Tropical Rainforests Flashcards
1
Q
What are some examples of sustainable management within rainforests
A
- Selective Logging
- Conservation and Education
- Ecotourism
- International Agreements
2
Q
what are some impacts of deforestation
A
- Soil erosion
- loss of biodiversity
- climate change
- Economic development
3
Q
What are some characteristics of rainforests
A
- hot, dark(at low levels), damp
- despite lots of vegetation rainforest soils are surprisingly infertile. Most nutrients are found from decomposed leaves
- Most plants have adapted to the rainforest conditions by growing either the highest or taking advantage of other plants height to reach the top canopy where all the light is found.
4
Q
What are some causes of deforestation
A
- Logging
- Mineral extraction
- commercial farming
- Population pressure
5
Q
how much area was lost in Malaysia due to deforestation from 2000 to 2013
A
an area larger then Denmark (43,000 km²)
6
Q
What are some economic losses of deforestation
A
- pollution of water sources
- fires can cause harmful pollution and can burn out of control
- plants that could provide medical benefit may become extinct
- tourism could decrease
- rising temperatures could devastate tea and fruit farming
7
Q
what are some economic gains of deforestation
A
- companies pay taxes to government which can improve rainforests
- Improved transport infrastructure
- minerals such as gold are very valuable
- products such as palm oil and rubber provide raw materials
- jobs become available
