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Deforestation of Tropical Rainforests (Causes of deforestation (Other…
Deforestation of Tropical Rainforests
The Scale of Deforestation
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that about 1/2 of the world's tropical rainforest has now been cleared. There are 62 countries with a tropical rainforest within their border. Brazil has the most TRs.
The Change in the Rate of Deforestation
During the 1st decade of the 21st century, rates of deforestation increased in Asia, Africa and South America.
The increase was especially large in Indonesia and Peru. In Indonesia, the rate of deforestation between 2005 and 2010 was double the rate between 2000 and 2005 and the rate almost doubled in Peru.
The rate decreased in 7 countries including Brazil were it has fallen to a record low.
About 1/2 of Brazil's remaining RF now has some form of protective status.
20% of Amazon RF has been cleared since 1970.
Rate of reduction may reflect measures that countries have already put in place to save what little RF is left. In Mexico huge efforts are being made.
Deforestation is still happening in all 62 countries.
Global rate at which the TRF is being cleared is estimated to be 1 hectare per second.
What has happened in Brazil?
Brazilian RF occupies the lowland basin drained by the Amazon and its tributaries.
Clearance has been to the S of the Amazon. --> most accessible from main cities.
For centuries it has been lived in and used by indigenous tribes:
Harvested fruit + nuts
Cut wood for fuel
Used timber to build their dwellings
Discovered cures for illnesses
Cleared small areas using slash and burn --> Subsistence farming --> little lasting damage. When soil in 1 area becomes exhausted, tribe moves on and the forest is able to regenerate but is still a main cause of deforestation.
Human use sometimes leads to degradation where the ecosystem is changed in a negative way + its supply of resources declines.
Causes of deforestation
The main resource exploiting activities
Energy development: Dams have been built to generate hydroelectric power which involves flooding large areas and the submerged forest gradually rots which makes the water v acidic which corrodes the HEP turbines and dams also become blocked with soil washed down deforested slopes by rain.
Mineral extraction: In Amazon mining is mostly about gold. 50,000 hectares are currently being used for gold mining. - suffers badly as it is clear-felled. Bauxite is also extracted.
Illegal trade in wildlife: Hunting, poaching + trafficking in wildlife + animal parts are big business in Brazil. It is endangering species such as the jaguar + upsetting natural balance of ecosystem and degrading it.
Other activities causing the forest to be cleared
Commercial farming of Crops: Vast plantations of bananas, palm oil and sugar cane as well as other crops. The plantation of soybean has also caused much clearance in Amazonia - doubled between 1990 and 2010. Soil will not sustain crops for long.
Road building: Bring in equipment and transport products but means deforestation. Also makes the F accessible to more people so more people exploit the resources.
The Trans-Amazonia Highway has opened up remote areas of the Amazon RF.
Commercial farming of Cattle: 80% of deforestation in the Brazilian RF. The land cannot be used for long as the quality of the pasture quickly declines and so the cattle ranches have to move on and destroy more RF.
Settlement and population growth: All these activities need workers and workers and their families need services which means F will be cleared to build settlements.