MALAYSIA RAINFOREST Flashcards
Where is Malaysia?
South east Asia, northern hemisphere
How much land is covered by rainforest in Malaysia?
67%
What are the threats to Malaysia’s rainforest?
Logging, road building, energy development, mineral extraction, population pressure, commercial and subsistence farming.
Why is logging a threat to Malaysia’s rainforest
Destroys habitats, increases CO2 emissions.
1980s Malaysia became the worlds largest exporter of valued tropical wood
Why is road building a threat to Malaysia’s rainforest
large stretches of land is destroyed to make room for construction of roads which will transport goods
Roads can also run through indigenous communities which will lead to tension
Why is energy development a threat to Malaysia’s rainforest
Malaysian government built Bakun HEP dam to improve energy supplies like hydroelectric power.
Dam construction meant lots of land being flooded, deforestation, displacing communities and destroying habitats
Why is mineral extraction a threat to Malaysia’s rainforest
Drilling for oil and gases meaning large areas of the forest in needed to be cleared.
Why is population pressure a threat to Malaysia’s rainforest
Overpopulation in urban areas leading to the government to encourage city dwellers to migrate to tropical rainforests.
Rainforests being turned into homes for settlers
Why is commercial and subsistence farming a threat to Malaysia’s rainforest
Commercial: Malaysia being the largest exporter of palm oil = more deforestation for land for plantation
Subsistence: ‘slash and burn’ removal can lead to out of control fires damaging more forest than needed. CO2 emissions
What are the 3 impacts of deforestation on Malaysia?
reduce biodiversity
soil erosion
climate change
What is the effect of reduce biodiversity on Malaysia?
loss of animals and plants
loss of plants which could of been used for medicine
What is the effect of soil erosion on Malaysia?
Trees cannot intercept the rain and can’t bind the soil.
wind and rain remove nutrients and minerals, leaving it even less fertile than before.
What is the effect of climate change on Malaysia?
Rainforests are known as ‘Carbon sinks’ - less trees mean more carbon dioxide in the air.
What is the economic loss from deforestation in Malaysia?
Rainforest tourism decreases
rising temperatures due to CO2 emissions can impact farmers
What is the economic gain from deforestation in Malaysia?
Job creation
(directly: construction, indirectly: supply)
Tax venue to supply public services
Improved infrastructure
