carbon dioxide from atmosphere
All that leads to enhanced greenhouse effect
How can tropical forests be managed sustainably
Establishing protected areas
Regulating forested areas
Rehabilitating disturbed areas
Promoting public areas
How do countries establish protected areas
Restricted human activities to prevent plant&animal life being affected
Governmnets put laws to ensure people do not damage protected areas (illegal cutting of trees/poaching exotic animals). People who break law can be heavily fined or jailed.
Effectiveness dependent on string enforcement of law (challenge in developing countries due to lack of funding)
Protected areas may be known as national parks or biosphere reserves
How do countries regulate forestry activities
High economic value of resource extraction, providing many people with jobs and allow countries to earn money from selling resources overseas, difficult for government to set aside all remaining tropical forests
Careful regulation of resource extraction way to strike balance between obtaining economic benefits from tropical forests and conserving them
Control logging is example on how resource extraction can be regulated
How do countries rehabilitate disturbed areas
Diversity of plant and animals in deforestated areas is usually much lower than originally. Forest rehabilitation aims to re-introduce some of plant&animal species originally found there
What is reforestation
Rehabilitate deforestated areas through planting of new trees. Tree species which are not native to Singapore may be planted to grow easier and quicker than original native species
How do countries promote public education
A lot of deforestation is due to people’s consumption of proiducts obtained (in)directly from tropical forests. People unaware they depend on tropical forests for resources or partly responsible for deforestation.
Encourage sustainable extraction of resources from tropical forests. If people understand importance of tropical forests and understand it is under threat, more likely to play a part to help reduce deforestation
Tropical forests is a popular tourist destination. Local guides can help to educate tourist about value of tropical forest
Income generated will motivate governments to conserve forests so more tourists will visit
