Tropical Rainforest Malaysia

Question 1

Deforestation

Answer 1

-trees used to be clear felled to harvest topical wood, leading to rapid deforestation in the 1980s

Question 2

Exports

Answer 2

• Malaysia is the world’s largest exporter of palm oil
  -the rainforest has been cleared to make room for commercial farming

Question 3

Migrations

Answer 3

The government has encouraged people to move into rainforest areas to reduced the pressure on cities (transmigration)

Question 4

Damming the river

Answer 4

-the government as tried to improve energy supplies for Malaysian industry and people
-the Baku HEP Dam was built to improve energy supplies using hydroelectric power
-The Bakun HEP Dam has flooded large areas of rainforest

Question 5

Impacts of Deforestation- Economic development

Answer 5

-The Baku HEP dam = jobs and energy
-As businesses benefit, tax they pay the government increases
-increased tax can be invested in health and education

Question 6

Impacts of deforestation-Soil erosion

Answer 6

-trees intercept rain and bind soils
-when trees are removed, the soils are easily washed away
-changes to the microclimate make soils drier so soil erosion is more severe

Question 7

Impacts of deforestation-Contribution to climate change

Answer 7

-rainforests store carbon in the trees
-carbon is released if the trees are burnt
-releasing carbon adds to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
-fewer trees also mean less absorption of carbon dioxide form the atmosphere