Conservation of tropical rainforests

Question 1

What has the Brazilian Government done in order to conserve the rain forest?

Answer 1

Since 1998, the Brazilian government has established many forest conservation areas. Amazon Regional Protected Areas now cover an area twenty times the size of Belgium. By 2015, 44% of the Brazilian Amazon comprised of national parks, wildlife reserves & indigenous reserves where farming is banned.

Question 2

What has the REDD scheme brought to the conservation of the tropical rainforest?

Answer 2

In 2009 the Surui were the first indigenous group in Amazonia to join the UN’s ‘Reducing Emissions from Deforestation & Degradation’ (REDD) scheme. Provides payment to the tribe for protecting the rainforest & abandoning logging.

Question 3

What is given to small holders of land within the tropical rainforest?

Answer 3

Financial assistance is given to small holders for land preparation, planting and the maintenance of plots. Tree nurseries provide them with seedlings. Timber will be exported along the amazon & tributaries through Manaus or Port Velho

Question 4

How does diversification help towards the conservation of the rainforest?

Answer 4

One response to improve agriculture has been diversification. Soil fertility can be maintained by rotational cropping, combing livestock arable operations and Integrating crops and livestock. This could allow a fivefold increase in ranching productivity & help slow rates of deforestation.

Question 5

What 3 categories does conservation strategies fall into?

Answer 5

1. Protection through legislation of large expanses of primary forest so far unaffected by commercial developments
2. Projects to reforest areas of degraded or destroyed by subsistence farming, cattle ranching, logging & mining.
3. Improving agricultural techniques to make permanent cultivation possible.