Malaysia Deforestation- Case Study Flashcards
1
Q
Where is Malaysia?
A
South East Asia
2
Q
What biome/ecosystem is it?
A
Tropical Rainforest
3
Q
What is deforestation?
A
- It is the the cutting down of trees on a mass/ large scale
- The timber is a highly valued export
4
Q
Why is deforestation a bad thing?
A
- Trees are know as the world’s lungs as they absorb carbon dioxide and give out oxygen
- The less trees there are the less carbon dioxide being taken in from the atmosphere and oxygen being released
- People and animals live in those rainforests
- Rainforests are really important for medicines
5
Q
Why is deforestation occurring in Malaysia?
A
- Mineral extraction
- Logging
- Commercial farming
- Subsistence farming
- Road building
- Energy development
- Population growth
6
Q
What is mineral extraction and why is it occurring?
A
- Mining mainly for tin and smelting
- Drilling for oil and gas
- The minerals mined are very valuable
- However it can also create jobs for people
7
Q
What is logging and why is it occurring?
A
- Is also know as clear felling which is where all the trees are chopped down in an area
- The rainforest is full of valuable materials so logging is very tempting to legal and illegal businesses
8
Q
What is commercial farming and why is it occurring?
A
- Loads of trees are being chopped down to make room for large palm oil plantations
- Malaysia is the largest exporter of palm oil in the world
9
Q
What is subsistence farming and why is it occurring?
A
- Small scale farming
- Local communities hunt and gather foods from forests and clear small pockets of forest for farming land
- They slash and burn to clear the land however sometimes the fires can grow out of control
10
Q
Why is it being cleared for road and home building?
A
- Population pressures are causing large areas of trees to have to be chopped down to make room for new homes to be built
- Roads built so materials can be transported easier e.g. mining materials, logs, machinery
11
Q
What is being done to try and prevent this?
A
- Selective logging
- Afforestation
- Conservation and education
- Eco-tourism
- International agreements
12
Q
What is selective logging?
A
- Trees are only cut down when they reach particular height
- Allows younger trees a guaranteed life span
- Ensures trees are not cut down at a rate that will outstrip the natural growth cycle and roots and the soil remain healthy
13
Q
What is afforestation?
A
- Afforestation is the replanting of trees
- After trees have been cut down new ones are planted to maintain the canopy
14
Q
What is eco-tourism?
A
- It aims to introduce people to the natural world, to benefit local communities and protect the environment for the future
- Aims to educate visitors and increase their understanding and appreciation of nature and local communities
- Small-scale and local
- Profits stay in the local community
